Theologian to explain ‘Falling in Love With God’ during parish mission at St. Thomas the Apostle

“Falling in Love With God” results in a relationship you will appreciate, nurture and benefit from for the rest of your life.

So don’t miss the opportunity to hear award-winning Bible scholar, writer and lecturer Pauline A. Viviano discuss this miraculous process during the free parish mission that begins during Masses the weekend of Saturday, March 3, at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 1500 Brookdale Road, Naperville, and continues during morning and evening sessions Monday, March 5 – Wednesday, March 7.

Viviano will speak during weekend Masses at 4:30 p.m., Saturday, and 8:00, 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. Sunday. Weekday sessions of the mission will be held from 9:15 – 10:15 a.m., and from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the church. Weekday topics include “Longing for God,” “God Longs for Us,” and “Living the Longing.” A light reception will follow the evening programs, and everyone is invited to attend as many sessions as possible.

According to Chari Rosales, director of S.T.A.F.F.S. (St. Thomas Adult Faith Formation & Spirituality) Viviano is an engaging speaker, “a down-to-earth, open and loving person. Her presentations will surely be interesting, applicable to our daily lives, and reveal the depth of the relationship all of us can experience with our loving Creator.”

Viviano, an associate professor of theology at Loyola University of Chicago, frequently lectures at churches and synagogues in and around Chicago. She received the prestigious Chicago Medallion for Excellence in Catechesis (instruction and formation in the Catholic faith) for biblical catechesis of adult Catholics from the Office of Catechesis and Youth Ministry of the Chicago Archdiocese in 2008. She also was the honored recipient of the 2008 Mater Dei Award for outstanding contribution of a woman to the ministry of the Church from St. Joseph’s Seminary, the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Most recently, Viviano received an “Honorable Mention for Best Essay in a Scholarly Journal” from the 2011 Catholic Press Awards for her article, “I Am My Beloved’s (Song of Songs 7:10): The Glory of Being Human in the Old Testament” (“Chicago Studies”, 49:3, Fall-Winter 2010:243-252).  

In addition to articles in academic and popular journals, Viviano’s publications include reading guides for the Books of Joshua, Judges, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings and Ruth for the first edition of the “Catholic Study Bible,” and a commentary of the Book of Genesis in the Collegeville Bible Commentary Series. After recently completing a commentary on the Books of Jeremiah and Baruch for the Collegeville series, Viviano is working on a literary analysis of the Books of Jeremiah and Lamentations.

Viviano holds a doctorate in biblical languages and literature from St. Louis University.

For more information about “Falling in Love With God,” contact Rosales at (630) 355-8980, ext. 138, or at crosales@stapostle.org. 

St. Thomas the Apostle, a parish of the Diocese of Joliet, strives to bear the Good News of God’s unconditional love to all generations through worship, faith formation, witness and service. Organized in 1984, the St. Thomas faith community numbers more than 3,300 households of more than 11,000 people. Complete news and information on parish events, guest speakers and special programs can be viewed at www.stapostle.org. For general parish information, call (630) 355-8980 or visit www.stapostle.org.

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