Michael Iafrate vox victimarum, vox dei

CV

Education

Ph.D. student in Theology
University of St. Michael's College, Toronto School of Theology, Toronto, ON
2006-present

M.A. Applied Theology
Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling, WV
2001-2003

B.A. Theology/Religious Studies
Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling, WV
1995-1999
Thesis: "The Political Liturgy: Lessons from 1 Corinthians for Today"

Research interests

- Liberationist, critical, political, and postcolonial theologies
- Contextual and liberationist Christologies
- Official, local, ecumenical and alternative ecclesiologies
- Contemporary trends in Catholic theology
- Catholic social thought
- Catholic peace tradition
- Religious faith and social change
- The churches and social movements
- Biblical interpretive practices of marginalized communities
- Appalachian Studies and religion
- Theology and popular music
- Religiosity in/of secular culture(s)

Publications

"Destructive Obedience: U.S. Military Training and Culture as a Parody of Christian Discipleship," The Conrad Grebel Review 29.2 (Spring 2011): 4–30.

"The Totus Christus and the Crucified People: Re-Reading Augustine’s Christology from Below With the Salvadoran Jesuits," Journal of Postcolonial Theory and Theology 2, no. 4 (May 2011).

“The Political Liturgy: Lessons from 1 Corinthians for Today.” Journal of Theta Alpha Kappa 25, no. 1 (Spring 2000): 52–71.

Academic reviews

Review of Bryan Massingale's Racial Justice and the Catholic Church (Orbis), Journal of Race, Ethnicity and Religion, Sept. 2010.

Popular reviews

Ben Witherington's Jesus and Money: A Guide for Times of Financial Crisis (Brazos) in The Catholic Register (Canada), March, 2010.

Daniel Berrigan's The Kings and Their Gods (Eerdmans) in The Catholic Register (Canada), June 1, 2008.

Work in progress

“More Than Music: Notes on 'Staying Punk' in the Church and in Theology,” in Secular Music and Sacred Theology (tentative title), Tom Beaudoin, ed. (Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, forthcoming).

Conference presentations

"'I'm a Human, Not a Statue': Saints and Saintliness in the Church of Punk Rock," Catholic Theological Society of America, San Jose, Cal., June 10, 2011.

Invited popular lectures, talks, workshops

"Though the Mountains May Fall: Appalachian Spirituality/ies," Appalachian Service Orientation Training, Appalachian Institute, Wheeling Jesuit University, November 6, 2010.

"Homemade Music: DIY Music Practices and the Church as Counterculture," Practicing Resurrection Conference, Cameron, Ontario, Canada, Summer 2008.

"Campus Ministry as a School of Discipleship," Presentation to the Serra Club, Morgantown, WV, May 2006

"'Mmm... sacrilicious!': The Theology of The Simpsons," Theology on Tap, Morgantown, WV, Spring 2006.

Other teaching and ministry experience

Campus Minister/Pastoral Associate, St. John University Parish/Newman Center (Morgantown, WV), 2004-2006.
Campus Minister, Wheeling Jesuit University, 2003-2004.
Graduate Assistant, Campus Ministry, Wheeling Jesuit University, 2001-2003.
Religion Instructor, Central Catholic High School (Wheeling, WV), 1999-2000.

Current affiliations

American Academy of Religion
Appalachian Studies Association
Rock and Theology Project (sponsored by Liturgical Press)
Catholic Committee of Appalachia
Ekklesia Project
Pax Christi

Career goals

Teaching, mentoring, publishing, Appalachian and global justice activism, advising for intentional Christian communities and social justice movements/organizations

Hobbies and interests

Guitar, banjo, songwriting, home recording, activism, Appalachian culture and politics, reading

References

Available upon request