A bishop whose state has often found itself at the epicenter of the national debate on immigration will address the hot topic here in April as a guest lecturer at Chaminade University/St. Louis School.
Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson, Ariz., will speak on “Catholic Social Teaching and Immigration Reform” at 4 p.m. April 7 in the Mystical Rose Oratory on the Chaminade and Saint Louis campus.
Bishop Kicanas is one of the major architects of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ position on immigration reform.
As Tucson’s bishop, he deals extensively with immigration issues in his home diocese. In his Hawaii presentation, he will discuss what Catholic social teaching says regarding the responsibilities of U.S. citizens and of Catholics toward immigrants and immigration policy in the nation, and in Hawaii, today.
Bishop Kicanas’ talk is part of the Father Robert Mackey Marianist Lecture series.
Bishop Kicanas was ordained a bishop on March 20, 1995, and appointed auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Chicago. In 2001, he was named as the coadjutor (successor) bishop of Tucson, and Bishop of Tucson on March 7, 2003.
Before becoming a bishop, he served for 25 years in Chicago’s archdiocesan seminaries in various capacities including rector of former Quigley Seminary South and rector of Mundelein, Chicago’s graduate-level theology seminary. As a priest he was also a lecturer in community and organizational development at Loyola University of Chicago.
The Mackey Marianist Lectures are jointly sponsored by the Marianist Center of Hawaii, Chaminade University and Saint Louis School. They are free and open to the public.
The talks last about one hour followed by a 15-minute period for questions. No registration is required to attend.
For more information, contact Marianist Brother Dennis Schmitz at baldschmitz@aol.com or 735-4801. You can also visit www.marianisthawaii.org and follow the “Mackey” links.