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Religious studies


Remembering Alice Laffey: Dedicated Bible Scholar, Mentor, Friend

The late associate professor emerita was known for her words, wit and passion for justice.

09/14/23 by

Thanks to her acute sense of justice and purpose, a sharp, analytical mind, and tremendous kindness, friends and former colleagues say Alice Laffey was the conscience of the religious studies department during her 35-year Holy Cross teaching career and through …

Can Jesus Walk Through Walls?

Pioneering international research by Holy Cross psychology professor Florencia Anggoro examines a critical question never explored: Do religious beliefs shape how children think and learn?

07/18/23 by

The majority of the global population is religious, yet psychologists have little understanding of how religious beliefs impact the way children think, says Florencia Anggoro, Holy Cross associate professor of psychology.

In Its 50th Year, Worcester’s Mustard Seed Continues to Teach Holy Cross Students About Service, Real-World Needs

Course and volunteer work with the nonprofit expands students’ perspectives on realities in their own backyard.

04/24/23 by

Katherine Harkness ’25 remembers going to church with her grandmother, a woman who would, on occasion, cook meals large enough to feed the entire parish. During Harkness’ first year at the College of the Holy Cross, she was taken back …

Will Pope Emeritus Benedict Become a Saint? Religious Studies Professor Tells Us What To Expect

The Conversation

The funeral of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI took place in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Thursday, Jan. 5, after three days during which mourners could view his body and pay their final respects. Around the same time, grassroots …

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s Legacy is Complex, Writes Holy Cross Professor

The Conversation

With the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the late pontiff leaves behind a complex legacy of brilliant intellectualism and the shadows of numerous controversies, according to College of the Holy Cross Professor Mathew Schmalz.

Holy Cross Celebrates 44th Annual Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols

The beloved holiday tradition brought the College community together — on Mount St. James and beyond — to rejoice in the Christmas season.

12/09/22 by

Embraced in soft, warm light under purple tapestry gently draped from above, the College of the Holy Cross welcomed the Christmas season on Dec. 8 in St. Joseph Memorial Chapel, celebrating its 44th Annual Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols.

34 Holy Cross Students Inducted Into Jesuit Honor Society

The honor is bestowed on fewer than 4% of a class.

  In October, 34 members of the College of the Holy Cross class of 2023 were inducted into Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit honor society.  Selection is one of the highest honors that can be earned on a Jesuit campus. …

Is Thanksgiving a Christian Holiday? Holy Cross Religious Studies Professor Explains

The Conversation

Did you know that medieval Catholic traditions of thanksgiving prayers and feasting shaped the Protestant celebration of Plymouth’s pilgrims, leading to the modern Thanksgiving holiday? In an article for The Conversation, Joanne Pierce, professor of religious studies at Holy Cross, breaks down the …

Are Catholic Views on the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony Changing? Religious Studies Professor Opines

The Conversation

The Second Vatican Council marked a milestone in the history of the Catholic Church, setting off a process of deep transformation within the Church and in its relations with the modern world. Sixty years later, the process is still ongoing …

Queen Elizabeth II’s Lifelong Commitment to Interfaith Dialogue Was Like No Other, Says Holy Cross Religious Studies Professor

The Conversation

Queen Elizabeth II recognized that the United Kingdom was a multifaith nation and was diligent in her work to foster religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue. Will King Charles III do the same? In an article for The Conversation, Joanne Pierce, professor …

Synodal Gatherings Highlight Cultural Divides Within Global Catholicism, Says Religious Studies Professor

The Conversation

Two synodal gatherings going on now in the Catholic Church — the “Synodal Way” of the German church and the “Synod on Synodality” of the bishops of the Catholic Church — are drawing tensions within Catholicism, which are expected to …

Pontiffs Must Demonstrate ‘Extraordinary Virtue’ to Become Saints, Says Religious Studies Professor

The Conversation

On Sept. 4, 2022, Pope John Paul I will be beatified, which is the last step before being canonized as a Catholic saint, begging the question: Does every pope become a saint? In an article for The Conversation, Joanne Pierce, professor …

Shavuot Is an Opportunity to Recommit to the Covenant, Says Holy Cross Judaic Studies Professor

The Conversation

The festival of Shavuot, marked this year on June 5 and 6, celebrates a renewing commitment to God. But the meaning of the Jewish holiday, which dates back to biblical times, has changed over the years. In an article for …

Holy Cross Religious Studies Professor Considers What Makes Religious Relics Sacred to Christians

The Conversation

As the Russian missile cruiser Moskva sank after heavy damage sustained in April 2022, stories began to circulate that the ship may have been carrying a relic of the “true cross,” a fragment of the actual wooden cross on which …

WATCH: Holy Cross Faculty Discuss the Living Legacy of Global Health Champion Paul Farmer

Ten years ago, global health champion Dr. Paul Farmer was an honorary degree recipient and commencement speaker at Holy Cross, telling graduates, “…the miracle of human solidarity… when linked to both meaningful action and compassion, is something all of us, …

How Does a Saint Become a ‘Doctor of the Church’ and Why Is That Title Important Today? Holy Cross Religious Studies Professor Explains

The Conversation

Did you know that there are more than 10,000 saints recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, but only a few dozen have been named a “doctor of the church?” In an article for The Conversation, Joanne Pierce, professor of religious studies at Holy …

How St. Ignatius Is Still Offering Hope 500 Years After His Conversion

The Society of Jesus’ Ignatian Year offers a time to reflect on and draw inspiration from its founder, and examine how his story impacts the College and its community today.

Five hundred years ago, Ignatius of Loyola was lying in bed at his childhood home, his leg shattered by a cannonball, wondering what comes next. A lower nobleman, the future saint had been preoccupied with court dalliances, vanity and glory; …

Holy Cross Religious Studies Professor Honored With 2021 Excellence in Mentoring Award

Forum for Theological Exploration says Professor Tat-siong Benny Liew "has, for decades, been an exemplar of mentoring and support for future generations of scholars of color"

Tat-siong Benny Liew, the Class of 1956 Professor in New Testament Studies and professor of religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross, was honored with the 2021 Excellence in Mentoring Award from the Forum for Theological Exploration. Each …

Women Are the Forgotten Heroes of Hanukkah, Says Holy Cross Judaic Studies Professor

The Conversation

The eight-day Jewish festival of Hanukkah is a time to celebrate heroes, but the identity of these heroes can be elusive. In an article for The Conversation, Alan Avery-Peck, Kraft-Hiatt professor in Judaic studies at Holy Cross, breaks down the …

Four Holy Cross Faculty Members Promoted to Professor

Educators in classics, physics, religious studies, and sociology and anthropology recognized for their scholarship.

Four Holy Cross faculty members have been promoted to the rank of professor this fall, in recognition of their scholarship, teaching, mentorship and service to the College.