OLLU conference examines faith

Melissa Rentería - Conexión

Web Posted: 02/04/2010 12:00 CST

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What: Seventh Annual Mexican American Scholars Conference, a two-day free event at Our Lady of the Lake University that examines faith, spirituality and the role of both in Mexican American community activism.
When: Feb. 11-12
Where: OLLU’s Providence Hall, 411 S.W. 24th St.
How much: All conference events are free and open to the public.
For more: Visit the events calendar at ollusa.edu for a complete conference schedule.

Mexican American theologians and scholars will gather at Our Lady of the Lake University for a two-day conference that examines faith, spirituality and the role of both in Mexican American community activism.

The Seventh Annual Mexican American Scholars Conference takes place Feb. 11-12 at the OLLU campus. Presentations will cover the role that religion through literature, art and music has in the Mexican American community. The conference, held at OLLU's Providence Hall, is free and open to the public.

Nancy Pineda-Madrid, an El Paso native who is a Boston College theology professor, is the conference's scheduled keynote speaker. She is one of the few Latina theologians in the United States. Her talk takes place at 7:15 p.m., Feb. 11.

Pineda-Madrid, who describes her writing and research as “Latina feminist theology,” will talk about popular Catholicism and spirituality on the borderlands.

She says the borderlands mean the figurative area where many bilingual and bicultural Latinos live.

“I will also share how popular practices enable us to draw closer to God, and I will address the practices that have grown in response to the femicide in Juarez, Mexico,” Pineda-Madrid says.

Pineda-Madrid's talk follows a 6 p.m. dinner that is open to the general public. However, reservations are required. Call (210) 431-4118 to RSVP by Friday, Feb. 5.

Other conference highlights include:

A panel discussion at 1 p.m. on Feb. 11 featuring members of Las Hermanas and PADRES, two national groups made up of nuns, priests and lay people formed during the Chicano Movement in the 1960s and 1970s to advocate for Mexican American civil rights. The Ralph Ruiz, founder of PADRES, will participate in a panel discussion on a documentary of the group.

At 11 a.m. on Feb. 12, OLLU theology professor John Nira will present the findings of an analysis conducted of Mexican American communities that suggest the spiritual and religious influences that inspired social causes of the past might not have such significant role in today's fight against injustices.