The University of Scranton recently marked the opening of Waymarks Toward Reunion, a yearlong pilot program in sacred art and theology, with an opening event, titled, “A Feast in the Wilderness.”
Directed by visiting assistant professor Patrick Beldio, MFA, Ph.D., the March 8 gathering featured a lecture, meal and concert at the DeNaples Center and an evening Mass at Madonna della Strada Chapel.
“What filled the day was love, intention and care,” Dr. Beldio said.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Beldio reflected on major spiritual milestones that have shaped his own formation. He pointed to the Council of Nicaea in 325, the death of St. Francis of Assisi in 1226, St. Ignatius of Loyola’s turning away from military life during his time in Manresa, the beginning of Meher Baba’s decades-long silence in 1925 and the founding of the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in 1926 as helping frame the program as a meeting point of his work as an artist, scholar and teacher.