MTSM Faculty Produce Festschrift in Honor of Archbishop Schnurr

The story below was originally published in The Athenaeum, MTSM’s bi-annual magazine. The Athenaeum is published twice a year for alumni, patrons and friends of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology. To be added to the mailing list, contact: Heidi Walsh at 513.233.6159 or hwalsh@athenaeum.edu.

On July 20, The Most Rev. Dennis M. Schnurr, Archbishop of Cincinnati, celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood. The faculty of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology were looking for a way to honor and celebrate the Archbishop’s contributions to the Archdiocese and to a place where he serves as Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

The answer came in the form of a ‘festschrift’, the literal translation of the German word is ‘celebration writing’ but more translatable to a ‘celebration publication’. Edited by Rev. Ryan T. Ruiz, S.L.D., the Dean of the School of Theology and Associate Professor of Liturgy & Sacraments and Rev. David J. Endres, Ph.D., the Dean of the Athenaeum of Ohio and Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and Professor of Church History & Historical Theology, Antisite nostro: The Episcopal Ministry of Life in the Local Church, was published by Wipf and Stock in July, featuring a series of essays by the faculty of MTSM.

“Festschrifts are usually written in honor of academics, and looking back at their body of work,” Fr. Ruiz said. “In this case, we are looking back on the Archbishop’s body of work, but focused on his pastoral life and ministry. We thought this was a way we could give due honor to the Archbishop through our scholarship.”

Antisite nostro is broken up into three sections, featuring essays on the three offices of Episcopacy and the priesthood: sanctification, teaching and shepherding. The foreword was contributed by The Most Rev. Timothy P. Borglio, Archbishop for the Military Services, USA and President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The Very Rev. Anthony R. Brausch, President & Rector of MTSM, offered an introductory essay: The Episcopus.

“I found Fr. Brausch’s essay to be very edifying,” Fr. Ruiz said. “It gives a high-level, philosophical perspective of the various details of the Bishop exercising his ministry in a world often times at odds with the Church.”

Section I is titled Munus Sanctificandi (the duty to sanctify) with essays by Fr. Ruiz and Rev. Andrew J. Moss, J.C.L. (Rev. Moss was at MTSM last year and is now on the faculty at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus) Section II is Munus Docendi (the duty to teach) with essays from Deacon Tracy W. Jamison, Ph.D. (Professor of Philosophy), Samuel B. Johnson, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies) and Alan D. Mostrom, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology). Section III is Munus Regendi (the duty to shepherd) features essays by Fr. Endres, Rev. Anthony J. Stoeppel, S.T.D. (Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology) and Matthew C. Genung, S.S.D. (Associate Professor of Biblical Studies).

“The publication highlights the faculty at MTSM,” Fr. Ruiz said. “It has been awhile since we have done a larger scholarly endeavor as an institution and it was a good way to demonstrate the quality of our faculty and their intellectual prowess. The faculty here are a great testament to the Church, being in communion with one another, supporting one another and sharing with one another the blessings and resources we have for the benefits of others.”

Antisite nostro may be purchased through the publisher Wipf and Stock, here.