Mary Kay Oosdyke, O.P.

Ph.D. in Theology and Education, Boston College; MA in Theology, Aquinas Institute of Theology; MA in Education, Michigan State University; MARE, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Associate Professor of Theology, 2003-present
oosdyke@ai.edu

Drawn to theology and ministry by
I loved the "world" and that is really what drew me to theology. The world and my life in it posed the "big" questions of good and evil, pain and pleasure, life and death, purpose and satisfaction, isolation and community. As I entered a religious community that was, in one sense, "apart from the world," I was faced with the question of how God and the world would come together for me. Religion, faith, and God had always been a part of my life. Faith was in a fledgling state. Religion, I knew, had an amazing potential to be a tyrant or a savior. And God -- God was one big mystery.

In college I began to study formal theology, so different from previous catechetical studies of religion. I found the study of theology captivating. It was inspiring, enlightening and liberating in ways that lead to deeper knowledge and love of God, to a more mature and integrated faith, to a sense of compassion for suffering humanity and to a profound sense of mission rooted in my baptism. --Of course this euphoric but honest description is tempered while studying by a number of dense readings, papers and tests.

I knew I had to share this wealth of knowledge with all its implications for living in the world today. Thus, graduate study and then teaching became my focus for ministry.

Especially interested in
Systematic theology makes an integral contribution to a strong pastoral theology; pastoral theology provides a necessary component for a well-grounded systematic theology. The interplay of these two theological endeavors captures my interest. Christology and ecclesiology, liturgy and sacraments, American culture and theology, ministry and spirituality -- these are areas of research and teaching for me. Currently, I am focused on attempting to clarify the identity and mission of ordained and lay ecclesial ministers and what these mean for a vital collaboration in the ministries of the Church.

From 1990-1996 I was involved in a collaborative project with 23 Dominican women scholars and liturgists and musicians from all over the United States in an effort to publish a Liturgy of the Hours Prayer for Dominican women's congregations. The result of these six years of labor was the publication of Dominican Praise in April of 2006.

Also enjoys
There are many things I enjoy doing. I like movement so I have taken classes in Tai Chi, Country Western Line Dancing (yes, really) and weight training. I really enjoy winter sports but these are now limited by latitude of location. Canoeing will probably replace them here. In addition, film, music, art and novels contribute a lot to my enjoyment, thought and well-being.