News for and about University of Portland faculty and staff.
For anyone who missed last week’s Zahm Lecture, or would like to see it again or share with their classes, the video is available at this link. Gintaras Duda of Creighton University offered a tour de force of art, Star Trek, theology, and particle physics in his talk entitled “From The Big Bang to The Saint John’s Bible: The Role of Astonishment in a Scientist’s Journey to Integrate Faith and Reason.”
For more information contact the Garaventa Center at garaventa@up.edu.
Please join the Garaventa Center this Wednesday, September 16, at 5 p.m., for the 2020 Zahm Lecture: “From the Big Bang to The Saint John’s Bible: The Role of Astonishment in a Scientist’s Journey to Integrate Faith and Reason,” presented by Gintaras Duda, Catholic cosmologist and chair of physics at Creighton University. Here’s the Zoom webinar link to join the live event, which is free and open to the public.
In his talk, Duda will ask: how can we reconcile science with belief in a personal Christian God? Astonishment and wonder offer one route for this fundamental reconciliation. Duda will stress the fundamental need for theological and philosophical perspectives on some of the biggest questions in cosmology today. In addition to astro-particle physics/cosmology, Duda is also involved heavily in physics education research and is deeply interested in questions of science and religion. He was named the 2013 Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Outstanding Master’s Universities and Colleges National Professor of the Year.
The annual Zahm Lecture was established in 1999 with a permanently endowed gift to the University’s Defining Moment Campaign by Ray and Milann Siegfried of Oklahoma. The Zahm Lecture, which launches the academic year, addresses important issues surrounding American Catholic education and honors Fr. John Zahm, C.S.C., an eminent Holy Cross priest and scientist of the late 19th and early 20th century.
For ADA accommodations or further information, please contact the Garaventa Center at: garaventa@up.edu or 503-943-7702.
Image credit: To the Ends of the Earth, Donald Jackson with contributions from Andrew Jamieson and Sally Mae Joseph, Copyright 2002, The Saint John’s Bible, Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Of all the things we are missing these days, human connections are near the top of the list. It’s “The UP Way” to create and feel part of a vibrant, caring community. The Garaventa Center offers a modest proposal for connecting with colleagues: a new program we call Person to Person. Reach out to have a physically distant cup of coffee with someone when you’re on campus. Call someone to ask them their best Zoom tip or, even better, just see how they are doing. People who’ve been here a while check in with our newest colleagues and make a human connection.
Over the years, many friendships and collaborations have been formed at Thirst Fridays, and while those are shuttered for now, Person to Person might help us remember that we are all in this extraordinary endeavor together. The goal is 100 connections made by the end of the semester. Let us know you’ve made a personal connection (eifler@up.edu) –no details needed, just tell us you’ve connected with someone from UP. A private donor committed to nurturing humane, collegial relationships has provided funds that allow for one person each week to receive a Starbucks gift card. Names will be pulled on Fridays from all who have noted they made a Person to Person connection (again, NO details needed; this is 100% honor system). The more Person to Person connections you make, the more chances you have to win.
The Garaventa Center offers its patio on the 3rd floor of Franz for your conversations. It’s also a great place just to think and Be. You are most welcome here.
For more information contact Karen Eifler, Garaventa Center, at eifler@up.edu.
Gintaras Duda, Catholic cosmologist and chair of physics at Creighton University, will present the 2020 Zahm Lecture entitled, “From the Big Bang to The Saint John’s Bible: The Role of Astonishment in a Scientist’s Journey to Integrate Faith and Reason.” The event is free and open to the public. Here’s the link to join the webinar in progress on September 16 at 5 pm: https://uportland.zoom.us/j/92595796107.
In his talk, Duda will ask: “How can we reconcile science with belief in a personal Christian God?” Astonishment and wonder offer one route for this fundamental reconciliation. Duda will stress the fundamental need for theological and philosophical perspectives on some of the biggest questions in cosmology today. In addition to astro-particle physics/cosmology, Duda is also involved heavily in physics education research and is deeply interested in questions of science and religion. He was named the 2013 Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching Outstanding Master’s Universities and Colleges National Professor of the Year.
The annual Zahm Lecture was established in 1999 with a permanently endowed gift to the University’s Defining Moment Campaign by Ray and Milann Siegfried of Oklahoma. The Zahm Lecture, which launches the academic year, addresses important issues surrounding American Catholic education and honors Fr. John Zahm, C.S.C., an eminent Holy Cross priest and scientist of the late 19th and early 20th century.
For ADA accommodations or further information, please contact the Garaventa Center at garaventa@up.edu or 503-943-7702.
Gift yourself with a mini-retreat and enrich your sacramental imagination with another podcast from the Garaventa Center vault: Women of the Book Concert, featuring February 2018 world premieres of stunning music by UP and local artists.
For other uplifting and stimulating presentations, we invite you to check out some of our greatest hits from the last 5 years, or browse our complete archive of podcasts. For more information contact Karen Eifler at eifler@up.edu.
Did you know that there are patron saints for most anything, even the internet? “Patron saints” in Catholicism are venerable women and men from throughout history who are heavenly advocates for places, professions and people. It is good to know that in the oddest of times there are saints who we can turn to as an aid on our way. In this time when we are leaning heavily on the internet, it is good to know who to turn to for continued support.
As the internet was gaining sway in everyday life, Pope St. John Paul II named St. Isidore of Seville the patron on the internet, which is interesting because St. Isidor was bishop of Seville in 600 AD – a few years before the internet came to be. As bishop he created a school that became a model for early universities. He also sought to establish for the community good norms for social justice and representative government as well as firm foundations in the faith. Yet the main thing that helped get him connected to the copious content of the internet is his twenty-book opus where he sought to set out the origins of as many things as he could, from language to law, from biology to agriculture, from Church history to road building. He tried to share as much knowledge as there was to be shared, and is therefore seen as someone who had in mind the great potential of sharing that comes through the internet.
Also noted as a possible patron of the internet is St Maximillian Kolbe, who built a large media service to bring news, information, and religious education to rural areas of Poland in the 1920s. In a similar vein for how we hope to gain much of what we find on the internet, he would give away all of his material for free. While often best-known for offering his life in the place of another in a German concentration camp, it is well worth looking up his many other contributions for the good of others.
All you holy women and men, pray for us.
“Did You Know” is a regular feature in UPBeat that reveals the wondrous and occasionally peculiar world of Catholicism. We will close out this academic year with info on patron saints for the current condition. Direct questions or ideas to Fr. Jim Gallagher C.S.C., or Karen Eifler.
Patron Saints in Catholicism are venerable women and men from throughout history who are heavenly advocates for places, professions, and people. In these unprecedented times, we’ll share some especially relevant patron saints to intercede for us all.
St. Clare of Assisi is the patron saint of televisions and computer screens, believe it or not. An early follower of St. Francis, Clare founded The Order of Poor Ladies, which eventually became known as the Poor Clares. Late in her life, she fell too ill to attend church, and one day the images and sounds of the entire Mass appeared in full on the wall of her room. This story would have been well-known to Italian native Pope Pius XII, who in 1957 named her the patroness of this new invention—television—that, in his words, “is a wonderful instrument… which can be the source of very great wealth, but also of deep troubles.” This may be why he chose a saint steeped in humility, poverty, and love of God as its patroness. St. Clare is also the patron saint of sore eyes and embroidery, so let us invoke her prayers on our behalf as we learn to teach and work online and perhaps cultivate new hobbies as we shelter in place. St. Clare of Assisi, pray for us!
“Did You Know?” is a regular feature in UPbeat that reveals the wondrous and occasionally peculiar world of Catholicism. We will close out this academic year with information on patron saints for the current condition. Direct questions or ideas to Fr. Jim Gallagher, C.S.C., or Karen Eifler.
Continuing in the joy of Easter, we invite you to enjoy this feel-good podcast from the Garaventa Center vault: A Concert of Songs for Worship with renowned liturgical musician David Haas, composer of “We are Called,” “You are Mine,” “Blest are They,” and many more beloved hymns.
For other uplifting and stimulating presentations, we invite you to check out some of our greatest hits from the last 5 years, or browse our complete archive of podcasts. The Garaventa Center will be featuring some of our favorite podcasts here weekly through the end of the term; contact Karen Eifler (eifler@up.edu) with questions or requests.
Christ conquered death and trusted the first news of that stunning feat to his friend Mary of Magdala. This 15-minute online version of Visio Divina offers you a chance to contemplate the story of the first Easter morning, with Scripture, sacred image from UP’s Saint John’s Bible, and prayerful music.
Presenting this week’s brain food-packed podcast from the Garaventa Center vault: “Cosmology, Catholicity & Consciousness: Why Wholeness Matters” by brilliant polymath Sr. Ilia Delio, OSF. Taking her cue from Laudato Si’, Sr. Delio explores a new understanding of catholicity today by drawing on insights from quantum physics, neuroscience and evolutionary biology and the nascence of a third millennium theology.
For other uplifting and stimulating presentations, we invite you to check out some of our greatest hits from the last 5 years, or browse our complete archive of podcasts. The Garaventa Center will be featuring some of our favorite podcasts here weekly through the end of the term; contact Karen Eifler (eifler@up.edu) with questions or requests.