Father Jim Wallace Father Jim Wallace, C.Ss.R., was named the president of the Academy of Homiletics. It is the first time a Catholic priest has ever been president of this national organization, the most prestigious organization of teachers of homiletics in the U.S. At Holy Trinity in Georgetown near Washington, D.C., you can experience homilies that draw from the world of art, poetry, and theater, to bring the word of God alive today. They are preached by Redemptorist Father Jim Wallace, a professor at Washington Theological Union, a nearby Catholic graduate school of theology and ministry. "The arts provide a link to people's everyday experiences that helps them make a deeper connection between the Gospels and their own lives," says Father Wallace. "The work of many artists give us a window on the vulnerability of our fellow man." Father Wallace began teaching seminarians in 1976 at Mt. St. Alphonsus, then a Redemptorist seminary on the Hudson River in Esopus, NY. Six years before, following his ordination in 1970, he attended graduate school at Syracuse University and received a degree in Communication. He went on to earn a Doctoral degree in the same field from North Western University. The plan was to put his knowledge and experience to work preaching in a parish, but the faculty at Mt. St. Alphonsus asked him to consider teaching the art of preaching to seminarians instead. "I did not become a priest with teaching in mind," Father Wallace admits, "but about 15 years ago, I realized that teaching is in fact my vocation within a vocation. Preaching demands reflection and scriptural interpretation that allows the life-giving Word to speak to us today. The primary duty of the priest is proclaiming the doctrine, so teaching this art pulls everything together for me." At Washington Theological Union (in the District of Columbia), Father Wallace teaches courses that help seminarians develop their preaching skills, including homiletic theory and practice, preaching the great feasts of the Church, and preaching mission and retreats. "It's exciting to see how each person comes to find their own voice as a preacher," he says. In addition to teaching and lending a hand at Holy Trinity, Father Wallace is the well-known author of several books on homiletics and recently completed a new book of homilies that will be published this year. "I've had a blessed and unusual life as a Redemptorist," he adds. My fellow Redemptorists are warm, grounded men who truly care about people. Our love for the Gospel and the people has provided me with a rewarding and enriching life. And in my teaching ministry I have been able to make friends around the world. Father Kevin O'Neil Moral theology at the service of the people When St. Alphonsus Liguori approached moral theology in the 1700s, he was dismayed to find a rigid set of teachings that was not designed to help lead everyday men and women to salvation. In response, he set out to create a moral theology rooted in pastoral experience and focused on the good of the people. Today, Redemptorists like Fr. Kevin O'Neil, C.Ss.R., continue the work St. Alphonsus started, practicing a moral theology that helps people deal with the practical concerns of life. Fr. O'Neil teaches moral theology at Washington Theological Union, where he has been a member of the faculty since 1992. He is also the author of many articles on moral theology and the co-author of a new book titled The Essential Moral Handbook which explores the foundations of a moral life and range of issues including bioethics, social ethics, a Catholic approach to the environment, and sexual ethics in plain English. Fr. O'Neil also shares his thoughts on moral theology at lectures and workshops in the U.S. and Caribbean. Who are we and who are we meant to be? "To me, moral theology is faith seeking understanding about the kind of person we should be," Fr. O'Neil explains. "We must ask ourselves who we are, who we are meant to be, and what we must do to get there. God gives each of us the gift of freedom. We are free to make the choices that shape our lives. Moral theology helps guide us in the responsible use of that freedom so we can harmonize our relationship with God, other people, ourselves, and the world around us." While the four foundational categories of freedom, virtue, sin, and conversion that Fr. O'Neil highlights in moral theology may sound more theoretical than practical, he shows his students, those who attend his workshops, and the people who read his writings that each of these categories is deeply rooted in daily life. He speaks of end of life issues, what happens when you disagree with Church teachings, and the effect of the dumbing down of public political discussions. Real life issues at stake "Moral theology today is never abstract. These are real life issues and decisions. My goal is to get people to ask themselves what is at stake when they make these decisions. The fundamental question at the heart of moral theology is, 'What are we here for?' That's not a question that's often considered in our culture today," he adds.