Notes and Comments
Istituto per le scienze religiose Giovanni XXIII in Bologna
The spring meeting of the American Catholic Historical Association took place on the campus of Marquette University, March 29-31, 2007. This event, a celebration of the 125th birthday of the University, was sponsored by the Departments of History and Theology. Generous support also came from Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan of Milwaukee, a long-time association member. The steering committee consisted of Steven Avella (Marquette), Wanda Zemler-Cizewski (Marquette), Patrick Carey (Marquette), Edward Schmitt (University of Wisconsin-Parkside), Laura Gellott (University of Wisconsin-Parkside), and Neal Pease (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.)
Our call for papers used not only the traditional mailing to the membership, but also invitations issued through list-servs and other non-traditional contacts via the internet. In fact, much of the arranging and organizing of the sessions was done via e-mail. At some point the Association should consider compiling a list of e-addresses for general mailings and other communications.
We received a bumper crop of proposals for whole sessions and individual papers, and at one marathon session the steering committee hammered out the outline of the program. In all, thirty-two sessions were held over those days—most of them in the capacious conference rooms of the Raynor Library. The participants were too numerous to name individually, but virtually every field and region of Catholic history was represented in the sessions. The scholarly exchanges were, by all reports, quite lively. The sessions had a very strong showing of young scholars, some of whom had their first opportunity to deliver a paper. The interchanges and address-sharing went on through all the conference breaks and social events. By all reports, many felt that the conference had been a great experience.
Other highlights of the conference included a wonderful opening reception at the historic Pabst Mansion (for many years the official residence of the Archbishops of Milwaukee and today a splendid museum) hosted by the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and Archbishop Timothy Dolan. Another reception in the Prucha Room of the University Archives was sponsored before the banquet by the Urban Institute of Marquette.
Archbishop Dolan offered a brief opening prayer and welcome at the banquet. The banquet speaker was Professor Thomas Jablonsky of the Marquette [End Page 1022] History Department, who spoke about his recently published history of Marquette and accentuated the significance of the University in American Catholic higher education. The Reverend Joseph Chinnici, O.F.M., this year's president, spoke briefly, announcing his plans for filling the vacancies in the executive office of the ACHA. Rev. Msgr. Robert Trisco spoke as well, urging other Catholic institutions to host future spring meetings. Next year, St. Mary's College at Notre Dame, Indiana will be sponsoring the conference.
One noteworthy event at the conference was the graduate student "networking" session organized by Dr. Angelyn Dries, O.S.F., and Father Chinnici. At lunch on Saturday, graduate students gathered in one of the conference rooms and shared their research interests and ideas. This was a lively and well-received session—and the seedbed of future members of the Association.
The events of the conference were brought to a close on Saturday afternoon, and the remaining participants were welcomed to the University's Holy Family Chapel for a Palm Sunday Vigil Mass celebrated by the Very Reverend Curt Frederick, Vicar for Clergy of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
The steering committee and Marquette University wish to thank all who sponsored the conference and especially Archbishop Timothy Dolan, who was able to be with us for the formal pre-banquet reception and the banquet itself. It especially thanks the many participants whose excellent papers and presentations were the heart and soul of the whole event.
Vatican Apostolic Library and Secret Archives
In an article of L'Osservatore Romano of June 13, 2007 Bishop Raffaele Farina, S.D.B., prefect...
