Lejla Demiri to begin teaching post at University of Tübingen

Lay Centre Alumna Lejla Demiri recently shared her reflections with us about life at the Lay Centre, and about her future plans.

I lived at the Lay Centre between October 2002 and July 2004. While living at the Lay Centre I studied Christian theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University (holding a Nostra Aetate scholarship awarded by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue). First I obtained a Post-graduate Diploma (graduated in June 2003) and then a Licentiate in Interreligious Studies (graduated in July 2004).

At the moment I am a post-doctoral research fellow at a project called “Zukunftsphilologie: Revisiting the Canons of Textual Scholarship” at the Free University of Berlin. My current research examines a late 17th and early 18th century Muslim theologian’s views on religious pluralism. Just recently I’ve been offered a teaching position at Tübingen University where I’ll be teaching Islamic Theology, starting next academic year.

The Lay Centre was not only a place that provided me with accommodation and other facilities for enjoying my student days in Rome, but more importantly, as a Muslim who takes matters of faith seriously, it offered me abundant possibilities to further my knowledge of Christian tradition and spirituality. It served as an excellent platform to meet important church figures, eminent scholars of different faith backgrounds, diplomats, journalists – simply people from all walks of life. It introduced me to the world of interfaith dialogue in the most natural way: through lifelong friendships.

 

Lay Centre Alumnus now Coordinator for the Office of Justice and Life

Lay Centre Alumnus, Stuart Andrie, has recently been appointed Coordinator for the Office of Justice and Life or the Diocese of Victoria, Canada. The Mission Statement for this Diocesan Office is as follows:“The Diocesan Office of Justice and Life, working together with parishes, diocesan groups and parish-based communities, promotes the Catholic Church’s teaching on social justice relative to integral human development as a central aspect of the proclamation of the Gospel.”

Stuart received his BA in Theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville and his MA in Religious Studies from Providence College in Rhode Island.  Stuart also completed four years of postgraduate studies at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome and he later taught in the Caribbean for two years in Antigua where he served as a lay missionary.

Congratulations Stuart!

… But Not Good-Bye, Avner returns to Israel

This past January, Lay Centre almnus Avner Ecker returned to Israel. Before leaving he sent his thanks to the community for its support during his time in Rome…

I stayed at the Lay Centre this past October until January, 2012.

I was a fellow at the Cardinal Bea Center for Judaic studies at the Gregorian University. I took two courses:  The story cycle of Abraham Isaac and Jacob, with Prof. J.-P Sonnet, and Christian Epigraphy with Prof. Boccharelli. Other than this, I conducted an intensive independent study of the archaeological sites of Rome (in other words I walked around a lot), and wrote my PhD proposal:

The Urban Culture of Roman Judaea/Palaestina and Arabia from the Flavians to the Tetrarchy– Inscriptions in Context.

Upon my return to Israel I will continue writing my PhD in the Institute of Archaeology of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and will continue working as a teaching assistant there for the course: Introduction to Roman Archaeology. Other than this, I will continue work on several archaeological projects: Excavations of Sepphoris, Excavations of Beit-Loya, co-authoring a book about Roman and Hellenistic Jaffa (with Prof. Hannah Cotton, Prof. Jonathan Price, Ms. Anna Veronese, Ms. Yana Tchekhanovets) and reading the Greek and Latin inscriptions from Herodium – King Herod’s fortress and tomb.

While in Rome, I was a stranger in a strange land and the people of the Lay Center gave me a home away from home. A loving trusting open community to which I was happy to return every night. Such peace of mind is absolutely necessary for any work to be done. One cannot work (at least this one) when his soul is tormented by loneliness. Other than this, on another personal level, I have made contacts here with future and present scholars of the church, heard opinions and had daily dialogue with people of different cultures and faiths – there was not a day in which I did not learn something new. I met good people and made good friends.

Thank you.

yours

Avner

Lay Centre Alumna completes doctorate: “Contemporary Turkish Study of Christianity”

Lay Centre Alumna, Betul Avci, recently completed her doctorate at the Gregorian University, which was entitled “Contemporary Turkish of Christianity.”

Betul recently shared with us her experience of studying in Rome and living at the Lay Centre:

I stayed at the Lay Centre for almost four years in total between 2000-2003. While I was there I was a full time student at the Gregorian University and took some courses at the Angelicum. As a non-Christian student, I tried to learn as much as possible about fundamental issues of Christian theology. I finished my Licenciate at the Gregorian with a thesis entitled “Idea of Revelation in Christianity: Revelation as Progressive.” My doctoral dissertation is entitled “Contemporary Turkish Study of Christianity.” At the moment, I am waiting to be appointed at a faculty position in Turkey. I will teach religious studies focusing on Christianity.

The Lay Centre was not just a place to stay for me. It was rather a place to learn by living together with Catholic people who are serious about their faith traditions. Here I felt at home where I did not have to be “politically correct” all the time. I was free to ask silly questions. Because the people around me were my housemates, they were my Roman family. Moreover,  I could share my Muslim experience with them also.

Congratulations to Two Lay Centre Alumni!

Lay Centre Alumnus Rev. Michael Wimmer, ordained to the priesthood.

Congratulations to Rev. Michael Wimmer who was ordained to the priesthood on Saturday, 17 September for the Community of the Beatitudes. Michael was part of the Lay Centre residential community during the 2003-2004 academic year. Congratulations also to Rev. Dr. Johann Schneider who was elected regional bishop for Halle-Wittenberg on 18 November by the Synod of the Lutheran Church in Central Germany. Bishop-elect Schneider lived at the Lay Centre from 1993-1994.

Lay Centre Alumnus, Bishop-elect Johann Schneider (Lutheran Church in Central Germany)

Highlights from the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Watch the video of  Vespers with Pope Benedict XVI Solemn Closing of the Week

Read AJ Boyd’s Blog, with the full text of the Pope’s sermon.

Listen to Donna Orsuto’s Sermon for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity at the service organised by Churches Together in Rome and hosted by Ponte Sant’Angelo Methodist Church

Dr Donna Orsuto, a professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University and Co-founder and Director of the Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas, Rome

The Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas: Catholic, Ecumenical, and Interreligious

An inspiring article about the Lay Centre by AJ Boyd, appearing in Koinonia, the newsletter of the Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations.

The Lay Centre at Foyer Unitas: Catholic, Ecumenical, and Interreligious