Priests for the 21st Century: Revisioning Priesthood for a New Day

Moderator: Diane Vella, MA

Diane Vella has served as a Lay Ecclesial Minister on Long Island for over 40 years on both the diocesan parish levels, with special interest and expertise in the fields of Adult Faith Formation and Lay Ministry Formation.  For most of those years she has also served as an Adjunct Instructor in Theology at Molloy University.  She holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from Molloy College, and an M.A. in Systematic Theology from Boston College.

Panelists:

Thomas Groome, PhD

Thomas Groome is Director of the Church in the 21st Century and professor of Theology and Religious Education at Boston College. Groome’s areas of expertise are Catholic and religious education, issues of the Catholic Church and society; religion and politics; the papacy; pastoral ministry, spiritual practices. His latest book, What Makes Education Catholic: Spiritual Foundations (Orbis 2021) adds to his extensive list of books and articles. A native of County Kildare, Ireland, Tom came to the US and completed an M.A. from Fordham University and a doctoral degree in religious education from Union Theological Seminary/Columbia University.

Bishop John Stowe

Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv has devoted his priesthood to ministering to the poor and marginalized. Since March 12, 2015, he has served as Bishop of Lexington, Kentucky, one of the poorest dioceses in the USA. Bishop Stowe has been active in Pax Christi since his theology studies at the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley. Today he is the Bishop-President of Pax Christi, USA, selected for his lifelong commitment to peacemaking, disarmament, and racial and social justice. He is an ardent supporter of immigrant rights and immigration reform. At 51, he is among the youngest members of the US Catholic Conference of Bishops, and one of the strongest voices arguing against any form of discrimination and in support of protecting the basic rights of all persons, including members of the LGBT community.

Zeni Fox, PhD

Zeni Fox, is professor emerita of Pastoral Theology, Seton Hall University. Her research and numerous publications have focused primarily on the laity, lay ecclesial ministry, and the spirituality of lay leaders. Zeni is an internationally recognized expert on lay ecclesial ministry and for over 15 years she served as an advisor to the United States Bishops’ Committee on the Laity and Subcommittee on Lay Ministry.  Dr. Fox has also been involved in programs and initiatives aimed at strengthening parish life and is especially interested in exploring the collaboration of deacons, lay ecclesial ministers, priests and vowed religious in today’s Church. More recently, Zeni’s publications have focused on aspects of Catholic healthcare. Dr. Fox is the recipient of numerous awards, including two honorary doctorates.