Loading...
Loading...
Click here if you don’t see subscription options
Thomas J. ReeseNovember 25, 2002

Three years ago I had the pleasure of introducing John R. Donahue, S.J., as our Word columnist. He joined the roster of successors to Vincent P. McCorry, S.J., who had written the column for 20 years until 1973: Thomas H. Stahel, S.J., George McCauley, S.J., Joseph A.Tetlow, S.J., John C. Hawley, S.J., Monica Hellwig, Gary Seibert, S.J., Patrick J. Ryan, S.J., John F. Kavanaugh, S.J., and Dennis Hamm, S.J.

 

We chose Father Donahue because he is an outstanding Scripture scholar who has a keen interest in issues of justice. I had come to know him through his involvement with the Preaching the Just Word project of the Woodstock Theological Center as well as through his book, The Gospel in Parable, which I found an essential resource for preaching. I expected he would be a perfect fit for America, and I was not disappointed.

During his three years writing the Word column, John’s clear and forceful writing explained the Sunday Scripture readings and helped them pierce our hearts like a two-edged sword. By adding “Praying With Scripture” to the column, he moved beyond scriptural exegesis and homiletic preparation to foster prayerful meditation.

John has received rave reviews for his column. Just ask John W. Donohue, our associate editor, who is constantly receiving compliments for a column he does not write!

Last week, John R. Donahue came to the end of the Lectionary’s three-year cycle of readings for Sundays. These columns will eventually be published in three volumes, one for each year. In fact, the first has already been published by Liturgical Press, Hearing the Word of God: Reflections on the Sunday Readings, Year B, just in time for the new liturgical year.

Now it is my pleasure to introduce our new Word columnist, Dianne Bergant, C.S.A., professor of Biblical Studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. She was president of the Catholic Biblical Association of America (2000-1) and has been an active member of the Chicago Catholic/Jewish Scholars Dialogue for the past 16 years.

Sister Dianne is now on the editorial board of The Bible Today, after serving as its general editor for five years, and is also on the editorial boards of Biblical Theology Bulletin and New Theology Review. She brings to her task a wealth of expertise in biblical interpretation and biblical theology, and a particular interest in issues of peace, ecology and feminism.

Her publications include Israel’s Wisdom Literature: A Liberation-Critical Reading; The Earth Is the Lord’s: The Bible, Ecology and Worship; The Song of Songs: The Love Poetry of Scripture; People of the Covenant: An Invitation to the Old Testament; aswell as the three-volume Preaching the New Lectionary.

We are delighted to have her as part of the America team because we believe that a prayerful reflection on Scripture must enrich the Christian community as we work together to open the world to God’s reign. Without continuous nourishment by God’s word, we can grow weak and dispirited in facing the challenges of a culture that sees no need for God and promotes self-interest as the ultimate value.

The church encourages all of us to delve into the Scriptures for our spiritual nourishment. I have often thought that the difference between a truly adult Catholic and one who is still a child is whether they read and reflect on the Sunday Scriptures before they go to church.

I therefore urge you to read the Sunday Scriptures and our Word column, and pray over them before going to church on Sunday. This can be done individually or in small groups. My dream is to see thousands of Catholics with the Scriptures in one hand and America in the other.

Once again, I want to thank John for his consistently excellent column, and thanks also to Sister Dianne for taking up this challenging task, for which she is so well suited.

Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.
21 years 4 months ago
Congratulations to America for selecting Sr. Dianne Bergant as author of The Word. I recently heard her preach and we are in for a challenging three years!

21 years 4 months ago
I already sent my letter of gratitude and appreciation to John R. Donahue,heading it as "three sad words" in response to his "Ave atque vale." Since then I have been eagerly waiting to see who his replacement would be. I was very happy to see that it was a woman, first of all, because one of the more serious things lacking is a woman's point of view in the "official" liturgical homilies. Your inspired choice resolves that a bit, at least making that perspective available at one step removed through those who rely on The Word for preparing their Sunday homilies.

Having read Dianne's first column, I was fully gratified in knowing that her arrival in the pages of America was worth the wait, and now I await her continuing contributions with an even great sense of expectation. Reading her enlightening words on our Advent waiting, I felt she might be reading my mind. Many thanks!

Fr. Cal Poulin, SJ Xavier University Cagayan de Oro City Philippines

21 years 4 months ago
Congratulations to America for selecting Sr. Dianne Bergant as author of The Word. I recently heard her preach and we are in for a challenging three years!

21 years 4 months ago
I already sent my letter of gratitude and appreciation to John R. Donahue,heading it as "three sad words" in response to his "Ave atque vale." Since then I have been eagerly waiting to see who his replacement would be. I was very happy to see that it was a woman, first of all, because one of the more serious things lacking is a woman's point of view in the "official" liturgical homilies. Your inspired choice resolves that a bit, at least making that perspective available at one step removed through those who rely on The Word for preparing their Sunday homilies.

Having read Dianne's first column, I was fully gratified in knowing that her arrival in the pages of America was worth the wait, and now I await her continuing contributions with an even great sense of expectation. Reading her enlightening words on our Advent waiting, I felt she might be reading my mind. Many thanks!

Fr. Cal Poulin, SJ Xavier University Cagayan de Oro City Philippines

The latest from america

A Homily for Easter Sunday, by Father Terrance Klein
Terrance KleinMarch 27, 2024
As Catholics around the world observe Holy Week, the hosts of “Inside the Vatican,” Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell, take a look at Pope Francis’ Holy Week plans.
Inside the VaticanMarch 27, 2024
A Reflection for Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord, by Sam Sawyer, S.J.
Sam Sawyer, S.J.March 27, 2024
Catholics: Think twice before you bury poor St. Joseph upside down in your front lawn when trying to sell your house.
Simcha FisherMarch 27, 2024