Sister Mary Aquin O’Neill, R.S.M., to speak at SXU’s Winter Commencement

Commencement ceremony begins at 11 a.m. on Sat., Dec. 19

Chicago (Dec. 4, 2009) Sister Mary Aquin O’Neill, R.S.M., will speak at Saint Xavier University’s 2009 Winter Commencement ceremony at 11 a.m. on Sat., Dec. 19 at the Chicago campus’ Shannon Center, 3700 W. 103rd St. Sister O’Neill will receive a Doctor of Theology, honoris causa, during the ceremony for her exceptional record of service and commitment to Mercy higher education.

Shannon Center doors will open at 10 a.m. on Saturday and the Commencement procession begins at 10:40 a.m., with a reception following the ceremony. The Commencement Liturgy will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Fri., Dec. 18, in McDonough Chapel.

Sister O’Neill is a member of the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, the South Central Community. She is the Founding Director of the Mount Saint Agnes Theological Center for Women (1992—2009) where she continues to serve as Theologian in Residence, a visiting professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame and undergraduate program director for the Notre Dame Jerusalem program at the Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Jerusalem (1988-1992), theological consultant at the Institute for the Theological Encounter of Science and Technology in St. Louis (1987-1988), assistant professor of theology at Salve Regina University (1983-1987) and chair of the department of religious studies (1985-1987), assistant professor of theology at Loyola College in Baltimore (1974-1981), lecturer at Vanderbilt University (1971-1974), and teacher at Mercy High School on Mobile, Alabama (1964-1968).

Sister O’Neill is a specialist in theological anthropology and feminist theory, has published in numerous scholarly journals and publications, delivered papers and keynote addresses for diocesan gatherings, church groups, professional associations, and numerous national and international organizations. She is working on two books: one on theological anthropology and the other on Mary, the Mother of God. Her scholarship, teaching, service to the academy and for the Sisters of Mercy, contributions to the Church and Society, and commitment to ecumenical and interreligious dialogue are exceptional.

Sister O’Neill earned a B.A. from Mount Saint Agnes College, studied at the University of San Francisco, and received an M.A. and a Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University. In 2006, she became a member of the Board of the Conference for Mercy Higher Education (CMHE) and since 2007 has served as CMHE’s liaison with Saint Xavier University.
For more information, please visit Saint Xavier’s Commencement Web site

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FOR MORE INFORMATION

Jay Foot, Executive Director of Media Relations
O: (773) 298-3937
C: (773) 617-3632
foot@sxu.edu