Mercyhurst Religious Studies

05/04/2026

This is not only a beautiful story about legacy and people coming together to help, but it is also an important reminder of the significance of material religion AND how people do religion in spaces and places not "officially" designated as "religious. This will be interesting to use in our Judaism survey class this Fall.

Religious Studies at Mercyhurst: We Ask the BIG Questions

Nick Fox's "Millennial Inheritance" Instagram account made the match.

03/24/2026

Our very own Dr. Pyne is speaking at St. John's School of Theology & Seminary in Collegeville, MN tomorrow! The department and St. John's share a 4+1 articulation agreement and our first student will be heading there for Masters level work next year.

Religious Studies at Mercyhurst: We Ask the BIG Questions

03/20/2026

Outstanding work on immigration in Catholic Social Teaching at the immigration teach-in today!

11/24/2025

Current RLST/English double major Sofia Loiacono and recent RLST/English grad Matti Trimbath did fantastic work presenting at the North American Paul Tillich Society national meeting! They are pictured here learning from some of the best Tillich scholars in the world. Mercyhurst University Department of English

06/26/2025

The department would like to offer its heartiest congratulations to one of our own, the Rev. Kristen Papson (class of '11), on her election as bishop to the Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Religious Studies at Mercyhurst: We Ask the BIG Questions

Kristen Papson, Erie, Pa., was elected June 14 to serve a six-year term as bishop of the Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the ELCA.

05/09/2025

Our very own Dr. Pyne in the news!

(Watch the video, rather than reading the story, since there are some infelicities in the written copy that don't quite match what Dr. Pyne was saying--also ignore the chryon!)
https://www.erienewsnow.com/story/52755580/no-pope-elected-after-first-day-of-conclave

Religious Studies at Mercyhurst: We Ask the BIG Questions

Black smoke rose from the Vatican after no Pope was selected after the first day.

05/01/2025

We had a great department celebration and Theta Alpha Kappa induction on Tuesday. We are so proud of all the accomplishments of our faculty and students this academic year!

Pictured are our new Theta Alpha Kappa inductees: Matthew Leach, Danielle Sontheimer, Sofia Loiacono, Bela Hathy, Reid Brown, and Alexis Dehner, along with our officers, Gabriella Piccirilli and Sara Simpson.

03/31/2025

https://www.npr.org/2025/03/25/nx-s1-5287017/these-churches-offer-shelter-and-sanctuary-to-vulnerable-migrants-heres-why

Some are offering sanctuary to immigrants, others are ministering to families in different ways.

03/25/2025

A wonderful St. Oscar Romero Award & Lecture evening! We were delighted to honor the Erie City Mission for the critical work they do in our community.

Religious Studies at Mercyhurst: We Ask the BIG Questions

03/25/2025

MU Religious Studies & Philosophy in the news! We were delighted to host our St. Oscar Romero Award and Lecture yesterday, March 24 (Romero's Feast Day). We are grateful for the work of the Erie City Mission in our community--they are supremely deserving of this year's Romero Award.

Religious Studies at Mercyhurst: We Ask the BIG Questions

An area university recognized one nonprofit on its faith-based work for our community. Mercyhurst University’s Department of Religious Studies and Philosophy presented their Archbishop Oscar …