Assistant Professor and Director for Hispanic Ministry Programs Hoffsman Ospino was an invited respondent to a November 2 symposium at Boston College about the 2011 National Catholic Reporter survey of American Catholics. The poll of more than 1,400 self-identified Catholic adults covered issues from Mass attendance and spiritual practices to the impact of the sexual abuse crisis and changing demographics in the American Church. It showed that a majority of Catholics say they believe in the sacraments and traditional Church values such as caring for the poor, but disagreed with the Church hierarchy on social issues including divorce, same-sex marriage, and abortion. Pointing to findings indicating that 45 percent of American Catholics born between 1987 and 1993 are Hispanic, Ospino said, “Hispanic Catholicism has an enormous potential to renew the life of the Church.”
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Theologians, lay people, parish priests, and fellow Jesuits have been turning to John Baldovin, S.J., professor of historical and liturgical theology, for explanation and insight into the new English-language translation of the Roman Missal. A recognized expert on the Liturgy, sacramental theology, and the history of the Mass whose recent books include Reforming the Liturgy: A Response to the Critics (Liturgical Press, 2008), Fr. Baldovin edited and contributed five essays to A Commentary on the Order of Mass of the Roman Missal (Liturgical Press, 2011) and wrote articles on the new translation for Liturgical Ministry and Liturgisches Jarbuch. He has conducted workshops for parish priests and lay people across the country on the new version of the Missal. Fr. Baldovin was also asked to help Jesuits in the United States prepare for the transition to the new translation, which was introduced in the United States on November 27. He explores its background, significance, and signal changes in a video presentation, “The New Roman Missal: Challenge & Opportunity.” View video »

Boston Archbishop Seán Patrick Cardinal O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap., spoke about “The Eucharist: The Center of Catholic Life” during an October 25 lecture co-sponsored by STM, the Theology department, and the Alumni Association. O’Malley encouraged all Catholics, including those who have been away from the Church, to attend Mass on Sundays and to act as missionaries to spread “the good news of God’s love” during the talk, which culminated a daylong visit to Boston College organized by the Church in the 21st Century Center. The Cardinal celebrated Mass at St. Mary’s Chapel, and met with students, faculty, and administrators, including President William P. Leahy, S.J. View video »

• Alumni and friends are invited to celebrate weekday Mass during the Advent season at 12:15 p.m in the STM Chapel, 9 Lake Street (through December 22).

• Rabbi Daniel L. Lehmann, president of Hebrew College, delivered the fourth STM Anniversary Lecture, “Beyond Catholic-Jewish Dialogue: A New Paradigm for the 21st Century,” on October 4. View video »