September 1, 2022
The Oakland University Center for Religious Understanding, in collaboration with Christ Church Cranbrook and the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, will present an evening with author Sister Joan Chittister on Friday, September 30 as she discusses her recent book, “The Time is Now.”
The event will take place from 7 – 9 p.m. at Christ Church Cranbrook, located at 470 Church Road in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
“This is truly a community event where we welcome such an important religious leader to discuss some of the most important issues of our time,” said Michael Pytlik, director of Jewish Studies at Oakland University. “Sister Joan Chittister will speak about the active side of spirituality, of empowerment and making a difference in our world. She speaks beyond a single faith tradition to all of us no matter our faith, or even if we profess no faith at all.”
Sister Chittister is one of the most influential religious and social leaders of our time. For over 50 years she has passionately advocated on behalf of peace, human rights, women’s issues, and monastic and church renewal.
A much sought-after international speaker, she is also a best-selling author of more than 60 books, hundreds of articles, and an online column for the National Catholic Reporter. She has served as president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious and president of the Conference of American Benedictine Prioresses, and for 12 years, she was prioress of her community, the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, Pennsylvania.
Sister Chittister is also executive director of Benetvision, a resource and research center for contemporary spirituality, and animator of the online movement, Monasteries of the Heart. She holds a doctorate in communications from Penn State University.
“One of her messages is for us to reclaim our power during difficult times for the betterment of ourselves, our country and world; in short: the time is now for all of us to re-engage in our world,” Pytlik said. “No one can make these points better than Sister Joan Chittister. I think there are very relevant and important points for everyone to gain from her thought-provoking approach. We have been waiting for over two years for her schedule to allow her to travel to us.”
Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Sister Joan will be signing her books after the event, and books will also be available at the event.
The event is free but registration is required. To register, visit https://calendar.oakland.edu/religiousstudies/event/5385-the-time-is-now-with-sister-joan-chittister.