Inside the Core Announces First Spring Scholars' Forum  

Inside the Core this week, we are excited to announce our first Scholars Forum in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition series for the spring semester of 2022. On Wednesday March 2, the Core is excited to present Dr. Thomas Rzeznik, Associate Professor in the History Department and Core teacher, who will be presenting on his book, The Cambridge Companion to American Catholicism (Cambridge, May, 2021), co-edited with Margaret M. McGuinness.

Thomas Rzeznik is Associate Professor of History at Seton Hall University, where he also teaches in the Catholic Studies program and the University Core. He also serves as co-editor of the quarterly journal, American Catholic Studies. He is currently working on a history of St. Vincent's Hospital and Catholic healthcare in New York City. His recent book, The Cambridge Companion to American Catholicism (Cambridge, May, 2021), co-edited with Margaret M. McGuinness, is an anthology of essays on American Catholicism from a wide array of scholarly perspectives.

As described on the book's jacket, "this Companion provides a comprehensive overview of American Catholicism's historical development and distinctive features. The essays - all specially commissioned for this volume - highlight the inner diversity of American Catholicism and trace the impact of American Catholics on all aspects of society, including education, social welfare, politics, and intellectual life….Taken together, the essays in this Companion provide context for understanding American Catholicism as it is currently experienced, and help to situate present-day developments and debates within their longer trajectory." Dr. Rzeznik has said, as quoted in an article by Michael Ricciardelli on the Arts and Sciences website, "It was an honor to work with such a distinguished group of scholars. The fact that each is an accomplished author and teacher shines through in the book. The material is both erudite and accessible."

In his presentation, Dr. Rzeznik will focus particularly on women religious and their contributions the church and society, appropriate any time but especially during Women's History Month. Also, the topic fits well with Dr. Rzeznik's current research on St. Vincent's Hospital and Catholic healthcare in NYC, as many of the healthcare workers he is studying were women religious.

We look forward to a very interesting and inspiring talk!

Click here for a link for his book!

The Scholars' Forum meets on Wed., at 4 p.m. via TEAMS. Click here for the link to the meeting!

Our next Scholars' Forum will be on Wed., March 23, 4 p.m. with Dr. Elizabeth Redwine of the English Department and Coordinator of Core I, talking about her book, Gender, Performance, and Authorship at the Abbey Theatre, Oxford UP, May 2021.

Click here for a link to her book!

We in the Core are very grateful for all our faculty scholars who have made this series possible.

Categories: Faith and Service