The MAST Journal is the work of The Mercy Association of Scripture and Theology (MAST).
Mission
The mission of the Association is to promote and support scholarship and theological reflection on Scripture, theology, spirituality, ethics, and related sciences undertaken by Sisters of Mercy around the world as well as colleagues and friends in order to serve the Church and the Institute, especially women.
To this end, the Association encourages the publication of scholarly writing through The MAST Journal; the convening of an annual conference focused on issues of theological or spiritual concerns; and mutual support for its members engaged in scholarly pursuits through study, writing, teaching, and administration. Members act as theologians in the Church and carry on theological work in their respective disciplines and ministries. They also seek to be of service to the Institute of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas by providing a forum for theological education.
Leadership
Ellen Murray, RSM, currently serves as MAST’s Executive Director. The Executive Committee includes Marie Michele Donnelly, RSM, and Katherine Doyle, RSM.
Annual Conference
The annual meeting of MAST is typically held on a weekend in June in Belmont, North Carolina. Each conference focuses on a particular theme and welcomes various speakers and panelists.
History
The Mercy Association in Scripture and Theology (MAST) met for the first time in June 1987 at Gwynedd-Mercy College in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania. Called together by Eloise Rosenblatt, RSM, and Mary Ann Getty, then a Sister of Mercy, twenty Sisters of Mercy theologians and scripture scholars from fourteen regional communities formally established the organization to provide a forum for dialogue and cooperation among Sisters of Mercy.
The MAST Journal was begun in 1999 by members of MAST. For more information, click here.
Contact or Join the Association
The Association is open to membership for scholars, pastoral practitioners, and others who resonate with our mission. Dues are $25 per year. For more information on MAST, including how to join the Association and how to contribute in our ongoing theological dialogue, please contact Ellen Murray, RSM.
