Dr. Susan Ross to speak on 'Women, Justice and Sacramentality'

Dr. Susan Ross, author and theologian, will speak on “Seeking Light and Beauty: Women, Justice and Sacramentality” at 7 p.m. Friday, March 20, in Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel at the St. Scholastica Monastery. The event is free and open to the public.

“Dr. Ross is an award-winning author and learned theologian," said Denise Starkey, assistant professor in St. Scholastica’s Department of Theology and Religious Studies. “In her talk, she will offer a theological and ethical exploration of women and beauty ‘from the ground up.’

“She draws on women’s activities as sources of insight into the nature of beauty, and as inspiration for connecting beauty and goodness. I think the audience will find Dr. Ross’ talk both nourishing and challenging, especially for anyone interested in the beauty of God’s creation and God’s creatures.”

Ross is a professor of theology, faculty scholar, and Department of Theology chair at Loyola University Chicago. From 2006-08 Ross served as the director of the Ann Ida Gannon, BVM, Center for Women and Leadership at Loyola.

She is a vice president and member of the Board of Editors of Concilium, the international theological journal, and has co-edited three of its recent issues. She has also written numerous journal articles and book chapters.

She is the recipient of a Louisville Institute Sabbatical Grant, the Book of the Year Award from the College Theology Society in 1999, an Honorable Mention for Best Gender Issues Award from the Catholic Press Association in 2007, and the Ann O'Hara Graff Award from the Catholic Theological Society of America.

She is the author of “For the Beauty of the Earth: Women, Sacramentality, and Justice” and “Extravagant Affections: A Feminist Sacramental Theology.” She is co-editor with Maureen A. Tilley of “Broken and Whole: Essays on Religion and the Body” (The Annual Publication of the College Theology Society, 1993). She is currently working on a new book entitled “Bread and Roses: Women, Beauty, and Justice.”

She received her B.A. from Manhattanville College (NY), and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.

The lecture is sponsored by the Theology and Religious Studies Department at St. Scholastica and the Feminist Theologies Committee of the St. Scholastica Monastery.

For more information contact Starkey at (218) 723-6124 or dstarkey@css.edu.