Visit of Prof. John Sullivan
Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education was delighted to welcome Professor John Sullivan (Liverpool Hope University and Newman University, Birmingham) to DCU Institute of Education on the 22nd and 23rd October 2018 for a series of very thought-provoking interventions with staff and students as well as with the public.
Working with religious education and chaplaincy students, John brought home the importance of knowing your subject, your students, your context. John’s style allowed for good interaction with his students. Both groups expressed an interest in further work with John along the way – and reading up on his material.
John’s public lecture gathered 70 people interested in his topic: What kind of Catholic Voice for a changing society. For those who know John his scholarly, insightful, personal and faith-filled approach was no surprise. For many it was the first opportunity to hear this leading Catholic researcher, thinker and writer weave his love for learning with his love for the Church into an encouragement for all Catholics to engage seriously, responsibly and compassionately with theology and education, mission and practice, faith and culture.
Catherine McCormack, one of the attendees commented:
‘Thank you for the opportunity to listen to John Sullivan last evening. It was a gentle exploration of the Catholic ‘voice’ issue. We often find ourselves seeking an appropriate balance between ‘giving out’ or ‘giving in’ when the ‘right’ to be Catholic today is challenged. John has given us a five-point reminder of how to cope in those discussions and how not to resort to this giving out or giving in.
It was positive to see the healthy turn out and the debate was also stimulating.
Keep up the good work and I look forward to many more interesting events and speakers’.