Yves Congar Award Series

The Yves Congar Award for Theological Excellence recognizes the contributions of contemporary theologians who embody the spirit of Cardinal Yves Congar, OP (1904-1995), by working, writing, and teaching in light of the tradition while moving that tradition forward to meeting the challenges of today.

About the Presentation

While Roman Catholic preachers have a penchant for engaging with literature and popular culture in their preaching, the sciences are seldom drawn upon as homiletic dialogue partners. This presentation will explore how scientists' imaginations and willingness to confront mysteries can be a boon for those called to preach the Word in this digital age. Besides considering the sciences in preaching, this presentation will also consider how neuroscience in particular might contribute to more effective proclamation of the word.

About the Presentation

There are many ways to understand racism, for example, as a social divide and as a political reality. At its deepest level, racism is a soul sickness, that is, a profound warping of the human spirit.  This presentation will describe the social impacts of this spiritual distortion. It will then explore the Gospel's call to repentance and offer an understanding of the profound transformations needed to address this spiritual wound and create a more just society.

2023

Edward Foley, Capuchin
Edward Foley, Capuchin is a Roman Catholic priest and member of the Province of St. Joseph of the Capuchin Order. The Duns Scotus Professor Emeritus of Spirituality and Retired Professor of Liturgy and Music at Catholic Theological Union, he was the founding director of the Ecumenical Doctor of Ministry degree jointly offered by Catholic Theological Union, the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago and McCormick Theological Seminary. An award winning author and celebrated preacher, he has been honored with lifetime achievement awards from national and international organizations and is a recent recipient of a major grant for preaching from the John Templeton Foundation. He also serves his Capuchin community as the Vice-Postulator for the Canonization cause for Blessed Solanus Casey.

"Preaching with the Sciences: The Neuroscientific Turn"

2022

Bryan Massingale, S.T.D
Dr. Bryan Massingale. Professor Massingale is a priest of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, the James and Nancy Buckman Professor of Theological and Social Ethics at Fordham University, and the Senior Fellow in its Center for Ethics Education. A leader in Catholic theology, he is President-Elect of the Society of Christian Ethics, a former president of the Catholic Theological Society of America, and a former Convener of the Black Catholic Theological Symposium.

"Lecture: A Spirituality of Racial Metanoia"

2020

María Pilar Aquino, S.T.D
María Pilar Aquino, born and raised in Mexico, is Professor Emerita of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of San Diego, serves as President of the Catholic Theological Society of America (2019-2020) and as a member of the International Advisory Committee of the World Forum on Theology and Liberation. Prof. Aquino is a founding member and first woman President of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians in the United States.

"Catholic Theology Today: Dynamisms for Re-Existence"

2019

Massimo Faggioli, Ph.D.
Massimo Faggioli, PhD, a married lay Roman Catholic, is full professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova University (Philadelphia). He worked in the "John XXIII Foundation for Religious Studies" in Bologna between 1996 and 2008 and received his Ph.D. from the University of Turin in 2002. Moving to the US in 2008, he was visiting fellow at the Jesuit Institute at Boston College between 2008 and 2009, and taught at the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota) between 2009 and 2016, where he was the founding director of the Institute for Catholicism and Citizenship.

"Yves Congar and Vatican II in the Church of Today"

2018

Richard R. Gaillardetz, Ph.D.
Dr. Richard R. Gaillardetz is the Joseph Professor in Catholic Systematic Theology at Boston College and is currently the chair of the Theology Department. A past president of the Catholic Theological Society of America, Prof. Gaillardetz has authored or edited 13 books and numerous articles in fundamental theology, ecclesiology and spirituality.

"Beyond Dogmatism: The Case for Normative Tradition in an Age of Scandal"

2017

Sr. Barbara E. Reid, Ph.D.
Sr. Barbara E. Reid, O.P. is a Dominican Sister of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., M.A. in Religious Studies and B.A. from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI.

"The Party's Over and the Quest for Truth Continues"

2016

Walter Brueggemann, Ph.D.
William Marcellus McPheeters Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary.

"The Gospel in an Economy of Extraction"

2015

Lisa Sowle Cahill, Ph.D.
Donald Monan Professor of Theology at Boston College

"Catholic Families: Theology, Practices, and 'Evangelization'"

2014

Sandra M. Schneiders, I.H.M.
Professor Emerita of New Testament Studies and Christian Spirituality, Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University

"Buying the Field: Women Religious in a Renewing Church"

2013

Robert Schreiter, C.PP.S., Theo. Dr.
Vatican Council II Professor of Theology, Catholic Theological Union

"Practical Theology as Contextual Theology: Challenges to Catholic Practical Theology Today"

2012

Roberto S. Goizueta, Ph.D.
Professor of Theology, Boston College; past president of the Catholic Theological Association of America and the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians in the United States

"Against the Pursuit of Happiness: The Preferential Option for the Poor and the Denial of Death"

2011

Mary Catherine Hilkert, OP, Ph.D.
Professor of Theology at University of Notre Dame, IN; past president of the Catholic Theological Society of America; Madeleva lecturer in Spirituality, 2001

"In Memory of Lois and Eunice: Handing on a Living Tradition of Faith"

2010

Donald J. Goergen, OP, Ph.D., STM
Dominican Theologian at the Aquinas Institute of Theology; Prior of St. Dominic Priory, House of Studies, St. Louis; co-founder of the Dominican Ashram

"A Wider Vision: Biblical, Catholic, and Cosmic"

2009

Margaret Farley, RSM, Ph.D.
Professor Emerita of Christian Ethics, Yale Divinity School; co-director of the Yale University Interdisciplinary Bioethics Project and the All Africa Conference: Sister-to-Sister

"Gender, Sexuality and Ethics: New Perspectives"

• Elizabeth A. Johnson, CSJ, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Theology, Fordham University
• Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz, Ph.D., Professor of Ethics and Theology, Drew University
• Rev. Jan Lambrecht, SJ, SSD
• Father Fergus Kerr, OP, STLic, Member of Faculty of Divinity, Oxford University
• Gustavo Gutierrez, OP, Ph.D., John Cardinal O'Hara Professor of Theology, University of Notre Dame
• Ana Maria Pineda, RSM, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Director of Graduate Program in Pastoral Ministries, Santa Clara University
• Rev. Bryan Hehir, ThD, Professor Emeritus, Harvard University
• Phyllis Trible, Ph.D., Professor of Theology, Wake Forest University
• Rev. Joseph A. Komonchak, Ph.D., Professor of Theology, Catholic University of America
• M. Shawn Copeland, Ph.D., Â Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, Marquette University
• Rev. Thomas O'Meara, OP, Ph.D., Professor of Theology, University of Notre Dame

Please note: All associations indicated for lecturers were current at times Award was presented.