By Patrick Samway, SJ
Published by the University of Scranton Press 2008
As a result of the genocide in Darfur, tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee Sudan and seek refuge in overcrowded, desolate desert camps along the Chadian border. Educating Darfur Refugees is the unforgettable journal of a Jesuit priest who spent nine months in 2004 and 2005 working in three of those refugee camps. Samway’s diaries, deeply informed by his perspective as a religious scholar but as engrossing as any page-turner, are an unflinching eyewitness account of one of the greatest tragedies of our time.
Charged with the considerable task of setting up schools for refugee children, Samway recounts his experiences with scarce food and water, nonexistent educational resources, and the remarkable people he encounters along the way. The life-changing story that unfolds, an engaged personal narrative capacious enough to embrace both George Bernanos and Walker Percy, is necessary reading for anyone concerned about Sudanese refugees and those who share their plight all over the world.

About the Author: Patrick Samway, SJ, is professor of English and director of the fellowships office at St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia. He is the author of Walker Percy: A Life.

by Brother Guy Consolmagno, SJ
Published by Jossey-Bass, 2008
Sidestepping the acrimony of recent science vs. religion debates, Consolmagno, a Vatican astronomer and self-described "techie," intends that "demonstrating the existence of a lot of people like me, who flourish as scientists while practicing a religion, should be proof enough that science and religion can be perfectly compatible." Combining personal memoir with conversations within the techie world, Consolmagno describes questions about the universe and the meaning of life that attract techies into religious belief and practice, concluding that "techies are not looking for proof. They’re looking for confidence." When he tests his initial hypotheses with a survey project, Consolmagno finds that for many religiously-involved techie types, the value of community and moral support may actually be more important than the search for religious answers. As one atheist interviewee puts it, "You think you are selling truth, but your audience has already brought their own truth with them to church. All you are selling them is tech support." Is this all there is to religion? Certainly not for Brother Guy, who defends a specifically Christian and Catholic version of religious truth. Yet Consolmagno’s adroit and self-effacing style defuses any suggestion of theological point-scoring, as in his dryly Dilbertian defense of papal infallibility: "Unlike some of the other bosses I’ve worked for in my life, this one admits that he’s only infallible under certain extremely limited conditions."

About the Author: Vatican astronomer Guy Consolmagno is a Jesuit brother from the Maryland Province with advanced degrees from MIT and the University of Arizona. He is author or co-author of many books including Brother Astronomer and Left at Orion. He has an asteroid named after him, 4597 Consolmagno.

By William J. Byron, SJ
Published by Paulist Press 2008

This book is designed to broaden the context of personal prayer to include praying with and for others, particularly for worldwide peace and justice. This book is a sequel to Fr. Byron’s A Book of Quiet Prayer: For All the Seasons, Stages, Moos and Circumstances of Life published by Paulist in 2006.

By David J. Collins, SJ
Published by Oxford University Press 2008
In Reforming Saints, David J. Collins explains how and why Renaissance humanists composed Latin hagiography in Germany in the decades leading up to the Reformation. Contrary to the traditional wisdom, Collins's research uncovers a resurgence in the composition of saints' lives in the half century leading up to 1520. German humanists, he finds, were among the most active authors and editors of these texts. Focusing on 40 Latin depictions of German saints written between 1470 and 1520, Collins finds patterns both in how these humanists chose their subjects and how they presented their holiness. He argues that the humanist hagiographers took up the writing of saints' lives to investigate Germany's medieval past, to reconstruct and exalt its greatness, and to advocate programs of religious and cultural reform.

About the Author
David J. Collins, SJ, is assistant professor of Medieval and Early Modern European History at Georgetown University.

By Joseph A. Fitzmyer, SJ
Published by Paulist Press 2008
This book seeks to establish the properly oriented use of the historical-critical method as the mode of ascertaining the sense of the written Word of God.

About the Author
Joseph A. Fitzmyer, SJ, is professor emeritus of biblical studies at the Catholic University of America. A distinguished scholar of New Testament studies and of Aramic studies since 1958, he retired from teaching in 2004. He continues his scholarship, however, focusing on the study and publication of the Dead Sea Scrolls, especially those written in Aramaic. He has published many books.

By George B. Wilson, SJ
Published by Liturgical Press  2008
Searching for answers in the midst of the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church, many blamed the “clerical culture.” But what exactly is this clerical culture. As members of the church, Fr. Wilson maintains, we all share responsibility for creating a clerical culture and for that culture’s transformation. This book aids that transformation by helping us examine some underlying attitudes that creat and preserve destructive relationships between clergy and laity. After looking at the crisis and extablishing where we are now, this book challenges us with concrete suggestions for changing behaviors.

About the author
George Wilson, SJ, has spend decades working with organizations as an ecclesiologist and organizational facilitator. He currently works with two African-American congregations. He is also the author of Blessing Prayers and Church Leadership: Training in the Ethical Use of Power, published by Treehaus Communications, and Patches, published by Longdash Books.

Edward W. Bodnar, SJ, has written a book titled Cyriac of Anacona Later Travels. This volume presents letters and diaries from 1443 to 1449, the period of Cyriac’s final voyages, which took him from Italy to the eastern shore of the Adriatic, the Greek mainland, the Aegean islands, Anatolia and Thrace, Mount Athos, Constantinople, the Cyclades, and Crete. Cyriac's accounts of his travels, with their commentary reflecting his wide-ranging antiquarian, political, religious, and commercial interests, provide a fascinating record of the encounter of the Renaissance world with the legacy of classical antiquity. The Latin texts assembled for this edition have been newly edited and most of them appear here for the first time in English. The edition is enhanced with reproductions of Cyriac's sketches and a map of his travels.

The Questions of Jesus: Challenging Ourselves to Discover Life's Great Answers by John Dear, SJ, is an illuminating examination of the Gospels. It reveals how the questions Jesus asks of his followers lead the way to a deeper understanding of the meaning of life and the mystery of God. Father Dear interweaves insights from ethical and religious teachers ranging from Buddha to Gandhi to Martin Luther King, Jr. Using recent events as powerful and poignant examples, he shows why a renewed commitment to Jesus' message of nonviolence, compassion, justice and peace is essential to healing a world torn by violence and war.

Thomas King, SJ, has written a book called Teilhard's Mass: Approaches to The Mass on the World. The Mass on the World is a lengthy prayer written by the great theologian, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, SJ. Rich with imagery and passion and suggesting more than it states, it remains Teilhard's most popular essay. In this book, Father King, a theology professor at Georgetown University, explores the heart and mind of the man as no other approach has done.

Medieval Education, a book of essays dedicated to Louis B. Pascoe, SJ, and co-edited by Joseph W. Koterski, SJ, and Ronald B. Begley, has just been released. The book is No. 4 in the Fordham Series in Medieval Studies.

Life in Abundance: Studies of John's Gospel in Tribute to Raymond E. Brown, SS, is a collection of essays, edited by John R. Donahue, SJ, which includes papers given at the "An International Conference on the Gospel of John: Life in Abundance," that was held at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore in October 2003. Leading Johannine scholars attended the conference. The published essays cover the state of Johannine studies, Johannine theology, issues of interpretation, and a comprehensive bibliography of the writings of Raymond E. Brown, SS.

Forgiveness in International Politics: An Alternative Road to Peace is a new book by William Bole, Drew Christiansen, SJ, and Robert T. Hennemeyer. It explains the history and purpose of The Woodstock Theological Center's work in the area of international conflict resolution. It explores the important role of forgiveness in conflict resolution and peace.

The book may be purchased from USCCB Publishing, Washington, D.C., by calling 1-800-235-8722 or visiting their Web site.

Provincial Timothy B. Brown, SJ, has just published his latest book, called Psalms and Consolations - A Jesuit's Journey Through Grief. The book grew out of an overwhelming response requesting a companion volume to Father Brown's previous book, Psalms and Compassions: A Jesuit's Journey Through Cancer. In this new volume on bereavement and grief, Father Brown again turns to the Book of Psalms for solace.

Copies of Psalms and Compassions, A Jesuit's Journey Through Cancer, by
Timothy Brown, SJ, are available through resonant publishing at
www.resonantgroup.com. Immediately following his return from a student service project in Mexico in January 1998, Father Brown was diagnosed with colon cancer. He turned to the Book of Psalms as a source of strength throughout his illness and recovery. This book is the fruit of that experience.

A compilation of psalms, meditations, rare and original prayer, and personal commentaries, Psalms and Compassions is dedicated to all who are experiencing pain and suffering of any kind, and to all who care for them. The book costs $6.95 through resonant publishing.

In his book, A Model School, Jerrold K. Footlick tells the story of
Philadelphia's Gesu School. Says Mr. Footlick, "When something comes along
that appears to work, the whole country needs to pay attention. The Gesu School is something that I believe works, and I am pleased to have had the opportunity to write about it."

Mr. Footlick writes of the dedication and determination of teachers, staff, children and parents and of the love and support of the family called "Gesu." His book has been called a "primer on school reform" and serves as a vivid reminder that it "takes a village" to help needy children succeed.

A Gathering of Evidence - Essays on William Faulkner's Intruder in the Dust is the title of a recently published book edited by Michael Gresset and Patrick Samway, SJ. Among the stars in the American literary firmament, Faulkner's has remained consistently bright. This volume of 12 essays focusing on Intruder in the Dust (1948) makes available to students of Faulkner the best criticism about this novel, aiding appreciation of the work in different contexts and from a variety of perspectives.

A Gathering of Evidence offers methodological evidence for evaluating a novel that is, in itself, a detective story whose resolution depends upon securing appropriate legal evidence.

John R. Donahue, SJ, the Raymond E. Brown Distinguished Professor of New Testament Studies at St. Mary's Seminary and University, has published a book called Hearing the Word of God: Reflections on the Sunday Readings, Year A, published by the Liturgical Press in Collegeville, Minn. The commentaries in the book suggest ways that the Sunday readings might continue to nurture faith and life.

Religious freedom is the focus of a new book written by Robert F. Drinan, SJ, called Can God and Caesar Coexist? Balancing Religious Freedom and International Law. In the book, Father Drinan explores the state of religious freedom worldwide, arguing that international law and legal institutions have not gone far enough to protect religious freedom. He also looks at the status of religious freedom in certain Christian, Muslim, Jewish and Communist societies whose doctrines may promote intolerance. Father Drinan says the silence of international law allows nations to continue to punish persons who practice a faith viewed unfavorably by the government.

The latest in European history is a book edited and translated by John Conley, SJ, called Madame de Maintenon - Dialogues and Addresses. A criminal's daughter reduced to street begging as a child, Madame de Maintenon (1653-1719) made an improbable rise from impoverished beginnings to the summit of power as the second, secret wife of Louis XIV. An educational reformer, Maintenon founded and directed the celebrated academy for aristocratic women at Saint-Cyr. This volume presents the dialogues and addresses in which Maintenon explains her controversial philosophy of education for women.

St. Joseph’s University Press has published a three-volume series translated by Frederick A. Homann, SJ, that makes available for the first time in English translation, three key sections of Nadal’s Annotations and Meditations on the Gospels: Volume I: The Infancy Narratives (2003), Volume II: The Passion Narratives and Volume III: The Resurrection Narratives (2004).

Annotations and Meditations on the Gospels, composed by Jerome Nadal (1507-80), a close collaborator of St. Ignatius Loyola, was first published in 1595. The book’s purpose was to help young Jesuit seminarians to meditate on the Gospels that they heard read at Mass on Sundays, feast days, and the weekdays of Lent.

One editor said the following about the book: “This edition of Adnotationes makes a significant contribution both to the study of Ignatian spirituality and to discussions about the role of visual images in prayer.”

A Thirst for Justice - Walter J. Burghardt, SJ, has written Justice: A Global Adventure , published by Orbis Books, Maryknoll. A heavyweight in the literary arena, Father Burghardt has been described as "one of the most effective teachers and preachers in the English-speaking world." In this latest book, Father Burghardt focuses on major contemporary issues of justice such as the legal system, child welfare, the elderly, immigration, violence, capital punishment, ecology and war.

John R. Donahue, SJ, the Raymond E. Brown Distinguished Professor of New Testament Studies at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore , said this about the book: "Father Burghardt prepares a rich feast of justice applied to a wide range of practical issues. No contemporary work provides such profound correlation of theological expertise with prophetic concern for the future of the human family."

The Legacy of Robert Southwell - Scott Pilarz, SJ, president of the University of Scranton , wrote a book recently called Robert Southwell and the Mission of Literature, 1561-1595, published by Ashgate Publishing Company. In the book, Father Pilarz explores how the literary legacy of Robert Southwell, SJ, kept his voice alive after his hanging in 1595. The Elizabethan establishment viewed Father Southwell as a subversive, and he has received only scant attention from scholars in the centuries since his death; but Father Pilarz restores the Jesuit poet to his rightful position of importance in literature and history.

The Mercurian Project - Thomas M. McCoog, SJ, has edited an impressive volume called The Mercurian Project: Forming Jesuit Culture, 1573-1580. Jointly published by The Institute of Jesuit Sources and the Institutum Historicum Societatis Iesu, the book is a research project on the life, governance, and administration of the fourth general of the Society of Jesus, Everard Mercurian. The volume includes articles by Jesuits from all over the world, each contributing knowledge about this little-known period. Nearly 30 scholars from 11 countries wrote in six languages for this book. The volume serves as an example of collaboration among historians who coordinate their research in specialized areas into one general view of Jesuit culture at a specific period.

To learn more about the book and how to order a copy, contact The Institute of Jesuit Sources at 314-966-7257 or ijs@slu.edu or the Institutum Historicum Societatis Iesu in Rome at 39-06-689-771 or ihsiroma@sjcuria.org

Politics and Religion - James V. Schall, SJ, political science professor at Georgetown University , has written a book called Roman Catholic Political Philosophy . The book examines the non-contradictory relationship between Roman Catholicism and political philosophy, between revelation and reason. Father Schall contends that political philosophy, the primary focus of the book, asks certain questions about human purpose and destiny that it cannot, by itself, answer. Revelation is the natural complement to these important questions about God, human beings, and the world.

Ministering to U.S. Hispanics - The University of Scranton published a book called Bridging Boundaries: The Pastoral Care of U.S. Hispanics. Although the book was published in 2000, it is gaining renewed interest due to efforts in the Maryland Province that address effective ways of ministering to Hispanics. The book defines the challenges present in ministering to Hispanics and the solutions that can bridge some of the gaps. The project at the University of Scranton is a great example of a Jesuit institution reaching beyond its traditional concerns to build bridges with others in an effective manner.

Remembering a Missionary Priest - Francis Xavier McFarland, SJ, was founder of the De Nobili School in Jharkhand , India . The school he started with 15 students in 1956 is an institution that today provides education to more than 15,000 students. In addition to India , he also worked in several West African countries. Father McFarland died last year, and his friends and admirers have contributed to a book called One Beautiful Life , compiled by Samit Ghosh. Some of the Jesuits who contributed to the book include George A. Hess, SJ; James V. Keogh, SJ; and Frank H. McGauley, SJ.

To obtain a copy of the book, email Pius Fernandes, SJ, at pius@jesuits.net or Samit Ghosh at emghosh@vsnl.com