PITTSBURGH, PA 

Duquesne University will host Engaging Africa: Spiritan Traditions, Contemporary Perspectives on Tuesday, January 31, 2017, through Wednesday, February 1, 2017. The conference is being provided through Duquesne’s Center for African Studies, which was established in 2012 to continue and to strengthen the university’s engagement with the African continent.

“As part of its strategic planning for the future, Duquesne understands this renewed engagement as an important part of its past, present and future,” said Dr. Gerald M. Boodoo, center director. “Faculty, staff, administrators and students have all become more aware of Spiritan involvement in the African continent, and have undertaken academic programs, study abroad, community engagement opportunities and institutional affiliations to implement and to understand what this engagement means for the university community.”

According to Dr. Boodoo, the goal of this inaugural trans-disciplinary conference is to situate these understandings within the historical context of the Spiritans in the African continent. More direct historical information about these missions will be shared, and contemporary perspectives on these activities and on the continent as a whole will be explored.

Dr. Gerald M. Boodoo (right), director of Duquesne’s Center for African Studies, presents a commemorative glass plate to Rev.  Anthony Anomah, C.S.Sp., rector of the Spiritan University College in Ejisu, Ghana, at the celebration of its Silver Jubilee last October.

While helping the university community to fulfill its own mission, vision and understanding of how to engage the African continent, further discussion of Spiritan activity and mission in Africa will be highlighted.

Among the Spiritan presenters are the Rev. Paul Coulon, C.S.Sp., who will give the keynote address on Tuesday; Rev. Elochukwu Uzukwu, C.S.Sp.; Most Rev. John Kwofie, C.S.Sp., S.S.L., bishop of the Diocese of Sekondi-Takoradi in Ghana, Africa; and Rev. Jeffrey Duaime, C.S.Sp., provincial, U.S. Province; along with Duquesne University staff and faculty: Dr. Timothy Austin, Dr. Anne Marie Hansen, Dr. Bridget Calhoun and Danielle Genemore.

The conference is free and open to the public, but registration is requested by calling (412) 396-2651, or visiting duq.edu/cas.