Category: News
Xenia L. Chan believes in the importance of rituals, so when she marks the official completion of her PhD degree from the Regis St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology (RSM) at the coming convocation, there’ll be not only the usual pomp and circumstance but a very special added touch. The moment will be steeped in symbolism as she pays tribute to those who have paved the way for her, wearing the regalia of one of her mentors and fellow alumnae, Gale A. Yee.
“Rituals are very important, and I think I need this ritual to make this accomplishment finally feel real,” Xenia says.
Xenia has earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Biblical Studies from Regis St. Michael’s and completed her thesis on “My Mother is My Grave: A Transpacific Sinophone Archive of Horror in Jeremiah’s Confessions,” under the supervision of Dr. John L. McLaughlin. Her research delves into Asian and Asian American/Canadian hermeneutics, the theory and methodology or interpreting sacred texts, as well as human experience and actions, specifically in how Asian American/Canadian literary studies can contribute to a different reading of the book of Jeremiah.
“I was particularly interested in how Asian and Asian American/Canadian hermeneutics have shifted and changed over the last 20 years or so. I’d noticed that people were eager to talk about Asian and Asian American hermeneutics, and I wanted to contribute to continuing the project of both exploring the contours of this kind of reading and discovering what happens when we bring transpacific studies into the conversation,” she says.
Xenia studied political science and history at the undergraduate level before embarking on careers in journalism, campus ministry, and then pastoral ministry in a diaspora Protestant church context. She pursued a Master of Divinity from Tyndale Seminary and was then encouraged to apply to the doctorate program at the Toronto School of Theology.
“I found Regis St. Michael’s to be an incredibly generative space where we had the opportunity to be creative together. At RSM, we were encouraging to think out of the box, which really allowed for ideas and relationships to flourish,” she says.
Influential to Xenia’s research was her thesis supervisor, Prof. McLaughlin. “I not only appreciated his feedback on my thesis, but I knew he cared for me as a whole person and not just for the work that I produced,” she says.
Her work also builds on the research of preceding Old Testament/Hebrew Bible scholars, including Prof. Yee. “My academic journey is only possible because she paved the way and it means so much that we’re both St. Mike’s grads,” says Xenia, adding, “It’s awesome to meet your heroes and they live up to the hype. For me, Gale not only lives up to the hype. She’s exceeded it—because not only is she an amazing scholar, she’s also a phenomenal human being.”
Arrangements to pass on Yee’s regalia were made when the two finally met in person at an annual meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature. Despite their overlapping research, they had only conversed online and were friends on Facebook. Yee had asked whether Xenia had acquired robes for convocation and when Yee learned she had not, she offered hers. Xenia was stunned with this sentimental and generous gesture.
“Ever since meeting her I’ve been impressed with her scholarship and I’m proud of who she’s become. I’m glad to know somebody will continue to wear the robes,” says Yee.
Yee grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and came to the University of St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology in the 1970s where she earned her Doctor of Philosophy degree in the Old Testament. She graduated in 1985, the first Asian American to so. She went on to teach at what is now the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota, from 1984 to 1998 and then the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, from 1998 until 2017.
In 2019, she became the first woman of colour and first Asian American to serve as President of the Society of Biblical Literature.
Yee proudly donned the St. Michael’s colours when she attended the matriculations and convocations for her teaching roles. “I loved the gown with its wonderful velvet hat because it was so flamboyant, and everyone would stop and comment —it’s a very unusual doctoral robe,” she says.
It means a lot to Yee, knowing that the robes have been passed on to another woman of Asian descent who studies the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible.
Xenia will be able to continue to wear these robes at future celebrations at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where she is currently an Assistant Professor of Religion. She teaches a range of religion courses, including Old Testament/Hebrew Bible courses. She tries to incorporate the out-of-the box thinking she experienced at Regis St. Michael’s to the classes she teaches by encouraging her students to question how they categorize experiences, situations, and people and offering alternatives to writing traditional papers, all the while encouraging them to think about how religion continues to be relevant in the present.
“I try to teach my students that there’s always a little bit more nuance and encourage them to be open to new experiences,” she says. Hanging in her office is a gift from one of her students who created it for a project based on the Exodus 3:14, where God tells Moses, “I am who I am.” The glass beads refract light signifying the expansiveness of who God is and his continual faithfulness.
The Regis St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology will mark a major milestone in the federation of the two colleges as it celebrates its first graduating class at its inaugural Convocation Ceremony on Saturday, November 8.
“The University of St. Michael’s College entered into federation with Regis College with the firm conviction that, together, our institutions’ Basilian and Jesuit charisms would become something greater than the sum of their parts. This common ceremony proves that the Regis St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology is something greater, both through the new united vision of its faculty, staff, and students, and through the immense accomplishments and quality of this year’s graduates,” says St. Michael’s President David Sylvester.
In 2022, the University of St. Michael’s College Faculty of Theology federated with Regis College to create a single academic entity known today as the Regis St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology.
“Regis St. Michael’s is a creative, learning community shaping future faith leaders, schooled in the depth of the Catholic tradition and prepared to serve the global Church and the world in innovative ways,” says Regis President Fr. Gordon Rixon.
For the first time, 33 graduands of St. Michael’s and Regis will be honoured in a joint ceremony held in the historic St. Basil’s Church. Graduates and honoured guests will participate in an academic procession and walk through Scollard Park. The procession will be led by St. Michael’s Chancellor Archbishop Frank Cardinal Leo and Regis Chancellor and Jesuit Provincial Fr. Jeff Burwell, SJ.
Archbishop Leo will present St. Mike’s alumnus Mr. John Bennett with an honorary degree. Mr. Bennet has long served as an active member of the St. Michael’s community and was instrumental in the federation of Regis St. Michael’s. Regis Jesuit Community Rector Rev. Dr. Michael Kolarick, SJ will give the convocation address.
“Convocations are a time of immense joy, and so important for marking such significant achievements of students – of all the study, reflection and community engagement. I especially enjoy meeting the family, friends and loved ones who have accompanied our students in their vocational and ministerial aspirations in service of the Church and world,” says RSM Dean Jaroslav Skira.
Following the ceremony, graduates and their guests are invited to a reception held at Regis College, a historic Toronto landmark
Congratulations to RSM’s Class of 2025; we look forward to celebrating with you.
Join us to learn how two new Regis St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology projects will support ordained, religious, and lay pastoral ministers in Toronto and across Canada.
The Regis St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology (RSM) has reached an important new milestone with the reception of two significant grants totalling $2.8-million CDN from the Lilly Endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative.
The University of St. Michael’s College will use a grant of $1.4-million CDN to help establish the Canadian Centre for Catholic Pastoral Leadership (CCCPL), designed after national consultation with bishops, priests and lay pastoral leaders, to offer continuing education across the country. The CCCPL will be directed and developed by RSM and administered by St. Michael’s Continuing Education division. A wide variety of topics will be covered in course offerings, workshops and communities of practice, from learning how to offer spiritual direction through to managing capital projects.
Regis College has been awarded a grant of $1.4-million CDN to support the establishment of Walking in Service, an initiative to develop educational resources and programs to support the community-based formation of congregational leadership in Catholic Indigenous communities in Canada. Offerings will range from professional development workshops to newly developed courses. Adjunct faculty and community-recognized Elders with competencies in Indigenous pedagogies, ways of knowing, cultures and history will be hired to teach, mentor students, and support curricular development.
“When Regis College and St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology federated in 2022 this was precisely the kind of programming we envisioned offering by building on our respective talents and expertise,” says University President David Sylvester. “We have a mandate to serve the Church and the community, and these innovative new initiatives will provide vital training and support to two of our most important communities.”
The Walking in Service initiative was developed after significant consultation with Roman Catholic Indigenous communities in Ontario and Quebec, notes Fr. Gordon Rixon, S.J, President of Regis College, and was inspired by Pope Francis’s 2022 Penitential Pilgrimage across Canada.
“This is a significant moment in Canadian theological education, as Walking in Service will be based in trauma-informed theological education, respecting Indigenous self-determination, while incorporating land-based and cultural relevant pedagogies,” Rixon says.
In preparation for launching the two initiatives, RSM will invest in upgrading technology to ensure smooth delivery of those classes delivered online, and faculty will receive training on effective online pedagogy. The grants will also allow for professors to travel, connecting, learning, and teaching with communities outside of RSM’s Toronto base.
CCCPL programming will begin to roll out in the spring of 2026, while Walking in Service will launch in January 2026.
“While Regis College and St. Michael’s each have storied histories, these grants signify a watershed moment for RSM. We are excited not only for the coming year but for the years ahead,” says RSM Dean Jaroslav Skira.
The Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative is intended to help theological schools across the United States and Canada strengthen their educational and financial capacities to prepare and support pastoral leaders for Christian congregations both now and into the future. One of Lilly Endowment’s stated goals in funding projects is “to improve public understanding of religion and lift up in fair, accurate and balanced ways the roles that people of all faiths and various religious communities play in the United State and around the globe.”
To learn more about the Canadian Catholic Centre for Pastoral Leadership or Walking in Service, please contact Emil Iruthayathas, Director, Office of the Dean of Theology at RSM, at rsm.dean@utoronto.ca or Greg Rupik, St. Michael’s Chief of Staff, at greg.rupik@utoronto.ca.
Holiness and Sainthood in Islamic Thought (SMT3378H)
An introduction to the origins of notions of holiness, spiritual charisma and sainthood in Islamic thought. Central figures that will be considered are the Prophet Muhammad, ‘Ali b. Abi Talib and a selection of figures whose lives have given shape to Islamic spiritual tradition. The course will include some examples of Christian saints and mystics as an exercise in comparative biographies.
Devotional Prayer in the Islamic Tradition (SMT3367H)
This seminar explores the historical, doctrinal, philosophical and mystical aspects of Islamic liturgical texts, namely supplications and devotions. This will introduce key Islamic texts while also engaging with Christian and Jewish approaches to prayer.
In-course awards:
Stay tuned for more details about two merit-based awards for Toronto School of Theology students registered in these courses, valued at up to $1,000 each. The courses and awards are supported by a generous donation from the Shi’a Research Institute to the Regis St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology.
For more information and to apply:
www.rsmtheology.utoronto.ca/prospective-students/degree-programs/
We are looking forward to greeting returning students — and meeting new ones!
Wednesday, September 3
4:15 PM: Check in
Front Lobby, Regis Building (100 Wellesley Street W., Toronto)
4:30 PM: Welcome and Introductions for RSM Faculty, Librarians and Staff
St. Joseph Chapel, Regis Building
• Introducing the Libraries
• RSM Student Life
• Campus Ministry
5:30 PM: Program Breakout Sessions
• Basic Degree information Session | Classroom C, Regis Building
• Advanced Degree information Session | Classroom A, Regis Building
6:15 PM: Liturgy of the Word
St. Joseph Chapel
6:45 PM: Light meal to follow
Central Lounge
Thursday, September 4
5 PM to 7 PM: Academic Skills Workshop, Online
• Critical Reading & Academic Writing
• Citation, Academic Integrity & Plagiarism
Wellness Service & Accessibility Service
Attendance is mandatory for all new RSM students and confirmation of your attendance is required. Returning students are welcome to attend.
Register below for the online Academic Skills Workshop:
2025 RSM Orientation Academic Skills Workshop:
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Christine Way-Skinner, a doctoral candidate at RSM, is studying synodality for her PhD in systematic theology. She was interviewed for an article published by Canadian Affairs about a four-day conference that was an experiment in synodality. This conference brought a listening technique employed by Pope Francis in Rome to St. Jerome’s University College in Waterloo, Ont. Read ‘‘We love to blah, blah, blah’: Canadian Catholics embrace learning to listen‘.
We are remembering Sr. Maureen Baldwin, CND, a past member of the Regis College academic leadership team, who passed away on Friday after a brief illness.
Please remember her, her family, and her religious community in your prayers. A funeral will be held in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
A memorial service is being arranged to be held at Regis College. Further details are pending.