Vincentian Chair of Social Justice 2025–26: Catholic Intellectual Tradition and the University

Vincentian Chair of Social Justice 2025–26 

Catholic Intellectual Tradition and the University 

Monday, April 13 
1:50–3:15 p.m. 

Each year, the Vincentian Chair of Social Justice (VCSJ) selects a justice theme with the help of the wider St. John’s University community. National and international scholars then contribute to the theme’s exploration. This year, the theme is provided by the Catholic Intellectual Tradition (CIT), with its 2,000-year history in the origin and expression of human and Christian development.  

Across all fields of culture and education, the CIT has contributed to the values and voices of believing participants. From liberal arts to modern science, it engages in the affirmation of human dignity and the search for truth. Faith and reason are companions on the path of human knowledge that invite people of all traditions to the search for the truth that touches us all.  

Sister Teresa (Tere) Maya, CCVI, Ph.D., the sixth speaker in the 2025–26Vincentian Chair of Social Justice Lecture Series, will discuss “Health Equity and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition.” She is a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX, and has served as a teacher, history professor, administrator, leader, facilitator, and speaker.  

Sr. Teresa is passionate about forming ministers committed to transforming the Church and society. She believes in lifelong learning and has a strong conviction in the future of consecrated life. She earned her B.A. at Yale University; her M.A. at the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley; and her Ph.D. at El Colegio de Mexico in Mexico City. She served for 14 years in the leadership of her religious institute and on the Leadership Conference of Women Religious as President from 2016 to 2019.  

Sr. Teresa accompanies other religious congregations as facilitator and consultant, and currently serves as Senior Director for Theology and Sponsorship at the Catholic Health Association (USA). 

 
You are invited to attend the lecture on Monday, April 13, from 1:50 to 3:15 p.m. in  
G-016 in the St. Vincent Health Sciences Center. For those unable to join us in person, the talk will be recorded.  

Visit stjohns.edu/VCSJ to register and for more information.