About the Center for the Study of Spirituality

Founded in 1984 by Dr. Keith Egan with matching financial support from the Sisters of the Holy Cross and Saint Mary’s College, the Center for the Study of Spirituality offers programs that promote the engagement between faith and reason and the connection between mind, body, and spirit. This vision was inspired by the legacy of Saint Mary’s College President Sister Madeleva Wolff, CSC’s establishment of the School of Sacred Theology, which was the first institution in the United States to provide graduate education in theology to women and ran from 1943–1969.

As an academic center, we are a hub for scholarly and public engagement. This draws on intellectual resources in the Catholic and broader Christian tradition as well as how individuals practice faith in their daily lives to develop critical conversations around contemporary religious issues, especially as they relate to women’s experiences in society, the academy, and the church. Among our flagship events are the annual Madeleva Lecture in the Spring semester, which for more than 40 years has brought a renowned women scholar of religion to campus to deliver a public lecture that is later published as a book, and the annual Thomas Merton Lecture in Spirituality, which takes place in the Fall semester. 

In addition to the dozens of public lectures and other events it hosts each academic year, the Center for the Study of Spirituality also supports ongoing research initiatives and academic formation programs for women in the fields of theology and spirituality. The Women Shaping Theology monthly seminar virtually brings together invited women scholars from across the country once a month to share research, network, and engage in professional development. The Madeleva Fellowship program supports multiple advanced graduate students each year to engage in professional development and attend the Madeleva Lecture in person as well as participate in seminars with that year’s distinguished lecturer. The Center also hosts a range of national conferences on topics in spirituality and theology and will soon launch an innovative professional certificate program in compelling preaching for women in the Catholic Church, co-sponsored with the Discerning Deacons project and funded by Lilly Endowment, Inc.

Center for the Study of Spirituality Annual Reports

Annual Report for Academic Year 2023-2024 [PDF Preview/Download]