Benedictine University at Mesa to host speaker November 12

Join Dr. Jana Bennett, Associate Professor of Theological Ethics at the University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio for a discussion on what it means to live life in single states that aren’t commonly discussed, including divorce, widowhood and being a primary caregiver, on Thursday, November 12 at St. Steven’s Church in the FitzPatrick Center Great Hall from 9:30-11:30 a.m. We’ll think about what it means to be a Christian disciple in diverse stages and ages and also discuss how the Church can better minister in these particular times of life.

Dr. Bennett was born in Dubuque, Iowa, grew up in Denver, Colorado and earned her undergraduate degree from The Colorado College in Colorado Springs, and a Master of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Seminary and a PhD. from Duke University.

Bennett’s interests include St. Augustine, singleness, disability and technology use. An author of two books and several articles, she is currently preparing a book on the topic on which she will speak. She came into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church in 2003 after growing up United Methodist.

Dr. Bennett teaches and researches Christian ethics. She said, “Belief in God and response to the world’s questions and problems go hand–in-hand in thinking about Christian ethics. Very often people think of ethics as merely the hot button issues that appear in the media. Ethics is much more than that for Christians. It is also formation for learning how to love God and neighbor in what are often small seemingly insignificant actions.”

Aside from teaching and raising her two children. Lucia 5, and Gabriella 2, she is the associate editor- at-large for a blog, catholicmoraltheology.com, and writes on moral theology in relation to marriage, feminism, disability, the internet and social media. She started the Catholic Moral Theology blog with 17 of her closest theologian friends who pledged to have good conversations with each other even if they disagreed.

The event is sponsored by Benedictine University at Mesa, Mesa, Arizona under the direction of Dr. Ramon Luzarraga, Assistant Professor and Department Chair of Theology as part of the Visiting Scholar in Catholic Thought Series. Teachers, lay ministers ad deacons who attend this lecture are eligible for one credit toward recertification in the Diocese of Phoenix.

The event is free and open to the community.

For registration or information, please contact Edie at 480-895-9266, extension 0; e-mail at [email protected]; or call Anne at 480-802-9127.