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PONTIFEX MINIMUS: PRESIDENTIAL REFLECTIONS ON THE CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL TRADITION
By Dr. Michael W. Higgins, President and Vice-Chancellor of Corpus Christi-St. Mark's at UBC It was with a combination of surprise and sadness that I read a detailed and generous obituary in Thursday’s Globe and Mail of the death and legacy of the Montreal priest, John Walsh. His death was sudden and the impact in […]
PONTIFEX MINIMUS: PRESIDENTIAL REFLECTIONS ON THE CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL TRADITION
BY DR. MICHAEL W. HIGGINS, PRESIDENT AND VICE-CHANCELLOR OF CORPUS CHRISTI-ST. MARK'S AT UBC On November 10 the Secretariat of State of the Holy See issued its exhaustive Report on the Holy See’s Institutional Knowledge and Decision-Making Related to Former Cardinal Theodore Edgar McCarrick. Clocking in at a whopping 449 pages with some 1400 footnotes […]
PONTIFEX MINIMUS: PRESIDENTIAL REFLECTIONS ON THE CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL TRADITION
By Dr. Michael W. Higgins, President and Vice-Chancellor of Corpus Christi-St. Mark's at UBC Erik Varden, the newly-installed Bishop-Prelate of the Catholic Territorial Prelature of Trondheim, Norway, is an extraordinary leader. Immediate past Abbot of Mount St. Bernard Abbey in Leicestershire, England, he is a young, very young, Trappist monk who is the author of […]
Pontifex Minimus Blog: Pope Francis sparks revolutionary love, yet again – this time for gay people
By Dr. Michael W. Higgins, President and Vice-Chancellor of Corpus Christi-St. Mark's at UBC Special to The Globe and Mail Published October 22, 2020 A few years ago, I attended a Vatican event on assignment with my late friend Peter Kavanagh, a lawyer, CBC producer and the co-author of my book Suffer the Children unto […]
Dr. Scott Kline named inaugural Visiting Scholar in Ethics for St. Mark’s College and Providence Health Care
St. Mark’s College and Providence Health Care have united to address the need for enhanced ethics in Catholic health care in Vancouver. A new position will support the local Catholic health care community dedicated to meeting the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of those served through compassionate care, teaching and research. Vancouver, BC – […]
PONTIFEX MINIMUS: PRESIDENTIAL REFLECTIONS ON THE CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL TRADITION
By Dr. Michael W. Higgins, President and Vice-Chancellor of Corpus Christi-St. Mark's at UBC Pope Francis’s new text takes aim at a dangerous global threat – Donald Trump Talk about bad timing. The recent encyclical by Pope Francis, Fratelli Tutti, had a far from auspicious launch. It appeared at the same time as he sacked […]
PONTIFEX MINIMUS: PRESIDENTIAL REFLECTIONS ON THE CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL TRADITION
By Dr. Michael W. Higgins, President and Vice-Chancellor of Corpus Christi-St. Mark's at UBC Fratelli Tutti, the latest document to emerge from the pen of Pope Francis, is a substantive examination of humanity’s desperate need for meaningful connection, for human communion, for a shared grasp of those values that enrich us as individuals and […]
PONTIFEX MINIMUS: PRESIDENTIAL REFLECTIONS ON THE CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL TRADITION
By Dr. Michael W. Higgins, President and Vice-Chancellor of Corpus Christi-St. Mark's at UBC It is clear that relations with mainland China are fraught. The geopolitical situation is hazardous and seemingly insurmountable. Diplomacy has collapsed into shouting matches; polemical argument supplants reasoned argument. But there may be an avenue we haven’t explored and it […]
From the Desk of the President
Welcome everyone to the inauguaral mass of the new academic year, the Mass of the Holy Spirit This is a time of beginnings but it must strike us all that it feels more like a time of endings—no onsite classes, limited interaction at gatherings, a legion of bubbles that continues to contract, communion by […]
PONTIFEX MINIMUS: PRESIDENTIAL REFLECTIONS ON THE CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL TRADITION
By Dr. Michael W. Higgins, President and Vice-Chancellor of Corpus Christi-St. Mark's at UBC Former Canadian prime minister, John Turner, died in September and among the many tributes, homage, political commentaries, post mortems, and personal reflections that have been published or aired many have spoken of his devout Catholicism. One is never quite sure […]
COVID-19 Updates
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 - 4:03 P.M. ACADEMIC PLAN FOR WINTER 2021 Dear students, As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, the colleges are committed to continue our work as a vibrant centre of intellectual life while ensuring the safety of our students, faculty, staff and community. We are following the government’s guidelines for […]
PONTIFEX MINIMUS: PRESIDENTIAL REFLECTIONS ON THE CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL TRADITION
By Dr. Michael W. Higgins, President and Vice-Chancellor of Corpus Christi-St. Mark's at UBC One of the most celebrated of Catholic novelists, Graham Greene, is also one of the most controverted figures in Catholic letters, or indeed English literary life period. As novelist and biographer A. N. Wilson recently noted, “for some, [Greene] was […]
PONTIFEX MINIMUS: PRESIDENTIAL REFLECTIONS ON THE CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL TRADITION
By Dr. Michael W. Higgins, President and Vice-Chancellor of Corpus Christi-St. Mark's at UBC As we begin a new year of learning, although much compromised by our global pandemic, it is well to remember that this year may prove nonetheless to be a year of epiphany, a year when we happen upon a book […]
PONTIFEX MINIMUS: PRESIDENTIAL REFLECTIONS ON THE CATHOLIC INTELLECTUAL TRADITION
By Dr. Michael W. Higgins, President and Vice-Chancellor of Corpus Christi-St. Mark's at UBC Many of the titans of industry—Reed Hastings of Netflix and Jeff Bezos of Amazon—delight in their success by pointing to various criteria they deploy to ensure a workforce of faithful votaries working at optimal strength in well-oiled machines. They […]
From the Desk of the President
We live in tumultuous times. And such times—conscientization around race, social and economic inequity, historical redress if not re-examination concerning past behaviour, both institutional and personal—call out for response. Universities are sanctuaries, safe ground for sober reflection, as well as hallowed places where deep thinking can occur, bold and prophetic ideas probed, where the […]
Pontifex Minimus: Presidential reflections on the Catholic intellectual tradition
By Dr. Michael W. Higgins, President and Vice-Chancellor of Corpus Christi-St. Mark's at UBC What follows is a slightly longer rumination than what I intend as a weekly blog entry, but the topic is especially germane, and so I have rationalized a greater length. We all listen attentively, eagerly, often with anxiety, and sometimes with […]
Pontifex Minimus: Presidential Reflections on the Catholic Intellectual Tradition
By Dr. Michael W. Higgins, President and Vice-Chancellor of Corpus Christi-St. Mark's at UBC Emma Donoghue, the Irish novelist now resident in London, Ontario, has just published her latest novel, The Pull of the Stars, in the midst of a plague. The timing couldn’t be better and the marketing people have maximized the opportunity presented to […]
Corpus Christi-St. Mark’s at UBC receives Jesuit endorsement
We are pleased to announce a five-year endorsement agreement has been signed between the Jesuits of Canada and Corpus Christi-St. Mark’s at the University of British Columbia (UBC). “This endorsement from the Jesuits of Canada is yet another important and exciting stage for Corpus Christi-St. Mark’s. Building on the charism of the Basilian Fathers, who […]
St. Mark’s College at UBC to Confer 2020 Honorary Doctorate to Dr. Paul Burns
St. Mark’s College at UBC is pleased to announce Dr. Paul Burns — Professor Emeritus and an academic leader whose commitment to his students and to the lifelong pursuit of learning has made him an inspiration to all — will be awarded the institution’s highest honour, the degree Doctor of Sacred Letters, honoris causa. The […]
Academic Plan for Fall 2020
Dear students, As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, the colleges are committed to continue our work as a vibrant centre of intellectual life while ensuring the safety of our students, faculty, staff and community. We cannot control the full trajectory of this pandemic, so we must accept the unknowns and be ready to […]
Statement on Racial Injustice in America and Canada
Dear Corpus Christi-St. Mark’s College Community, I write to you today deeply upset by the racial injustices that have sparked outrage, protests and many overdue and important discussions in America. The inequality and injustices we are seeing in the U.S. are patterns caused by systemic racism that is also very much present […]
Dr. Michael W. Higgins – New Interim President and Vice-Chancellor
The Board of Directors at Corpus Christi College-St. Mark’s College at UBC is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Michael W. Higgins as Interim President and Vice-Chancellor of the colleges, commencing July 15, 2020. Dr. Higgins brings to the position an extensive and distinguished background as an experienced academic leader, celebrated author and lecturer. […]
Leadership announcement: President, Dr. Peter Meehan, steps down
Vancouver, BC – March 13, 2020. On behalf of the Board of Directors at St. Mark’s College-Corpus Christi College at UBC, we are writing to inform you that Dr. Peter Meehan has announced his resignation as President and Vice Chancellor. After almost six years at the Catholic colleges at UBC, he will depart at the […]
Snow Alert
Status: Friday, January 17, 2020 - The College is open. Until the decision to “close” is announced, the Colleges are to be considered open. A decision to "close", made before 6:30 a.m. of a work day, including Saturdays when classes or exams are scheduled, would be posted on this webpage. Unless otherwise specified, the […]
Transit strike update
Transit strike update – December 9, 2019 Please see below for an important update on the Metro Vancouver SkyTrain strike. Due to job action, the Expo and Millennium SkyTrain Lines are scheduled for a full shutdown on December 10, 11 and 12. All other transit modes are operating, but will be busier than usual. We […]
Possible transit operators’ strike: Metro Vancouver bus and SeaBus drivers have issued a 72-hour strike notice
Campus notification from UBC You may be aware that the union representing Coast Mountain Bus Company transit workers and SeaBus operators held a vote, in which the majority of its members voted in favour of strike action. Although negotiations have been taking place, the Joint Union Bargaining Committee has now issued a 72-hour strike notice […]
Message from Dr. Lynda Robitaille, Dean of Theology : Senate Alumni Position Available
To all St. Mark’s College graduate alumni: I am writing to you because you are an alumnus/a of St. Mark’s College’s graduate programs. You may recall that Bertilla Watanabe previously held the Alumni Representative position on Senate, serving after Susan Sousa. That term has ended and we now need to update our membership on Senate. Senate is […]
Brand-new Centre for Christian Engagement launches with a series of lectures, forums, and retreats
As the Catholic centre of the University of British Columbia, the Community of St. Mark’s is committed to serving the needs of Catholic higher education, both at the University and in the Archdiocese of Vancouver. Responding to Pope Francis’ call for Christians to create a culture of encounter and dialogue, the new St. Mark’s College […]
Convocation 2019: Student Address
Dear Your Excellency Archbishop Miller, President Meehan, Board Chairman Boscariol, Faculty, Staff, Distinguished Guests, Friends, Family and fellow Graduates: It is an honour and a privilege to stand before you today to represent the class of 2019: a class made up of diverse individuals from all walks of life, spanning different programs and degrees, each […]
Celebrating the Inspirational Paul Burns
After many years as an integral part of the community, Dr. Paul Burns, our valued Dean of Arts, will be stepping down from his position. Paul’s leadership within the school helped build numerous connections with UBC and his talent for teaching continually engaged students in the synthesis of faith and reason. Paul Burns has been […]
Convocation Awards 2019
Congratulations to students who won awards at the 2019 Convocation. Communitas Award The Communitas Award is given to students who demonstrate outstanding servant leadership to our community and to the broader Catholic community. These students bring Christian fellowship to life in the College, embodied by their passion and dedication to serve their community in […]
St. Mark’s College at UBC launches the Centre for Christian Engagement
Vancouver, BC – May 28, 2019. St. Mark’s College at UBC is pleased to announce the launch of the Centre for Christian Engagement. The Centre for Christian Engagement seeks to help create a culture of community and dialogue by providing opportunities to address the challenges of Christians disengaging from the Church and the life of […]
St. Mark’s College at UBC to Confer 2019 Honorary Doctorate to Dianne Doyle
Vancouver, BC – May 24, 2019. St. Mark’s College at UBC is pleased to announce Dianne Doyle – a widely recognized and respected champion of Catholic healthcare, leader in the governance of non-profits and an advocate of the vulnerable and disadvantaged members of society – will be awarded the institution’s highest honour, the Doctor of […]
Welcome to the new St. Mark’s College website
We are thrilled to announce the new and improved St. Mark's College website has launched. We've redesigned our website with you in mind. Fun fact: The previous St. Mark's website was almost 10 years old! It served us well but it was time for a change. The new site is a complete overhaul and includes […]
St. Mark’s College and Vancouver School of Theology Launch Post-Secondary Ecumenical Partnership
Vancouver, BC - November 20, 2018. St. Mark’s College and the Vancouver School of Theology (VST), affiliated Theological Colleges of the University of British Columbia, are pleased to announce the signing of an agreement to increase educational offerings for domestic and international students aspiring to pursue graduate studies. The agreement includes program partnerships and other […]
Welcome from the Office of the Principal
Dear Students,ㅤ Welcome to a new semester at St. Mark’s College, the Catholic Theological College affiliated with the University of British Columbia! You are part of the Community of St. Mark’s at UBC, which also includes St. Mark’s Parish, served by the Jesuit Fathers, and our undergraduate sister institution, Corpus Christi College.ㅤ Catholic higher education […]
Sharing an “Inheritance of Faith”: Ambrose and Matilda Choi
The couple hope to support 20 organizations over a 20-year period, and then pass the project on to the next generation - their sons "Even just a few people from a small community can contribute to the local community." - Ambrose Choi After facing the challenges of immigrating to Canada from Korea in 2004, Ambrose and […]
St. Mark’s College at UBC to Confer 2018 Honorary Doctorate to Father Thomas Rosica, CSB
A well-respected biblical scholar, author, speaker, and commentator, Father Rosica is the founding CEO of the Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation and Television Network in Canada, and has served as English language assistant in the Holy See Press Office. Vancouver, BC - April 20, 2018. St. Mark's College at UBC is pleased to announce […]
St. Mark’s College Achieves Full ATS Accreditation
Vancouver, BC - April 11, 2018. St. Mark's College is very pleased to announce that the College has been granted full accreditation by the Board of Commissioners of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS). ATS is a membership organization of more than 270 graduate schools that educate persons for […]
Most Rev. Mark Hagemoen, Former Principal of St. Mark’s College and President of Corpus Christi College, Appointed New Bishop for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon
Vancouver, BC - September 13, 2017. Pope Francis has appointed former Principal of St. Mark's College and President of Corpus Christi College, Most Rev. Mark Hagemoen, as the new Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Saskatoon. The appointment was announced on September 12, 2017. "Bishop Mark", as he is known to students, was Principal of St. […]
St. Mark’s College Reaches Final Accreditation Step with Association of Theological Schools (ATS)
Vancouver, BC - July 5, 2017. St. Mark’s College is proud to announce its final step in the accreditation process with the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). From October 16-19, 2017 St. Mark's College will undergo a comprehensive site visit from an ATS evaluation committee. St. Mark’s College received ATS Associate Membership in 2010, and […]
Every student from inaugural St. Mark’s Bachelor of Arts program accepted to UBC Faculty of Education
Vancouver, BC - June 5, 2017 St. Mark’s College’s celebrated the graduation of its inaugural class from the new Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Culture program. The graduates, all aspiring teachers wanting to teach in Catholic, faith-based, or public schools in British Columbia, received a BA with teaching concentrations in English, History (Socials), and […]
Corpus Christi College Founder Receives Papal Medal
Vancouver, BC - May 20, 2017. Corpus Christi College Founder and Former Executive Director Dr. Gerald Sylvester was awarded with a papal medal, the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, in 2016, for “his passionate role in fostering Catholic higher education”. Unable to attend the award ceremony in November, 2016, Dr. Sylvester received the medal at […]
Dr. Nicholas Olkovich Named Inaugural Marie Anne Blondin Chair at St. Mark’s College at UBC
The Chair will support a stable theology department of excellence, which responds to our evolving times and is at the forefront of the Church's commitment to dialogue and encounter. Vancouver, BC - May 18, 2017. Following a lengthy and thorough international search, St. Mark's College at UBC is pleased to announce the appointment of our […]
St. Mark’s College at UBC to Confer 2017 Honorary Doctorate to Internationally Recognized Pediatrician and Ethicist Sister Nuala Kenny
Vancouver, BC - May 9, 2017. St. Mark's College at UBC is pleased to announce that Sister Nuala Patricia Kenny, OC, BA, MD, FRCP(C) - an internationally recognized pediatrician, ethicist, and educator on healthcare and policy - will be awarded the institution's highest honour, the Doctor of Sacred Letters (honoris causa). The degree will be […]
Convocation 2017: Student Address
Vancouver, BC - May 2017 "Today is a day of hope. It is a day in which the past, present, and future collide; a day of nostalgia, transience, and faith. It has been only three weeks since the end of term, and yet, already, I find myself renarrativizing the reality of my undergraduate experience. During […]
Board Members of St. Mark’s and Corpus Christi Colleges Recognized as “Exceptional” Lawyers with Queen’s Counsel (QC) Designation
Vancouver, BC - December 20, 2016 - The Community of St. Mark's at UBC (St. Mark's College, Corpus Christi College, and St. Mark's Parish) is pleased to announce the recent appointment of two board members to the designation of Queen's Counsel (QC). Board chair Mr. Celso Boscariol and Board member Mr. Bruno De Vita were among […]
Principal interviewed by Salt + Light Media
In this wide-ranging WITNESS Interview, Fr. Thomas Rosica speaks with Dr. Peter Meehan, President of Corpus Christi College and Principal of St. Mark's College.
Saint Mark’s College to Confer 2016 Honorary Doctorate to Retired Neurosurgeon, Humanitarian Dr. Felix Durity
Vancouver, BC – May 2, 2016. Saint Mark’s College at UBC is pleased to announce that Dr. Felix Durity – retired neurosurgeon, former Head of Neurosurgery and current Professor Emeritus in UBC’s Department of Surgery, and a committed humanitarian – will be awarded the institution’s highest honour, the Doctor of Sacred Letters (honoris causa). The […]
St. Mark’s College at UBC Receives $3M Gift to Fund Endowed Chair
Major endowment will help expand the College’s academic and outreach mission Vancouver, BC – February 5, 2016. St. Mark’s College at UBC is pleased to announce that the Sisters of Saint Ann have contributed $3 million to the College to establish the Marie Anne Blondin Chair in Theology. The endowment represents the largest in the […]
Saint Mark’s in the News: “Theists and atheists have much to learn from one another”
Read Pam Johnson's interview with Dr Sam Rocha, Pastoral Philospher-in-Residence at Saint Mark's College, at: http://www.vancourier.com/community/theists-and-atheists-have-much-to-le.... Dr. Rocha is presenting a special series at St. Joseph the Worker in Richmond on ‘Atheism, Doubt and the Search for God’. For more info and register, click here.
Annual Fundraiser Supports Students
Responding to Pope Francis’ Call to Support Catholic Higher Education This past weekend, friends and supporters of Corpus Christi College and Saint Mark’s College gathered for our 15th Annual Fundraising Breakfast to help support Catholic Higher Education in Vancouver. Funds raised support student merit-based scholarships and bursaries for financially needy students. The audience heard […]
Noted Canadian Bioethicist Dr. Moira McQueen to Receive Honorary Doctorate from Saint Mark’s College
Vancouver, BC – MARCH 9, 2015 – Saint Mark’s College, the Catholic Theological College affiliated with the University of British Columbia, is pleased to announce that Dr. Moira McQueen, a leading bioethicist and moral theologian, will be awarded the institution’s highest honour, the Doctor of Sacred Letters (honoris causa). The degree will be conferred by […]
Saint Mark’s College and Corpus Christi College Announce Dr. Peter Matthew Meehan as New Principal and President
Vancouver, BC, June 16, 2014 –The Board of Directors of Saint Mark’s College and Corpus Christi College is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Peter Matthew Meehan as the next Principal pro tem of Saint Mark’s College and President of Corpus Christi College for an initial five-year term, effective August 1, 2014. Saint Mark’s, […]
Convocation 2014: Graduates should “turn the world upside down” and prioritize the poor
Saint Mark's graduates and instructors recognized for outstanding achievement at this year's convocation.Vancouver, BC – MAY 10, 2014 – To be seen as “good news”, evangelization must relate to its contemporary context and prioritize the poor. This was one of the key messages in the address delivered by Saint Mark College’s honorary doctorate recipient, Sister […]
Honorary Doctorate Recipient Recognized for Leadership in Ecumenism and Interfaith Dialogue
MEDIA RELEASE Vancouver, BC – MARCH 13, 2014 – Saint Mark’s College, the Catholic Theological College affiliated with the University of British Columbia, is pleased to announce that Sister Donna Geernaert, Congregational Leader of the Sisters of Charity–Halifax, will be awarded the institution’s highest honour, the Doctor of Sacred Letters (honoris causa). The degree will […]
Dr. Paul C. Burns Appointed Interim Principal of Saint Mark’s College
October 24, 2013. Dr. Paul C. Burns has been appointed as Interim Principal of Saint Mark’s College and Interim President of Corpus Christi College. He will assume these responsibilities on November 15, 2013. Current Principal of Saint Mark’s College and President of Corpus Christi College , Rev. Dr. Mark A. Hagemoen, was recently appointed Bishop […]
Pope Appoints Saint Mark’s College Principal as Bishop
October 15, 2013. Rev. Dr. Mark A Hagemoen, Principal of Saint Mark’s College and President of Corpus Christi College, has been appointed by Pope Francis as Bishop of the Diocese of Mackenzie - Fort Smith, based in Yellowknife. Mackenzie - Fort Smith is Canada's largest-area and northernmost diocese. “Dr. Rev. Hagemoen has been a driving […]
Sister Marie Zarowny, SSA, receives honorary degree from St. Mark’s College
The St. Mark's College honorary doctorate is awarded to men and women who exemplify the values the College strives to embrace and promote within its own students and the broader community. The Doctor of Sacred Letters recognizes Sister Marie for her distinguished service to her Congregation, to the field of education, and especially to Christian […]
Rev. Dr. Mark Hagemoen Appointed as the New Principal/President for St. Mark’s/Corpus Christi Colleges
VANCOUVER, MARCH 18 – Following an international search conducted with the assistance of an executive search firm, the Board of Directors of both Colleges announced the appointment of Rev. Dr. Mark Hagemoen as President of Corpus Christi College and Principal of St. Mark’s College, effective July 1, 2011, for a five-year term. Corpus Christi, the […]
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