The Haid Symposium on Catholicism in the American South
The Haid Symposium on Catholicism in the American South
October 11th - 12th, 2024
In honor of the centennial of Abbot Leo Haid’s passing, Belmont Abbey College presents The Haid Symposium on Catholicism in the American South. This symposium is dedicated to fostering scholarly dialogue and collaborative research among academics from over a dozen esteemed institutions.
As the founding Abbot of Belmont Abbey College and vicar apostolic of North Carolina until his death in 1924, Bishop Haid played a pivotal role in nurturing the Catholic presence in the American South. His vision and leadership transformed a fledgling religious community into a powerful force that significantly influenced the region’s religious, socio-political, literary, and cultural landscapes.
The Haid Symposium offers an opportunity to explore the century that has passed since Bishop Haid’s death, shedding light on his enduring legacy and celebrating a vital yet often overlooked chapter in Southern and American Catholic history. Join us as we delve into the profound impact of his work and the evolving narrative of Catholicism in the American South.
To help usher in the symposium, on October 10, Belmont Abbey College will host a live evening performance of Flannery O’Connor’s “Everything That Rises Must Converge,” featuring theatre troupe Compagnia de’ Colombari on their Fall 2024 tour of Italy and the U.S.
Schedule of Events
8:00 PM – “Everything That Rises Must Converge” by Flannery O’Connor, created for the stage by Karin Coonrod
Flannery O’Connor’s award-winning 1961 story, which highlights tensions between young and old during the Civil Rights era, is brought to life on stage. Touring Rome and multiple U.S. cities in Fall 2024, this hour-long performance will be immediately followed by an interactive talkback between the audience, director Karin Coonrod, and the cast. Learn more.
*Not included with Conference Registration; tickets are complimentary while they last but must be reserved separately.
7:15 AM – Breakfast
Location: Haid Ballroom
8:00 AM – Opening Remarks
Location: Haid Ballroom
8:45 AM – Panel 1: Southern Catholicism and the Literary Imagination: Flannery O’Connor
Location: Haid Ballroom
- Angela Alaimo O’Donnell, Fordham University
- John Sykes, Wingate University
- Christina Bieber Lake, Wheaton College
10:30 AM – Panel 2: Southern Catholics at the Intersections of Early Southern History
Location: Haid Ballroom
- Kelly Schmidt, Slavery, History, Memory and Reconciliation Project/St. Louis University
- Adam Tate, Clayton State University
- Fr. David Endres, The Athenaeum of Ohio & Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West
12:00 PM – Lunch
Location: Haid Ballroom
1:00 PM – Panel 3: Distinctive Experiences of Women’s Religious Orders in the South
Location: Haid Ballroom
- Kathryn Oosterhuis, Mercy Heritage Center
- Shannen Dee Williams, University of Dayton
3:00 PM – Panel 4: The Benedictine Contributions to Southern Catholicism
Location: Haid Ballroom
- Paul Monson, Sacred Heart Seminary & School of Theology
- Cecilia Moore, University of Dayton
- Simon Donoghue, Belmont Abbey College
5:00 PM – Dinner and Keynote
Location: Student Commons
- Maura Jane Farrelly, Brandeis University
8:15 AM – Breakfast
Location: Grace Auditorium
9:00 AM – Panel 5: Southern Catholicism and the Literary Imagination: Walker Percy
Location: Grace Auditorium
- Collin Messer, Covenant College
- Patrick Connelly, Mississippi College
- Thomas Haddox, University of Tennessee
11:00 AM – Mass
Mass will be held in the Mary Help of Christians Basilica
12:00 PM – Lunch
Location: Grace Auditorium
1:00 PM – Panel 6: Southern Catholicism during the Civil Rights Movement
Location: Grace Auditorium
- Karen Johnson, Wheaton College
- Fr. Bentley Anderson, SJ, Loyola University (New Orleans)
- Andrew Moore, St. Anselm College
- Leah Mickens, August Wilson Project Archivist at the University of Pittsburgh
2:45 PM – Panel 7: The Future of Southern Catholicism in the 21st Century
Location: Grace Auditorium
- Peter Casarella, Duke Divinity School
- C. Vanessa White, Catholic Theological Union
- Alessandro Rovati, Belmont Abbey College
4:15 PM – Closing Remarks
Location: Grace Auditorium
