Fairfield University's Center for Catholic Studies to host Mary of Magdala Celebration | Press Releases

On Thursday, April 16, Fairfield University will host its first Mary of Magdala Celebration, part of an effort to restore awareness of St. Mary of Magdala as the first witness to the Resurrection and as a respected leader of the early Church. The celebration, free and open to the public, is sponsored by Fairfield University's Center for Catholic Studies, and will take place at 5 p.m. in the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius of Loyola, on the Fairfield campus.

The event came about in relation to a recent visit to Fairfield by Sr. Christine Schenk, CSJ, executive director of FutureChurch, a national coalition of parish-centered Catholics working for full participation of all Catholics in the life of the Catholic Church. Sr. Christine has coordinated a number of Mary of Magdala events worldwide. Last year, approximately 300 "Mary of Magdala" celebrations were held. The celebrations support one of FutureChurch's 'national dialogue projects' concerning celebrating women witnesses. It aims to "put women back in the biblical picture" and restore women leaders, such as Mary of Magdala, to Lectionary texts.

Two Fairfield University students, senior Anne Krane and junior Sarah Gatti, are planning the celebration with the Center for Catholic Studies. Both students are Religious Studies majors and the event is the culmination of their independent study project, entitled, "Why Do We Stay?"

For more information, call Jocelyn Collen at the Center for Catholic Studies at (203) 254-4000, ext. 3415 or visit fairfield.edu/catholicstudies .