Oct. 29, 2015

Conference to Examine Dei Verbum at 50

God's revelation will be the topic of a one-day conference scheduled to take place at The Catholic University of America on Friday, Nov. 6. "Hearing and Proclaiming the Word of God: Dei Verbum at 50" will bring scholars from around the country together for a day of discussions related to the Vatican II document, Dei Verbum , which pertains to divine revelation. The conference, which will be hosted by the School of Theology and Religious Studies (STRS) with the generous support of the STRS Student Association, will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. William Mattison, interim dean of STRS, called revelation "one of the most important topics at the heart of what the Church is about." "There's nothing more central to our faith than who God is and the fact that God lovingly chooses to reveal who He is to us," Mattison said. "This conference addresses how He does that." Themes for the conference will include the personal nature of revelation, the exegesis of Scripture, and the importance of liturgy for revelation. Speakers during the conference will include Rev. Jeremy Driscoll, O.S.B., professor of theology at the Pontifical Athenaeum Sant'Anselmol Mount Angel Seminary in Mount Angel, Ore.; Matthew Levering, the Perry Family Foundation Professor of Theology at Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Ill.; and Rev. Jared Wicks, S.J., scholar-in-residence at Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.University faculty members presenting during the conference will include Rev. Frank J. Matera, professor emeritus; Monsignor Paul McPartlan, the Carl J. Peter Professor of Systematic Theology and Ecumenism; and Robert D. Miller, associate professor of Old Testament. In a letter for conference participants, Mattison writes: "Though less noticed than some of the other conciliar documents, Dei Verbum encourages us to see revelation as God's invitation to a saving friendship with him, to explore and savor the abundant riches of Scripture and tradition, and to renew the Church's life, thought, and worship. Its 50th anniversary this November offers a chance to look back on the Council's achievements and to look forward to contemporary challenges and opportunities in the Church." The event is free and open to the public. For more information or to register, visit http://bit.ly/1M2eb0t . MEDIA: To cover this conference, contact Katie Lee or Mary McCarthy-Hines at cua-public-affairs@cua.edu or 202-319-5600.