During this month of Ramadan, the annual month of fasting for Muslims, I thought I would provide a brief explanation of Ramadan and its meaning in Islam. Saber Alkilany of our Afiiliate Member The Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences provided this Power Point Presentation from More On Islam. It gives a lot of information about the interesting spiritual…

Today from 2-7 pm, the Faculties Convocation will be held at the Washington Theological Union. Faculty are welcome to arrive late/ leave early during this extended programDirections are here: http://www.wtu.edu/about/Directions.htmSee you soon!…

Friends:I have had a busy time recently.Preparations for the meeting of the Council of Academic Deansand for the Consortium Faculties’ Convocation–both next Monday–have kept me on the move. The Convocation theme–The Arts andReligious Experience–has stimulated great interest.Of course there are thousands of last minute detailsbut I am looking forward to a fine day.Peace,John…

Dr. John Yieh of VTS gave a marvelous homily at the New Student Orientation last Monday.Read it here….

Friends:The annual Consortium Ecumenical Orientation for new students took place yesterday afternoon and evening. We began with a prayer service in the beautiful Caldwell Chapel at Catholic University [4:45]. Father James Wiseman, Associate Dean of the School of Theology and Religious Studies, greeted the students on behalf of Dean Kevin Irwin.Interim Chairman of the Consortium Student Board Steven Bell welcomed…

The Third European Ecumenical Assembly is underway in Romania.Below, from the Assembly’s website, are links to document files of the opening remarks of dignitaries and denominational leaders:TUESDAY 4 SEPTEMBER – GREETINGSThe Very Revd. Margarethe Isberg (EN)H.E. Cardinal Josip Bozanic (EN)H.E. Metropolitan Dr. Laurentiu Streza(RO) (EN)H.E. Bishop D. Dr. Christoph Klein (EN)H.E. Mgr. Dr. György Jakubinyi (HU) (EN)His Excellency Klaus Johannis,…

By Rev. John T. Ford, CSCRev. George H. Tavard, A.A.26 February 1922-13 August 2007 Father George H. Tavard, a priest of the Augustinians of the Assumption, died suddenly on 13 August 2007 in a Paris airport; he had been visiting relatives and friends in France and was returning to Boston, where he resided.Tavard was born in Nancy, France, and studied…

Friends:I promised I would post on the Blog my 10 points for new students so that they would be available to all who could not attend my [scintillating] campus talks! Crossin’s Ten PointsFor New Students in the ConsortiumMay they all be one.Father, may they be one in us,As you are in me and I am in you,So that the world…

Friends:I was sorry to hear the other day of the death in the Paris airport of Father George Tavard. I understand that he was returning to the United States after a family visit in France.I first met George at a meeting of the North American Academy of Ecumenists. He was long-time ecumenists, having begun his work in the ’50s. He…

Friends:My first new student orientation for the fall semester–atVirginia Theological Seminary–took place yesterday. The studentswere attentive and enthusiastic.For the first time I heard the humorouspresentation by Drs. Cook and Lewis of the joys [and perils] of the studyof Greek or Hebrew that the students were to begin today.Dr. Amy Dyer gave her usual lucid presentationon academic matters that everyone needs…