Catholic Studies

Candler students enrolled in the Master of Divinity (MDiv) degree program may select a concentration in Catholic Studies. The concentration requires 18 hours and provides students with a series of courses that will prepare them for leadership in Catholic parishes, schools, non-profits, and other contexts.

Considering an MTS, MRL, MRPL, ThM or a dual degree in theology and public health, bioethics, law, social work, development practice, or business? Whatever your degree program, Catholic students will receive close mentorship and one-on-one guidance from Candler’s Catholic Studies faculty to focus their coursework in ways that will prepare them well for future vocational endeavors in the church, the academy, and the world.

Dr. Tony Alonso, Assistant Professor of Theology and Culture; Director of Catholic Studies

Dr. Antonio Eduardo Alonso works at the intersection of theology and culture, with a particular focus on worship and ritual practices. His articles have appeared in a range of journals including Modern Theology, Worship, and Liturgy. Alonso’s current research centers on the relationship between consumer culture and Eucharist as well as the theological implications of the work of Michel de Certeau. In addition to his scholarly work, he is a widely published composer of liturgical music in both English and Spanish; his music appears in hymnals across denominations throughout the world.

Dr. Susan Reynolds, Assistant Professor of Catholic Studies

Dr. Susan Reynolds’ work examines ritual practice in contexts of difference, marginality, and suffering. Her current project analyzes the role of ritual in the formation of community in racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse Catholic parishes, drawing on a five-year ethnographic study of a diverse Catholic parish in Boston. Her other research interests include immigration and border studies, Latinx theologies, and lived ecclesiology. She also writes and speaks extensively on the topic of theology and prenatal loss. Prior to academic work, Reynolds taught middle school in Brownsville, Texas. She has more than a decade of experience in campus, parish, and liturgical music ministry.

Other associated faculty members at Candler

Dr. Anthony A. Briggman, Associate Professor of Early Christianity

Dr. Steffen Lösel, Associate Professor in the Practice of Systematic Theology

Dr. Marie Friedmann Marquardt, Scholar-in-Residence

Candler’s affiliation with the Aquinas Center of Theology further enhances the Catholic presence at Emory and provides rich resources for the formation of Catholic leaders and scholars. Partnering with the university to provide a range of programmatic and academic offerings that engage the Catholic community in the Atlanta area, the vision of the Aquinas Center is to transform lives through the search for God’s wisdom. In recent years, the Aquinas Center has invited some of the most significant Catholic voices in the world to campus for public lectures, including John L. Allen, Jr., Sr. Simone Campbell, Sr. Joan Chittister, Ambassador Miguel Diaz, Fr. Bryan Hehir, Cardinal Walter Kasper, Sr. Helen Prejean, Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, O.P., and many more. Catholic Studies and the Aquinas Center collaborate closely on a wide range of projects and initiatives that enrich Catholic life on campus.

Learn more about the Aquinas Center.

"Because of its focus on contextualized learning, Candler’s MDiv program gave me the opportunity to work with Catholic ministries across the archdiocese. After working with world-renowned scholars, I feel prepared for further PhD studies in Systematic Theology." —Byron Wratee, MDiv ’18

"Being in the classroom with students from other Christian denominations is a rewarding experience that allows you to find commonalities in beliefs while simultaneously deepening your understanding of the Catholic tradition. In a pluralistic world, engagement with other faith traditions will be a part of any future career in the Church or the academy." —Sarah Kothe, MTS ’18

"Candler provides opportunities to gain foundational knowledge from an ecumenical Christian perspective, while also engaging with the Catholic intellectual tradition. This combination provides a broad and rich background for me, as a Catholic, to enhance my contribution to my parish and diocese." —Theresa Milazzo, MRPL, ‘19