Fr. Vaughn Fayle, OFM, will discuss "Merton on Unredeemed and Redeemable Technology" at the next meeting of the Chicago Chapter-ITMS at 2 p.m. Sunday, Apr. 19</span>, in the Rectory Assembly of Immaculate Conception Parish, 7211 W. Talcott. Fr. Vaughn is the adjunct professor of the philosophy of religion at Catholic Theological Union, and 2007-08 ITMS Shannon Fellow. This talk is the first part of his preparation for his presentation on "Merton, Heidegger and Jacques Ellul on Technology" at the ITMS meeting in Rochester this June 11-14, Bearing Witness to the Light: Merton's Challenge to a Fragmented World.
"Merton was one of several voices that spoke against the influence of technology in our lives and society," says Fr. Vaughn. "What was the cause of his concern, and how can we understand it today when technology gives us so many benefits? Could it be that we need to hear Merton cautioning us against a technological addiction that could derail our political, intellectual and spiritual growth?" We hope you can join us! Free to members, freewill donation (suggested amount $5) for visitors.
We hope that you will all consider attending the Rochester meeting - a great experience for Merton lovers and a chance to see what we are in store for when Chicago is the host site in 2011. We will have an update on that within a few weeks.
Sunday Speaker meetings are held on the third Sunday of each month. Upcoming speaker meetings are scheduled for Apr. 19, Sept. 20, Oct. 18, and Nov. 15.
The Thomas Merton Reading Group led by Fr. Francis Cusack will continue its discussion of Mystics and Zen Masters at 7 p.m. Monday, Apr. 27, at the Passionist Monastery, 5700 N. Harlem, Chicago. The group meets on the last Monday of each month. Thomas Merton was recognized as one of those rare Western minds that are entirely at home with the Zen experience. In this collection, he discusses diverse religious concepts -early monasticism, Russian Orthodox spirituality, the Shakers, and Zen Buddhism - with characteristic Western directness. Merton not only studied these religions from the outside but grasped them by empathy and living participation from within. "All these studies," wrote Merton, "are united by one central concern: to understand various ways in which men of different traditions have conceived the meaning and method of the 'way' which leads to the highest levels of religious or of metaphysical awareness." Monday Reader meetings for the remainder of 2009 are scheduled June 29, July 27, Aug. 31, Sept. 28, Oct. 26, Nov. 30, and Dec. 28. Free.
Steve Denny was kind enough to share the following information about train transportation to Rochester: "You can go from Chicago straight to Rochester via the Lake Shore Limited Amtrak train for $59 each way. Thats a coach seat for eleven hours, overnight. It leaves Chicago at 10:00 pm on Wednesday night and gets to Rochester at 10:43am on Thursday just in time for the beginning of the conference that afternoon. Coming back it leaves on either Sat or Sunday night at 11:00pm and gets into Chicago the next morning at 9:59am. Here's the Amtrak link for the schedule of trains: http://www.amtrak.com/timetable/oct08/P48.pdf"
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