Athenaeum, Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary, Cincinnati, OH

Tuesday evening, May 21, 2013 through Friday morning, May 24, 2013

The Mariological Society of America invites proposals for its annual conference to be held in Cincinnati, Ohio (May 21-24, 2013), on the theme of “Mary and the New Evangelization.”

Inspired by Paul VI’s recognition of Mary as “the Star of the evangelization ever renewed” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, no. 82 [1975]), this conference focuses on the role of Mary in evangelization, with particular attention on Mary’s importance for the “new evangelization” called for by John Paul II and Benedict XVI.

This theme was chosen in light of the “Year of Faith” (October 11, 2012–November 13, 2013), announced by Benedict XVI to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II and to begin with the October 2012 Synod of Bishops on “the New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith.”

Possible topics might include:

— Mary as the “Star of evangelization” according to Paul VI, and “the Star of the new evangelization” according to John Paul II or Benedict XVI

—  Mary and the evangelization of culture in the new evangelization (e.g., through art, the new media, in Latino culture, in the catechesis of youth, etc.)

—  Historical models of Mary and evangelization (past efforts to relate Mary to the evangelical and missionary tasks of the Church and what we can learn from them today)

—  Mary as the model for evangelization according to Sacred Scripture

—  Theological and spiritual aspects of Mary’s role in the new evangelization (e.g., Mary and ecclesial identity; the “Marian profile” of the Church; Mary’s presence in the Church—as guide, teacher, comforter, protectress, etc.; Mary’s spiritual motherhood; Mary’s mediation of grace, Mary and the Mystical Body of Christ; Mary and the Eucharist; Mary as the model of virtues and holiness; Mary’s association with Christ in the work of redemption, etc.)

—  Mary as the model and exemplar of the new evangelization for various ecclesial groups (e.g., priests, religious, the laity, families, Marian movements, ecclesial communities, etc.)

Please send abstracts by October 31, 2012, to Fr. Thomas Buffer  (fatherbuffer@hotmail.com) and/or Dr. Robert Fastiggi (Fastiggi.Robert@shms.edu). The abstract should be about 350-500 words and include sources.