Catholic Theological
Society of America

The CTSA remembers and prays for Rev.  John J. Mueller, S.J., who died on March 5th.

Eternal rest grant unto J.J., O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

CTSA Contributions:

J.J. Mueller (Convener),  "Presidential Panel on Undergraduate Teaching: Teaching Evil and Hope",  Proceedings vol. 50 (1995).

J.J. Mueller (Convener),  " Presidential Panel on Undergraduate Teaching: Teaching Jesus Christ to Undergraduates",  Proceedings vol. 49 (1994).

J.J. Mueller (Convener),  "North American Theology: Examined "An American Classic Revisited: John Courtney Murray's We Hold These Truths",  Proceedings vol. 43 (1988).

J.J. Mueller (Convener),  "North American Theology: On Bellah's Habits of the Heart",  Proceedings vol. 42 (1987).

Jesuit (USA Central and Southern Providence) Obituary written by Steven A. Schoenig, S.J., Socious (March 13).

Saint Louis University Obituary "J.J. Mueller, S.J.: 1945-2026"
John J. “J.J.” Mueller, S.J. (A&S ’69, Grad Ed ’70), a longtime professor of theology, died March 5, 2026. He was 81 years old, a Jesuit for 62 years and a priest for 50 years. (USA Central and Southern Province.

Mass of Christian Burial was held on March 21at St. Ignatius Hall

Notes of condolence may be sent to:

Mr. Steve Mueller (a former Jesuit of the Missouri Province)
2095 Fairway Circle
Hudson, OH 44236

Sr. Cathy Mueller, S.L.
7250 West 21st Ave.
Lakewood, CO 80214

Online Lecture: Simone Weil - Dialectical Mysticism

Event Details

            Date: March 25, 2026
            Time: 5:15–6:45 p.m. CET / 11:15 a.m.–12:45 p.m. CDT
            Location: Aula XI, Pontificio Ateneo Sant’Anselmo or online via Zoom
            Zoom link: Participate here 

See https://www.anselmianum.com/it/news/1698-online-lecture-simone-weil-dialectical-mysticism

Breaking Boundaries in Theology:
In Conversation with Roger Haight, S.J.
Saturday, April 11 (CET: 4 - 5:30 p.m.; EST 10 - 11:30 a.m.)

11.04.2026: Online Book Launch and Discussion: RaT Series Volume 40

The Research Centre RaT and the Catholic Theological Society of America cordially invite all interested parties to the online book launch of RaT series volume 40, Breaking Boundaries in Theology. In Conversation with Roger Haight SJ (Brill/Schöningh 2025), published in December 2025 in open access. Edited by: Andreas Telser, Annette Langner-Pitschmann, Barnabas Palfrey, Sebastian Pittl und Sibylle Trawöger.

• When: 11.04.2026, 04-05:30 p.m. CET (10–11:30 a.m. EST)
• Where: Online via zoom: https://univienna.zoom.us/j/67184322940?pwd=skPZbOErz1x6T19b6EQaZixP4Q9Iw0.1 

Meeting-ID: 671 8432 2940

Code: 344404

Response: Michael Maloney, Ph.D. (Seton Hall University)

Moderated by: Lisa Holsberg, Ph.D. (Fordham University)

Organised in Cooperation with: Catholic Theological Society of America

Link to the publication (Open Access): https://brill.com/edcollbook-oa/title/72372

Explore Catholic Theology at one of the world’s leading departments

The Distance Learning programmes in Catholic Theology, led by Durham University’s Centre for Catholic Studies (CCS), are designed so that participants can work through material at their own pace, studying equally well in any time zone and in many different life situations, alongside work, ministry, family or caring obligations. 

In addition to the Postgraduate Certificate , the Postgraduate Diploma , and the MA , students can enrol for a single module: ‘Catholic Theology: A Preliminary Tour’, and NEW FOR 2026/27 single modules in Catholic Social Thought and Practice and High Medieval Franciscan Theology .

Further details are available at Distance Learning - Durham University   including videos from current students .

The CCS offers scholarships to support students on these distance learning programmes. Full information can be found at Funding - Durham University .

If you have any questions about these Distance Learning programmes, please contact the CCS Manager - theresa.phillips@durham.ac.uk

Please do share details of this opportunity with those who may be interested, both near and far. 

The CTSA remembers and prays for William (Bill) R. Burrows who died yesterday, Tuesday, March 3.

Eternal rest grant unto Bill, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

CTSA members will remember Bill for the many years he was the Managing Editor of Orbis Books.

Bill earned the STL in theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University (1972) and the PhD from the University of Chicago (1987).

Contributions to the CTSA Proceedings follow:

Burrows, William R. and Margaret E. Guilder, O.S.F., Basic Christian Communities: Pluralism and Unity, CTSA Proceedings, vol. 39.

Burrows, S.V.D., William R., A Response to Michael Amaladoss [on Christian Mission in Asia], CTSA Proceedings, vol. 56 (2001).

Funeral will be held at Graymoor (Friars of the Atonement) in Garrison, New York on Saturday, March 21, at 10:30AM, followed by lunch.

Congratulations to Phyllis Zagano on the publication of her book The Vatican and Women Deacons (Orbis Books, May 2026).

The question of women in the ordained diaconate arose in the early 1970s at a Synod of Bishops. It was subsequently considered by three iterations of the International Theological Commission as well as two pontifical commissions. The examination of these events demonstrates the complexity of restoring women to the ordained diaconate.

The Synod on Synodality took up the question again, asking for a review of the research. The November 2025 release of a summary report of a Vatican committee, although read as a rejection of the ordination of women to the diaconate, affirms that the question is open for future discernment.

As a result of the Synod on Synodality, the fact that the question is still open for resolution is now part of Magisterial teaching.

Global Sisters Report, an independent, international news publication that covers the lives and works of Catholic women religious around the world have recently launched a new weekly series, Theologians’ Corner. Theologians' Corner features reflections on the Sunday scripture readings written by women theologians from across the globe. The goal is simple: to bring thoughtful, accessible theological insight into conversation with the weekly reading.

You can find GSR’s Theologians’ Corner here: https://www.globalsistersreport.org/gsr-series/theologians-corner/stories

As part of the mission of Concilium: International Journal of Theology to "provide a meeting place for a global conversation inviting diverse perspectives on important theological issues," we are pleased to share our latest issue on "Pain and Solace: A Theological Investigation" edited by Geraldo Luiz De Mori, Margareta Gruber, Silvia Martínez-Cano, Cesar Kuzma, Stan Chu Ilo, Jonas Hagedorn. 

We hope this issue contributes meaningfully to ongoing theological discussions and fosters deeper engagement across our international scholarly communities. We are also grateful for the editors and contributors of this issue, some of which are members of the society.

CONTRIBUTIONS

Part 1. Theological-interdisciplinary Reading of Pain and Solace

Pains and Suffering – When Compassion and Consolation get Serious
JEAN-PIERRE WILS

Pain and Consolation in the Old Testament
RIVALDAVE PAZ TORQUATO

Pain and Consolation from the Perspective of John
ESTELA ALDAVE MEDRANO

Pain and Suffering: Finding Solace in a Vital Church
STAN CHU ILO

Part 2. Religious practices

Pain can bring Healing
CLEMENS SEDMAK

To Live “in Favour of the Human Being” (Saint Irenaeus AH IV 8:2)
ROSA RUIZ ARAGONESES

Pain and Consolation in Ignatian Spirituality
EDUARD LÓPEZ HORTELANO

Part 3. Pain and Solace from an Ethical-pastoral Perspective ‘Injustice that cries out to Heaven.’

Suffering – Complaint – Hope in existential ethical Perspective
HANS-JOACHIM HÖHN

To Defeat Pain. The Lightness of the Posthumanist Dream
JAVIER DE LA TORRE

Pain and Consolation
MARTA LÓPEZ ALONSO

Talamak na Pananakit: Exploring the Connections Between Chronic Pain, Environmental Activism, and Inspiring Stories of Solidarity
JEANE C. PERACULLO

Accompanying Victims Through Art. A Strategy for Reconstructing Connections
DAFNE AÍDA ZAPATA PRATTO

Theological Forum

Dicastery of Culture and Education’s International Congress on The Future of Theology: Legacy and Imagination’
MAEVE LOUISE HEANEY

Read the Editorial here.

***

Concilium is available in English, German, Italian, Spanish, and publishes five issues annually.

As a peer-reviewed journal, Concilium is indexed in ATLA DB (English, German), Index Theologicus (German), and Index Religiosus Brepolis (German).

***

Follow our social media channels: https://linktr.ee/ConciliumINT

The CTSA remembers and prays for member Bernard P. Prusak who died on January 18, 2026.

Eternal rest grant unto Bernard, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

CTSA Proceedings Contribution

Theology of the Local Church in Historical Development (Seminar Paper), CTSA Proceedings, Vol. 35 (1980).  

Obituary (click here)

Mass of Christian Burial

Saturday, January 24, 2026
11:00 AM

St. Thomas of Villanova Church
800 Lancaster Ave.
Villanova, PA 19085

Burial of Cremains

Saturday, January 24, 2026
12:30 PM

Calvary Cemetery
235 Matsonford Rd.
West Conshohocken, PA 19428

The CTSA remembers and prays for Walter E. Conn who died on February 2, 2026.  

Eternal rest grant unto Walter, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Walt taught at Villanova University and served as the editor of Horizons, the journal of the College Theology Society.  The CTSA remembers him for his contributions to theology and the Society.

Joann Wolski Conn, Walter E. Conn, Developmental Psychology: From Moral Theology to Spirituality, CTSA Proceedings Vol. 40, 1985.

Walter E. Conn, The Role of Women in Theology: Two-handed Theology, CTSA Proceedings Vol. 38, 1983.

Obituary - click here to read

Funeral - February 12, 2026 
St. Anastasia Church
3301 West Chester Pike
Newtown Square, PA  19073
Visitation 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Mass 10:30 a.m.

Condolences may be sent to Dr. Joann Wolski Conn, in care of the
Donahue Funeral Home, 3300 West Chester Pike, Newtown, PA 19073