From the Director...

A Wealth of Collaboration

In this season of celebrating blessings of abundance, I would like to mention one relationship for which I am particularly grateful: the Woodstock Theological Center’s abundant and fruitful relationship with Georgetown University. For the last 30 years, Woodstock has made its home on the Georgetown campus, and the two institutions have collaborated closely on projects, lectures, and seminars with Georgetown faculty in theology, philosophy, business, public policy, law, and medicine. These interactions have brought a rich depth of interdisciplinary study to Woodstock and have promoted the Jesuit and Catholic identity of Georgetown University. One example of the fruits of this relationship was Woodstock’s afternoon of conversation on “Forgiveness and Revenge, In Politics and Business,” a report of which appears in this issue. Georgetown business professor Bob Bies was one of the panelists and the conversation was moderated by Georgetown professor, and Woodstock board member, John Langan, S.J.

Chojnacki, DeGioia, and Brown
(photo: Georgetown University/Phil Humnicky)

On September 20, 2006, the relationship between Woodstock and Georgetown was further strengthened and deepened, when Georgetown University president John DeGioia, Maryland Jesuit Province Provincial Superior Timothy Brown, S.J., and New York Jesuit Province Provincial Superior Gerald Chojnacki, S.J., signed a new agreement formalizing the relationship between Georgetown and Woodstock. This agreement recognizes the rich history of collaboration and establishes a firm basis for a continued and growing association between Woodstock and Georgetown.

In November 1973, the predecessors to Father Brown and Father Chojnacki announced that they were transforming the theological resources of the old Woodstock College into a bold, new kind of institution: a center for theological reflection that would be located in Washington, D.C., and would respond to Father General Pedro Arrupe’s call for “theological reflection on the human problems of today.” In explaining their choice of Washington, D.C., as the Center’s location, the Provincials cited the “collaborative presence” of Georgetown University, and expressed a hope that Woodstock would develop relationships with Georgetown and other institutions that would “afford the Center an interdisciplinary milieu for its research and purpose,” just as Woodstock’s independence would “assure the Center appropriate freedom for its primary and unique task or mission.” Looking back a generation later we can see that the relationship between Woodstock and Georgetown has blossomed in ways that far exceeded the Provincials’ expectations. This new agreement is a wonderful sign of the strong collaborative relationship between the two institutions, and something for which friends and supporters of Woodstock and Georgetown can be thankful.

During this season of generosity, I would like to offer special thanks to all who have helped Woodstock to further our mission of theological reflection in this past year, through your participation, prayers, and financial support. We hold all of our donors in our prayers. We would be most appreciative of your continued generosity as we continue to address with hope and faith the problems faced by our church and society. (Information on giving to Woodstock can be found here.) I pray that you and your loved ones will all experience a most blessed Advent and Christmas.

Gasper F. Lo Biondo, S.J.
Director