Living the Life of Radical Hospitality Humanities Symposium at Viterbo University Feb. 26

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Feb. 12, 2014

Contact Bill Reese at
608-796-3708 or wjreese@viterbo.edu

“LIVING THE LIFE OF RADICAL HOSPITALITY” HUMANITIES
SYMPOSIUM AT VITERBO UNIVERSITY FEB. 26

LA
CROSSE, Wis. – The La Crosse community is invited to explore the topic of
“Living the Life of Radical Hospitality” at the annual Viterbo University
Humanities Symposium the afternoon of Wednesday, Feb. 26 in the Fine Arts
Center Main Theatre.

The “Living the Life of Radical
Hospitality” humanities symposium will share the visions of hospitality from
the many unique perspectives of Viterbo alumni and faculty with a desire to
lead by serving through faith, hope, and charity.

Hospitality is a word with a
marvelous history. Christian monasteries, places of solace and refuge, appeared
in the early part of the fifth century. Wayfarers, homeless, and strangers in
need could come there for needs of body, mind, and spirit. The Latin term,
hospes, has been often applied to the phrase, “host of the stranger.” Hospital,
hospice, hospitable, hospitality—all from the same root word, meaning generous,
caring, sustaining. St. Benedict created a guideline for monks to live by—The
Rule of Benedict—which is used still today by many monasteries around the
world. “Listen with the ear of your heart,” St. Benedict wrote.

The symposium is free and open to the public. The
schedule of public events:

  • Noon–1:15 p.m.
    Keynote Speaker Molly Simones of Friendship Park in Sacramento, Calif.
    Friendship Park offers an array of programs committed to feeding the hungry and
    sheltering the homeless.
  • 1:30–2:30 p.m.
    Community Activists/Servant Leaders Panel Discussion with Viterbo alumni Sue
    Kastensen, founder and director at Fair Shake Reentry Resource Center, an
    organization committed to supporting the successful reintegration of formerly
    incarcerated people into society; Michael Kruger, director of The Dwelling
    Place, a Catholic Charities home where four people with disabilities live;
    Wayne Oliver, executive vice president of community banking at State Bank
    Financial, branch manager at Raymond James Financial Services, and director of
    Downtown Mainstreet Inc.; Kelsey Pruitt, nurse with Gundersen Health System;
    and Tom Skemp, chaplain with La Crosse Jail Ministry.
  • 2:35–3:35 p.m.
    Viterbo Faculty Panel Discussion with Judy Casto, Marlene Fisher, Michael
    Ranscht, Tom Thibodeau, and Wayne Wagner.

Viterbo’s annual humanities symposium is sponsored by
the School of Letters and Sciences. It is designed to provide a common topic that
upholds the values of the university’s Franciscan heritage while offering
opportunities to apply those values through an interdisciplinary lens.

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