The following comes from a mid-Jan. posting on the blogsite of First Things magazine.
A conference at University of Southern California next month looks to be an important event for Catholic novelists, poets, critics, and editors, one that may give us a sharp assessment of Catholic literary expression at the present time.
The title is “The Future of the Catholic Literary Imagination.” Speakers include Julia Alvarez (How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent and In the Time of the Butterflies), Ron Hansen (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford), Alice McDermott (Charming Billy and At Weddings and Wakes), Tobias Wolff (This Boy’s Life and In Pharaoh’s Army), and poet Dana Gioia, organizer of the conference. (A full schedule is here.)
Plenary Speakers
Julia Alvarez
Ron Hansen
Alice McDermott
Kevin Starr
Tobias Wolff
Plenary Poetry Reading
Dana Gioia
Angela Alaimo O’Donnell
Paul Mariani
Panels
A Poet in the 21st Century
Angela Alaimo O’Donnell (Fordham), moderator
Paul Mariani (Boston College)
James M. Wilson (Villanova)
Patricia Hampl (Minnesota)
Curating the Catholic Literary Imagination: The Role Editors Play in Shaping the Conversation
Gregory Wolfe (Image/Seattle Pacific University), moderator
Joe Hoover, S.J. (America)
Maire Mullins (Christianity & Literature/Pepperdine)
Mark Bauerlein (First Things/Emory University)
The Jesuit Literary Imagination
Steve Mailloux (Loyola-Marymount), moderator
Raymond Schroth, S.J. (America)
Maureen O’Connell (LaSalle University)
Mark Bosco, S.J. (Loyola Chicago)
Catholic Literati: The New Generation
Maire Mullins (Christianity & Literature/Pepperdine), moderator
James M. Wilson (Villanova)
Joshua Hren (University of Mary)Randy Boyagoda (Ryerson College)
Faith and Fiction
Jon Peede (Virginia Quarterly Review), moderator
Mark Eaton (Azusa Pacific)
Paul Contino (Pepperdine)
Spirituality and Literature
Catherine Wolff, moderator
Paul Mariani (Boston College)
Albert Gelpi (Stanford)
Kaya Oakes (UC Berkeley)
Latino Catholic Writers
Francisco Aragón (Notre Dame), moderator
Gina Franco (Knox)
H.G. Carillo (George Washington)
Orlando Ricardo Menes (Notre Dame)
Catholic Writers and California
Barbara Nicolosi-Harrington (Azusa Pacific), moderator
Carol Zapata-Whelan (CSU-Fresno)
Ecumenical Perspectives
Beverly Schneller (Belmont), moderator
Marc Malandra (Biola)
Brett Foster (Wheaton )
Nicole Coonradt (Hillsdale)
Literary Journals and Anthologies
Sam Maio (San Jose State University)
Mary Ann Miller (Caldwell)
Meredith McCann (Dappled Things)
William Baer (University of Evansville)
The State of Catholic Publishing
Una Cadegan (University of Dayton)
Mark Brumley (Ignatian Press)
Joe Durepos (Loyola Press)
High School Seminars (Friday)
The Craft of Writing with Hansen
Ron Hansen, (Santa Clara)
The Craft of Writing with Hampl
Patricia Hampl, (University of Minnesota)
The Art of Poetry with Mariani
Paul Mariani, (Boston College)
The Art of Poetry with Wilson
James M. Wilson (Villanova)
Workshops (Saturday)
Workshop: Poetry
Workshop: Getting Published
Jon Peede and Joshua Hren
Workshop: Non-Fiction
Readings
Words Made Flesh: Reading and Response
Gregory Wolfe is the mentor for this program.
Gregory Wolfe (Image/Seattle Pacific University), moderator
David Griffith (Interlochen Center for the Arts)
Lisa Ampleman (University of Cincinnati)
Samuel Martin (Northwestern College of Iowa)
Kathleen Tarr (In residence in Alaska and Poland)
Brian Volck, M.D.
Jenny Shank (Regis University, Mile High MFA)
To read the original story, click here.
Save us from the “Jesuit Literary Imagination!” Speaker Raymond Schroth, S.J. has written for America Mag., served as Commonweal book editor and a columnist and reporter for the National Catholic Reporter. His blog essays are under IN ALL THINGS on the America website at americamagazine.org .
It is an interesting mix with several speakers who I wouldn’t reflexively identify as progressive Catholics. A bit too far away to travel though.
This is a big worry! All of the these writers call themselves “Catholic?” The Church desperately needs to lead and guide these people! I am reminded of the wayward, immoral, but talented “Catholic” writer, Graham Greene. He KNEW he was doing wrong, in his escapades of adultery, drinking, etc. He knew that, FOR SURE! NO QUESTION! Several Popes commended Greene for his writing– however, they did NOT commend his immoral life! However, in today’s slovenly, “hippie-filth”-driven world, that REFUSES to at least accept CHRIST’S TRUTH— amidst the HORRORS of SIN— there are lots and lots of LIARS, especially in the clergy!! How will many of today’s faithless, Godless, immoral “Catholic” writers, write an award-winning Catholic novel, of CHRIST’S REDEMPTION, for example (like Greene) — if they refuse to accept the fact of sin and immorality, and the need for GRACE and REDEMPTION FROM SIN, by Christ??
There is another HUGE problem, with Catholic writers and poets, of today. We have lost our ancient, traditional Church! Today’s post-Vatican II Church is hardly recognizable, as “Catholic!” It is a modern, secularized “mess,” mostly conformed to the filthy, Godless, “hippie” liberal social activist belief– NOT conformed to CHRIST!— and lacking severely, in spiritual depth, wisdom, holiness, beauty, inspiration, and leadership! Such a poor, shabby Church cannot lead civilizations to HOLINESS, SAINTLINESS— and CHRIST!! Such a Church also cannot inspire good, devout Catholic writers, to bring people to Christ, either!