SYMPOSIUM ON THE ABSOLUTE PRIMACY OF CHRIST

In Medieval times, all of the great scholastics, including saints like Anselm, Albert the Great, Thomas Aquinas, Bonaventure and Bl. John Duns Scotus, grappled with the question of God's primary motive in bring about the Incarnation. 

Join us at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Catholic Retreat Center in Norwood, Ohio on the weekend of July 14th-16th, 2023, to learn more about the absolute primacy as scholars present theological arguments in favor of the absolute primacy of Christ.  This will also present an opportunity for them to create a resource for theologians and the faithful alike, who want to learn more about the beauty and intricacies of this Christocentric perspective of creation and salvation history.

Opening prayer and remarks begin on Friday, July 14th at 6:30 p.m. Dinner will not be served on Friday, July 14th.

Symposium ends on Sunday, July 16th after closing remarks and a blessing starting at 2:30 p.m.

Overnight accommodations at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Catholic Retreat Center are single occupancy rooms.  All rooms have a bed, desk, chair and sink.  Shower and restrooms are shared. Please note that rooms DO NOT have air-conditioning but each room has a ceiling fan.  Additional fans can be requested. All bedding and a set of towels are provided.  Please bring all personal items needed. 

We are unable to make accommodations for special dietary needs. Please plan accordingly.

Msgr. Arthur B. Calkins

Msgr. Arthur B. Calkins is a native of Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. and was ordained a priest on  May 7th, 1970 for the Archdiocese of New Orleans where he served in various parishes as parochial vicar and was involved in other pastoral activities.  He has a master’s degree in theology from the Catholic University of America, a licentiate in sacred theology with specialization in Mariology from the International Marian Research Institute in Dayton and a doctorate which he earned summa cum laude in the same field from the Pontifical Theological Faculty of St. Bonaventure (the Seraphicum) in Rome. His doctoral study, Totus Tuus: John Paul II’s Program of Marian Consecration and Entrustment (New Bedford, MA: Academy of the Immaculate “Studies and Texts,” No. 1), had gone into four printings and a second edition is now in print with the title Totus Tuus: Pope Saint John Paul II’s Program of Marian Consecration and Entrustment. In 2006 Edizioni Cantagalli of Siena, Italy published his anthology on the Marian Magisterium of Pope John Paul II entitled Totus Tuus. Il Magistero Mariano di Giovanni Paolo II.  His articles on Mariology and spirituality have appeared in both popular and scholarly publications as well as in the acts of congresses and symposia. A list of his publications along with some of his articles may be found at http://www.christendom-awake.org/pages/calkins/calkins.html Msgr. Calkins was named a corresponding member of the Pontifical International Marian Academy in 1985 and a corresponding member of the Pontifical Roman Theological Academy in 1995. He served as an official of the Pontifical Commission “Ecclesia Dei” from 1991 to 2010. He was named a Monsignor at the level of Chaplain of His Holiness in 1997 and was promoted to be a Prelate of Honor in 2010. In recent years he has been involved in the publication of some English translations of the works of the Blessed Concepción (Conchita) Cabrera de Armida (1862-1937). He retired from active priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of New Orleans as of the first of July 2017 when he took up residence at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Parish in Sulphur, LA where he continues his priestly ministry. He contributed to the recently published Oxford Handbook of Mary and has given several papers at the annual meeting of the Mariological Society of America as well as preaching a number of missions and retreats.

Fr. Maximilian M. Dean

Fr. Maximilian Mary, a hermit in the Diocese of Harrisburg, PA, received his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 1991. After three years of serving the poor and the youth as a member of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, he transferred to the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate where he completed his theological formation and was ordained to the priesthood in the Jubilee Year 2000. With Fr. Peter Damian Fehlner he co-authored a book on the life and charism of St. Francis of Assisi entitled Virgo Facta Ecclesia and has written two other books: In Pursuit of Immortal Souls and A Primer on the Absolute Primacy of Christ. His articles have appeared in Missio Immaculatae, Soul Magazine, and the National Catholic Register and he was a speaker at the international symposium on Mary, Coredemptrix, in Leicestershire, England, in 2001. He created the video series The Cornerstone and the website AbsolutePrimacyOfChrist.org to help explain the Franciscan thesis on the absolute primacy of Christ based on the Scriptures, Church Fathers, and the Saints. 

Fr. Daniel G. Dozier

Father Daniel G. Dozier, TOF is a Byzantine Catholic priest and pastor and an Associate Professor of Sacred Scripture at the St. Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA. Ordained a deacon in 2008 and a priest in 2022, he has over 30 years of experience in catechetical leadership, and currently serves as the Assistant Director of Eastern Christian Formation for the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix and is a longstanding member of the USCCB’s Eparchial Directors of Religious Education and an instructor with God With Us Online. Most recently he was the co-host of “Becoming Byzantine,” a year-long online study of the Ukrainian Catholic Catechism, Christ Our Pascha.  He has spoken nationally at retreats, conferences and congresses to clergy and laity in the areas of iconic catechesis, Scripture, parish leadership and vocational development.  

  He is the author of 20 Answers on Eastern Catholicism, from Catholic Answers Press, as well as the The Twelve Great Feasts of the Messiah and Mother of God from Eastern Christian Publications, and The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius: Classics Made Simple from TAN Publishing. He has written for Eastern Churches Journal, Catholic Answers, and is a regular columnist for Our Sunday Visitor’s Deacon Digest.  

  Fr. Daniel is a member of the Third Order of Saint Francis and has a BA in Theology from Franciscan University, an MA in Organizational Leadership from Bethel University, and an MATS in Biblical Exposition from the University of Northwestern-St Paul.

Mr. Bradford Fellmeth

Bradford Fellmeth is a lay theologian and a member of the Kolbe Center for the Study of Creation’s leadership team. He earned his master’s degree in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville, defending his thesis on the Church’s teaching about the origin of Adam’s body; he is nearing publication of a book-length expansion of this thesis. In addition to giving talks and preparing articles about creation and related theological or philosophical subjects, he has taught a freshman-level course on Scripture and Tradition at Franciscan University. He works as a carpenter and is happily married with two children.

Dr. Jared Goff

Talk title: The Missions of Charity: John Duns Scotus (and His Disciples) on the Motive of the Incarnation and Sending of the Holy Spirit

Bio: Jared Isaac Goff is an instructor of dogmatic theology at Saints Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary. He is the curator and editor of Peter Damian Fehlner's eight-volume Collected Essays (2023) and The Theologian of Auschwitz: St. Maximilian on the Immaculate Conception in the life of the Church, coeditor of A Companion to Bonaventure (2014) and author of studies and translations relating to Franciscan figures and topics, including Bonaventure and John Duns Scotus, as well as, studies on Orthodox-Catholic ecumenical dialogue.

Dr. Stephen Hildebrand

Dr. Stephen Hildebrand received a B.A. in Philosophy and Mathematics in 1995 from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas.  He did his Master’s and Doctoral work at Fordham University, graduating in 2002 with a degree in Historical Theology with an emphasis on the early Church. He has published several books and translations. Since 2001 he has taught theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, serving as chair of the Department of Theology from 2015-2021, and Dean of the School of Theology and Philosophy since 2022. Dr. Hildebrand, besides translating two books by Basil of Caesarea and one by Bishop Robert Grosseteste, has written and edited books such as Faith and Freedom: Ex corde Ecclesiae at Twenty Five and two books covering the theology, exegesis and spirituality of St. Basil the Great. His articles have been published in Pastoral and Homiletic Review, The American Benedictine Review and Augustinian Studies.

Dr. Teng Li

Dr. Teng Li is an Associate Professor of Medieval History in the World History Department of Shanghai Normal University. His main areas of expertise include 12th century Renaissance, historical writings and religious orders during the 11th through the 13th century, comparative religion, and the Catholic Church in China from the Ming Dynasty until now. Dr. Li received his Bachelor’s Degree in History from Liaocheng University, a Master’s in World History at Shanghai University, and completed his doctoral work on Rupert of Deutz and Anselm of Havelberg at the University of Liverpool. He has translated several books, given many conferences and his articles have been published in the Chinese periodicals Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture, The Historical Research, Chinese Catholics and others as well.

Mr. Hugh Owen

Hugh Owen is the convert son of Sir David Owen, a former secretary general of International Planned Parenthood Federation. Mr. Owen directs the Kolbe Center for the Study of Creation which provides a forum for Catholic theologians, philosophers, and natural scientists all over the world who defend the traditional Catholic doctrine of creation that was handed down from the Apostles and who are dedicated to making sure that the evidence for and against the evolutionary hypothesis is made available to Church leaders and to the lay faithful. He has published many books and articles on theological and secular topics and is a member of the recently-founded John Paul II Academy for Human Life and the Family.  He and his wife Maria live in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia and have nine children and nineteen grandchildren (so far!), including a daughter who is a postulant with the Benedictines of Mary in Ava, Missouri.