Heritage Week common text discussion will focus on 'The Significance of Our Story'

Heritage Week common text discussion will focus on 'The Significance of Our Story'

Once again this year, students, faculty, and staff are invited to participate in a common-text reading during Heritage Week – this year on “The Significance of our Story.”

The theme of this year’s Heritage Week (March 2-9) is “Legacy and Learning: Stories of St. Thomas.” To appreciate the meaning of story and the value of our own stories, we will discuss four very brief readings (listed below).

The four readings are available online by visiting the Heritage Week Web site. Students, faculty and staff are invited to download the articles and sign up there for the luncheon discussion (no charge) from noon to 1:15 p.m. Thursday, March 1, in Room 304, Murray-Herrick Campus Center.

The readings provide four different perspectives on “story.” We will begin by taking a literary look at the topic through the article  “Top 10 Reasons We’ll Always Need a Good Story” by Scott Russell Sanders.

The introduction to Rachel Remen’s Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories that Heal presents a psychological understanding of story.

A theological perspective and introduction to narrative theology is found in an excerpt from Frederick Buechner’s Now and Then. He underlines the importance of “listen(ing) to your life. Listen to what happens to you, because it is through what happens to you that God speaks.”

Finally, a St. Thomas story: On the 100th anniversary of his graduation from St. Thomas, I.A. O’Shaughnessy's story and the significance of his legacy is told by Doug Hennes in the winter issue of the St. Thomas magazine.

Our common text luncheon discussion will be facilitated by James Rogers of the Center for Irish Studies and Dr. Michael Mikolajczak of the English Department.

The total length of the readings is 22 pages (about 45 minutes).

Registration for this event and copies of the readings may be obtained by going to the Heritage Week Web site and clicking the appropriate link. You also may register or obtain readings by calling the Office for Mission, (651) 962-5200. There is no charge for the light lunch or for the readings.

Learn more about the legacy of one of our famous graduates and the legacy of your own story!