Dr. Peer M. Portner, Fellow of the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology, died on February 9, after a long and heroic struggle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, who serves as a Trustee of the School, and by his daughters Catherine and Karen and their families.
In 1979 Peer founded Novacor Medical Corporation, where he served as president and CEO. He directed a multidisciplinary team in the development of the Novacor Heart Assist System, an electronically powered artificial heart system, for patients with terminal heart failure. Critical evaluation of Peer’s system began at Stanford University in 1984, resulting in the world’s first successful bridge to transplant. The clinical utilization of his system has rapidly grown worldwide, with more than 100 leading medical centers in over 20 countries having performed nearly 1800 implants. In 1994, his system was utilized in the world’s first permanent implant at Cambridge University.
A colleague of Dr. Portner at Stanford University has said of Peer that he was unequaled in his field. A world authority in mechanically assisted circulation and a pioneer in the field of artificial organs, in 1988, Dr. Portner was awarded the Hans Selye Medal for his contributions to medical science in Czechoslovakia, and was later given the Dr. Barney Clark Award from the American Society for Artificial Internal Organs, the Hastings Lecture, and the Bücherl Award of the European Society for Artificial Organs. He served as President of the International Federation for Artificial Organs and the American Society for Artificial Organs, and was a founding fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering.
In and beyond all of his prodigious accomplishments, Peer’s life was marked by magnanimity, a greatness of spirit which moved him to quietly make a place for others, as our Lord commands us, especially the poor in our midst. Dorothy recalls Peer, after a long and arduous winter day at a conference in New York, returning to his room to order dinners for the homeless people he had seen warming themselves by the grates in the sidewalk outside the hotel, then, adding an extra hour to his day, he would wait until the dinners were prepared so that he might deliver them personally.
Peer freely offered the hospitality of his home to generations of young Dominican brothers and priests. We will remember him as a colleague, a benefactor and, most of all, as a friend of the Order and of the School.
A scholarship fund in Dr. Portner’s name has been established at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology. Memorial contributions to the scholarship fund may be mailed to DSPT, 2301 Vine Street, Berkeley, CA 94708.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
DSPT Honors Three Extraordinary Dominican Priests at the Annual Archbishop Joseph Alemany Awards Dinner
Each year the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology presents the Archbishop Joseph Alemany Award to honor men and women who have made outstanding contributions to the Church in the Western Dominican Province. At this year’s Alemany Award Dinner, we will be honoring three Dominican priests who served as educators, chaplains, spiritual directors, and friends to many: Fr. Tommy Hayes, OP, Fr. Vincent Lopez, OP, and Fr. Martin Walsh, OP. For more information about the Alemany Awards Dinner on April 18, contact advancement@dspt.edu.
Rev. Thomas James Hayes, OP (Fr. Tommy)
Fr. Tommy Hayes was born in Seattle, Washington on February 20, 1932. He is the eldest of three boys. During the Great Depression, the family found themselves moving back to Benicia, California, where his father had been raised. While living in Benicia, Fr. Tommy attended Saint Catherine Academy and Saint Vincent’s High School, both of which were run by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael. He spent his freshman year of college at Saint Martin’s Benedictine Abbey in Washington, but returned to California to complete his undergraduate degree at Saint Mary’s College of Moraga. He completed his studies for ordination and ministry as a Dominican priest at Saint Albert’s College and was ordained to the priesthood on June 12, 1959.
Fr. Tommy’s ministries have included teaching positions at Saint Albert’s College, Saint Mary’s College, and Mount Saint Mary’s College. He also served as chaplain to the students at Saint Mary’s College from 1962 to 1965. He has also carried out pastoral ministries at St. Dominic’s in Benicia, St. Dominic’s in San Francisco, the Shrine of Saint Jude, Holy Family Cathedral in Anchorage, Alaska, and the Dominican Community in Menlo Park. As Fr. Tommy celebrates his 50th anniversary of his ordination, he remains active in promoting the apostolate of the Western Dominican Province.
Fr. Vincent Lopez, OP
Fr. Vincent was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 23, 1930, the second of six children. At age six, his family moved to Vallejo, California, where he attended St. Vincent Ferrer grammar and high schools, graduating as class valedictorian in 1948. After two years at Mount Angel College in Oregon, he entered the Dominican novitiate and was ordained in 1956. Earning master’s degrees in History and in School Administration from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, he taught history and moral theology at St. John Vianney/Daniel Murphy High School in Los Angeles. He was named the Hearst Newspaper Teacher of the Year in 1962. From 1969 until 1975, Fr. Vincent was assigned as principal of the high school.
After serving as Promoter of Studies for the Western Dominican Province, Fr. Vincent was able to continue what was to be a lifelong career as a beloved high school principal, whose skills of leadership and spiritual guidance, organization and efficiency, and the ability to reach young people were all put to use. He served at St. Joseph in Ogden, Utah, St. Michael’s Academy in Austin, Texas, Marist in Eugene, Oregon, Bethlehem in Louisville, Kentucky, and Memorial High School in Fresno, California. By the end of his tenure at each of these schools, Fr. Vincent greatly advanced his priorities of Catholicity, academic excellence, increased enrollment, and increased scholarship opportunities.
Presently, Fr. Vincent is in residence at the Monastery of the Angels in Los Angeles, where he makes himself available to nearby parishes in between his fundraising trips, preaching on behalf of the Dominican Mission Foundation.
Rev. Martin De Porres Walsh, OP
Fr. Martin was born and raised in Vallejo, California. He also attended St. Vincent Ferrer grammar and high schools, graduating in 1956. After earning his Bachelor of Science from the University of San Francisco in 1961, he returned to St. Vincent’s for two years as an English teacher. It was then that he first became involved in ministering to the Third World as one of the founders of Amigos Anonymous, a nationwide program directing college students in social work among rural villagers in Mexico. Joining the Dominicans, he earned a Bachelor of Philosophy and a Master of Divinity from DSPT.
Since his ordination in 1969, Fr. Martin has been assigned primarily to St. Dominic Priory in San Francisco, serving as parochial vicar and eight years as pastor. He also spent eight years at the Dominican Mission in Mexicali and served as the Western Dominican Province’s Novice Master for six years. Over a period of eight years, beginning in 1995, he served as Vocation Director for the Province.
Concurrent with his ministries, Fr. Martin has been a staff member at the Westside Mental Health Center Department of Psychiatry at Mt. Zion Hospital in San Francisco and in St. Albert’s College Program for the Career Development of Clergy. He has served on the Boards of Directors of the San Francisco African American Historical and Cultural Society and the Dominican Biblical School of Jerusalem.
In 2003, Fr. Martin was appointed Director of the Dominican Mission Foundation in San Francisco, which oversees missions in Mexico, Guatemala, Kenya, Lithuania, and the Philippines. Since 2007, in addition to this role, Fr. Martin has served as Director of the Shrine of Saint Jude in San Francisco. He is currently a member of the Board of the Rosary College Foundation in the Philippines and of the Board of Trustees of DSPT.
Rev. Thomas James Hayes, OP (Fr. Tommy)
Fr. Tommy Hayes was born in Seattle, Washington on February 20, 1932. He is the eldest of three boys. During the Great Depression, the family found themselves moving back to Benicia, California, where his father had been raised. While living in Benicia, Fr. Tommy attended Saint Catherine Academy and Saint Vincent’s High School, both of which were run by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael. He spent his freshman year of college at Saint Martin’s Benedictine Abbey in Washington, but returned to California to complete his undergraduate degree at Saint Mary’s College of Moraga. He completed his studies for ordination and ministry as a Dominican priest at Saint Albert’s College and was ordained to the priesthood on June 12, 1959.
Fr. Tommy’s ministries have included teaching positions at Saint Albert’s College, Saint Mary’s College, and Mount Saint Mary’s College. He also served as chaplain to the students at Saint Mary’s College from 1962 to 1965. He has also carried out pastoral ministries at St. Dominic’s in Benicia, St. Dominic’s in San Francisco, the Shrine of Saint Jude, Holy Family Cathedral in Anchorage, Alaska, and the Dominican Community in Menlo Park. As Fr. Tommy celebrates his 50th anniversary of his ordination, he remains active in promoting the apostolate of the Western Dominican Province.
Fr. Vincent Lopez, OP
Fr. Vincent was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on May 23, 1930, the second of six children. At age six, his family moved to Vallejo, California, where he attended St. Vincent Ferrer grammar and high schools, graduating as class valedictorian in 1948. After two years at Mount Angel College in Oregon, he entered the Dominican novitiate and was ordained in 1956. Earning master’s degrees in History and in School Administration from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, he taught history and moral theology at St. John Vianney/Daniel Murphy High School in Los Angeles. He was named the Hearst Newspaper Teacher of the Year in 1962. From 1969 until 1975, Fr. Vincent was assigned as principal of the high school.
After serving as Promoter of Studies for the Western Dominican Province, Fr. Vincent was able to continue what was to be a lifelong career as a beloved high school principal, whose skills of leadership and spiritual guidance, organization and efficiency, and the ability to reach young people were all put to use. He served at St. Joseph in Ogden, Utah, St. Michael’s Academy in Austin, Texas, Marist in Eugene, Oregon, Bethlehem in Louisville, Kentucky, and Memorial High School in Fresno, California. By the end of his tenure at each of these schools, Fr. Vincent greatly advanced his priorities of Catholicity, academic excellence, increased enrollment, and increased scholarship opportunities.
Presently, Fr. Vincent is in residence at the Monastery of the Angels in Los Angeles, where he makes himself available to nearby parishes in between his fundraising trips, preaching on behalf of the Dominican Mission Foundation.
Rev. Martin De Porres Walsh, OP
Fr. Martin was born and raised in Vallejo, California. He also attended St. Vincent Ferrer grammar and high schools, graduating in 1956. After earning his Bachelor of Science from the University of San Francisco in 1961, he returned to St. Vincent’s for two years as an English teacher. It was then that he first became involved in ministering to the Third World as one of the founders of Amigos Anonymous, a nationwide program directing college students in social work among rural villagers in Mexico. Joining the Dominicans, he earned a Bachelor of Philosophy and a Master of Divinity from DSPT.
Since his ordination in 1969, Fr. Martin has been assigned primarily to St. Dominic Priory in San Francisco, serving as parochial vicar and eight years as pastor. He also spent eight years at the Dominican Mission in Mexicali and served as the Western Dominican Province’s Novice Master for six years. Over a period of eight years, beginning in 1995, he served as Vocation Director for the Province.
Concurrent with his ministries, Fr. Martin has been a staff member at the Westside Mental Health Center Department of Psychiatry at Mt. Zion Hospital in San Francisco and in St. Albert’s College Program for the Career Development of Clergy. He has served on the Boards of Directors of the San Francisco African American Historical and Cultural Society and the Dominican Biblical School of Jerusalem.
In 2003, Fr. Martin was appointed Director of the Dominican Mission Foundation in San Francisco, which oversees missions in Mexico, Guatemala, Kenya, Lithuania, and the Philippines. Since 2007, in addition to this role, Fr. Martin has served as Director of the Shrine of Saint Jude in San Francisco. He is currently a member of the Board of the Rosary College Foundation in the Philippines and of the Board of Trustees of DSPT.
Faith in Human Rights Symposium Update
The Faith in Human Rights Symposium has been off to a great start with workshops, lectures, and films. Upcoming events include the West Coast premiere of the film Where the Water Meets the Sky and a lecture at DSPT by Dr. Jean Porter of the University of Notre Dame. If you were unable to attend the opening workshop of the Faith in Human Rights Symposium on February 5, the talks of some of the panelists are now available on the Faith in Human Rights Website.
Universal and Personal by Judge John T. Noonan – “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out rights recognized by the signatory nations not as binding law but as moral ideal and universal, that is, to be enjoyed by every human being.” Read more…
Faith in Human Rights by Brian Stein-Webber – “I’m not sure how many of the people within the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County when they are active in efforts to address social injustice or human need or tragedy, think in terms of human rights or of the UN Declaration of Human Rights.” Read more…
Universal and Personal by Judge John T. Noonan – “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets out rights recognized by the signatory nations not as binding law but as moral ideal and universal, that is, to be enjoyed by every human being.” Read more…
Faith in Human Rights by Brian Stein-Webber – “I’m not sure how many of the people within the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County when they are active in efforts to address social injustice or human need or tragedy, think in terms of human rights or of the UN Declaration of Human Rights.” Read more…
Fr. Michael Morris, OP’s Collection on Display at MOBIA in New York City
Fr. Michael Morris’s collection of vintage movie posters is currently on display as part of the exhibition Reel Religion: A Century of the Bible and Film at the Museum of Biblical Art (MOBIA) in New York City. As Paul Tabor, MOBIA’s Director of Exhibitions, explains, “Film is a recognized art form that has developed relatively recently. Not unlike painters, filmmakers from the outset turned to the Bible for emotionally powerful source material. The posters made to promote these films were often works of art in themselves.” Reviews of the exhibit may be read on the Film Blog at guardian.co.uk and at the Religion News Service.
Included as part of the exhibit is an essay by Fr. Michael that examines the history of biblical film posters using the themes of violence, sexuality, art, mysticism, and magnificence. His essay can be read here.
The exhibition will be on display until May 17, 2009, and pairs the movie posters with selections of original costumes worn in the films. The Museum of Biblical Art (www.mobia.org) is located at 1865 Broadway at 61st Street in New York City. The press release from the museum can be read here.
Included as part of the exhibit is an essay by Fr. Michael that examines the history of biblical film posters using the themes of violence, sexuality, art, mysticism, and magnificence. His essay can be read here.
The exhibition will be on display until May 17, 2009, and pairs the movie posters with selections of original costumes worn in the films. The Museum of Biblical Art (www.mobia.org) is located at 1865 Broadway at 61st Street in New York City. The press release from the museum can be read here.
New at DSPT: Fr. Jorge Santiago, SDB
Fr. Jorge was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was ordained a Salesian priest on August 13, 1994, after completing studies in philosophy and education in the Dominican Republic and theology in Guadalajara, Mexico. His first position following his ordination was working in youth ministry, catechesis, and with the altar servers at Saint John the Baptist Parish in Orocovis, Puerto Rico, where he remained for three years. He then spent four years in charge of a Catholic school in La Playita, one of the poorest areas of San Juan, before returning to Saint John the Baptist Parish for three more years as pastor.
Following this pastoral experience, Fr. Jorge was sent to Berkeley to study Salesian spirituality at the Institute of Salesian Spirituality, which is affiliated with DSPT. He is completing his M.A. through DSPT and will finish this spring.
March 2009: Faculty and Alumni News
On February 19, 2009, Fr. Richard Schenk, OP took part as the only theologian in a conference with and on the philosopher Martha Nussbaum (U. of Chicago), regarding her recent work, Liberty of Conscience: In Defense of America’s Tradition of Religious Equality (2008). The conference was held at Villanova University, just outside Philadelphia. This was the Third Annual John F. Scarpa Conference on Law, Politics, and Culture, sponsored by the Scarpa Chair for Catholic Legal Studies. Other speakers included Mark Sargent (Dean of Villanova’s Law School), Patrick Brennan (the holder of the Scarpa Chair), Kent Greenawalt (Columbia), John McGreevy (Dean of the College of Arts and Letters at Notre Dame), Jesse Choper (Boalt), Geoffrey Stone (U. of Chicago), Roderick Hills (NYU School of Law), and Richard Garnett (Notre Dame). The conference took place against the background of growing pressure for a still greater separation of church and state. Fr. Schenk’s paper, “Voices of Conscience,” took up Nussbaum’s basic project of underscoring respect for conscience in defense of both the Free Exercise and the Non-Establishment Clauses of the Constitution. He examined the senses of conscience developed by Thomas Aquinas and the Vatican II text on religious freedom, Dignitatis humanae.
Dr. Marga Vega lectured about theory of art on January 28 and February 4 to the Social Ontology Group in Berkeley. On February 11, she also presented an application to art of J. Searle’s Social Philosophy, which was followed by a reply by Andrew Moisey.
Fr. Michael Dodds, OP, is on sabbatical this semester in Oxford. On January 29, he presented a paper for the Aquinas Symposium, titled “Unlocking Divine Causality: Aquinas, Contemporary Science, and Divine Action.” His paper will be published in an upcoming issue of Angelicum. He also gave a talk for the Aquinas Colloquium at Blackfriars on February 28, titled, “Aquinas, God and Time.”
Fr. Albert Paretsky, OP, preached a Lenten retreat for the Dominican laity from February 27 through March 1 on “Encountering the Eternal Word in Time.” His preaching examined our experience of Christ as part of the ongoing drama of God’s creating Word, from the beginning of creation through the call of Israel and her prophets to the consequences for humanity of the Word becoming flesh. The retreat was held at the facilities of the Carmelite Monastery in Napa Valley.
Fr. Andrew Younan, DSPT alum, has recently published his thesis, The Mesopotamian School & Theodore of Mopsuestia.
Dr. Marga Vega lectured about theory of art on January 28 and February 4 to the Social Ontology Group in Berkeley. On February 11, she also presented an application to art of J. Searle’s Social Philosophy, which was followed by a reply by Andrew Moisey.
Fr. Michael Dodds, OP, is on sabbatical this semester in Oxford. On January 29, he presented a paper for the Aquinas Symposium, titled “Unlocking Divine Causality: Aquinas, Contemporary Science, and Divine Action.” His paper will be published in an upcoming issue of Angelicum. He also gave a talk for the Aquinas Colloquium at Blackfriars on February 28, titled, “Aquinas, God and Time.”
Fr. Albert Paretsky, OP, preached a Lenten retreat for the Dominican laity from February 27 through March 1 on “Encountering the Eternal Word in Time.” His preaching examined our experience of Christ as part of the ongoing drama of God’s creating Word, from the beginning of creation through the call of Israel and her prophets to the consequences for humanity of the Word becoming flesh. The retreat was held at the facilities of the Carmelite Monastery in Napa Valley.
Fr. Andrew Younan, DSPT alum, has recently published his thesis, The Mesopotamian School & Theodore of Mopsuestia.
Alumni Profile: Fr. Dismas Sayre, OP, B.A. in Philosophy (2003), M.Div. (2008)
“Truth in Charity”
As a fairly new parish priest, the best part for me about DSPT was that the philosophy and divinity programs both taught me how to look at and understand new ideas, be they traditional, radically new, or simply coming from a different world-view. The question was always, “What truth abides within?” DSPT lives by the Dominican motto, veritas, and the students and professors there look for the truth wherever it resides, because we follow Jesus Christ who is Truth. As a Dominican training for ministry, we were taught to understand that all people are looking for the Good and the True, even if they do not recognize Him and were asked to think about how we could lead them to Him, who is the fullness of Truth. We begin by finding the common truths that we share, and even if we never achieve true unity, we can still always learn from the other, in charity and respect.
The obvious love for truth (and Truth) at DSPT is contagious. Even my divinity courses that were more pastorally focused (as opposed to strictly academic) were geared toward equipping me to serve God’s people by finding ways in which I could best preach and teach in a world where much of the classical philosophical and religious underpinnings have been undermined or simply ignored. In today’s world where “everything goes,” we need many more men and women who are trained to speak Truth to today’s culture, men and women who are trained by schools like DSPT.
As a fairly new parish priest, the best part for me about DSPT was that the philosophy and divinity programs both taught me how to look at and understand new ideas, be they traditional, radically new, or simply coming from a different world-view. The question was always, “What truth abides within?” DSPT lives by the Dominican motto, veritas, and the students and professors there look for the truth wherever it resides, because we follow Jesus Christ who is Truth. As a Dominican training for ministry, we were taught to understand that all people are looking for the Good and the True, even if they do not recognize Him and were asked to think about how we could lead them to Him, who is the fullness of Truth. We begin by finding the common truths that we share, and even if we never achieve true unity, we can still always learn from the other, in charity and respect.
The obvious love for truth (and Truth) at DSPT is contagious. Even my divinity courses that were more pastorally focused (as opposed to strictly academic) were geared toward equipping me to serve God’s people by finding ways in which I could best preach and teach in a world where much of the classical philosophical and religious underpinnings have been undermined or simply ignored. In today’s world where “everything goes,” we need many more men and women who are trained to speak Truth to today’s culture, men and women who are trained by schools like DSPT.
March 2009: A Culture of Philanthropy
The Gift of a Lifetime: Building a Lasting Legacy at DSPT
As a center for preparing young men and women for religious leadership, since 1932 DSPT has been making a positive difference in countless lives around the world, through the leadership and service of our graduates. Through our Planned Giving options, there are several ways you too can make a difference and leave a lasting legacy at DSPT. All gifts at DSPT, large or small, are appropriately honored and cared for according to the wishes of the donor.
Endowments – If your gift is given as an endowment, it will serve in perpetuity according to your expressed desires.
Bequests – You can leave a lasting legacy at DSPT by making a gift of cash, securities, real estate, or other property through your will, codicil, or trust. DSPT can also be designated as the beneficiary of your retirement plan, life insurance policy, or all or part of the remainder of your estate or trust after payment of estate-related expenses.
Directed Giving – While unrestricted gifts allow DSPT to allocate funds to areas of greatest need, you may also designate your bequest for a particular purpose, such as a named scholarship fund.
DSPT is happy to assist you in planning your legacy gift. For further information about including DSPT in your estate plans or in other planned giving opportunities, please contact the Advancement Office at 510-883-2085 or advancement@dspt.edu.
As a center for preparing young men and women for religious leadership, since 1932 DSPT has been making a positive difference in countless lives around the world, through the leadership and service of our graduates. Through our Planned Giving options, there are several ways you too can make a difference and leave a lasting legacy at DSPT. All gifts at DSPT, large or small, are appropriately honored and cared for according to the wishes of the donor.
Endowments – If your gift is given as an endowment, it will serve in perpetuity according to your expressed desires.
Bequests – You can leave a lasting legacy at DSPT by making a gift of cash, securities, real estate, or other property through your will, codicil, or trust. DSPT can also be designated as the beneficiary of your retirement plan, life insurance policy, or all or part of the remainder of your estate or trust after payment of estate-related expenses.
Directed Giving – While unrestricted gifts allow DSPT to allocate funds to areas of greatest need, you may also designate your bequest for a particular purpose, such as a named scholarship fund.
DSPT is happy to assist you in planning your legacy gift. For further information about including DSPT in your estate plans or in other planned giving opportunities, please contact the Advancement Office at 510-883-2085 or advancement@dspt.edu.
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