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The is an open-access, peer-reviewed scholarly journal. The journal is dedicated to fostering the understanding of diverse forms of lived Catholicism with attention to their significance for theoretical approaches within and across multiple academic disciplines. The Journal invites submissions from scholars across the globe.

Contact jgceditors@holycross.edu for more information. 

Interviews in Global Catholic Studies

In addition to scholarly articles, most JGC issues also include discussions with scholars and other prominent individuals in the field of Global Catholicism. .

Past Event: 2025 Graduate Scholar Symposium

The 2025 JGC Symposium gathered a diverse group of doctoral students writing papers about lived Catholicism in a global context. The participants presented and workshoped their papers, received input and mentorship from senior scholars in the field, and revised their papers before submitting them to the JGC to be considered for publication in 2025. 

, an initiative of the Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J. Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture at the ������̳, aims to foster comparative study of contemporary Catholic life around the globe and to provide teaching resources about Catholic life in all its richness and particularity—to explore what Pope Francis refers to as the "" of a global Church. The initiative focuses on “lived Catholicism,” the ways that ordinary Catholics practice their faith in their everyday lives. The initiative sponsors scholarly conversations, international conferences, and publications, including an electronic journal, .

Theologizing the Just Peace Movement: Catholicism, War, and Peacebuilding 

Spring and Summer 2025
Grant Recipients: Matthew Eggemeier and Peter Fritz, Religious Studies

This new co-authored book project, provisionally titled Theologizing the Just Peace Movement: Catholicism, War, and Peacebuilding, will offer a Catholic systematic theology of just peace, developed out of Catholic practices of nonviolence and resistance to American militarism abroad and racialized state violence domestically. The "Just Peace" framework we will explore accounts for a variety of social practices geared toward resolving social conflicts without recourse to violence except in extreme cases of last resort. This book will use systematic theology to help understand and practice Just Peace by discovering coherent yet implicit theologies of peace in the work of global Catholic organizations dedicated to fostering justice as a way toward building lasting peace. 

Diffused Religiosity among Catholics in the Sinosphere: Investigating Polymer Clay Miniatures of Food in Singapore’s Columbariums

Spring 2026
Grant Recipient: Audrey Seah, Religious Studies

In a Singapore state-run columbarium where people of different religions are put to rest, it is common to find dollhouse-sized polymer clay miniatures of local foods attached to the niche plaque or the base of a columbarium niche of Catholics with Chinese ancestry. Using Chinese ancestral rites as a starting points and drawing upon the concept of diffused religion, this project aims to investigate the prevalence of these polymer clay miniatures and associated spiritualities of death and the afterlife by observing practices at Catholic cemeteries and columbariums over the Lunar New Year season. In line with the goals of the McFarland Center Global Catholicism grant, potential findings may challenge the binary of liturgy and popular religiosity and diffused religion and institutional Catholicism, and facilitate the identification of expressions of indigenized Catholicism in the Sinosphere.

International Visiting Jesuit Fellows

The International Visiting Jesuit Fellows program brings Jesuit faculty from colleges and universities around the world to ������̳ as visiting fellows. The program is a joint initiative of the Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J. Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture and the ������̳ Jesuit Community. Since 2000, 32 Jesuits have enjoyed a semester or a year engaging with the ������̳ community.

Inquiries, Applications & Nominations

Jesuits from all provinces outside the United States are encouraged to apply for fellowships in consultation with their Provincials. Likewise, Provincials who wish to nominate scholars are encouraged to do so. International Visiting fellowships will be awarded only with the support of the appropriate Jesuit Provincial.

We accept inquiries and applications on an ongoing basis.  We are now prepared to receive applications for the '25-'26 academic year.

Applicants will be asked to provide:

• An updated curriculum vitae;
• A statement from the applicant about the objectives for research during the course of the sabbatical, along with some discussion about why ������̳ would be a suitable place for fulfilling these objectives;
• A letter of support from an academic colleague able to appraise the applicant's work and the research he wishes to engage in at ������̳.
• A letter of support from their Provincial, indicating approval for acceptance of a fellowship.

Since fellows normally teach one course and/or find other ways to engage with ������̳ students and faculty, we also ask that you provide some statement about what kind of lecture, course or seminar you might want to teach, or about some other form of engagement that makes good use of your talents.

Those who wish to find out more about the program should contact Thomas M. Landy, Director, McFarland Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture, at tlandy@holycross.edu.

Applications can also be mailed to:
Thomas M. Landy
Director
McFarland Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture
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1 College Street
Worcester, MA 01610-2395
USA

A committee that includes the Dean of the College and the Rector of the Jesuit Community reviews the applications.

The Jesuit Fellows are provided with office space, access to ������̳ libraries, other research libraries, and outstanding electronic databases. They will receive financial support for designated research activities and/or to attend professional conferences, and secretarial and logistical support, including assistance in matters pertaining to visas. Housing is provided in Ciampi Hall, the Jesuit residence at ������̳. A stipend is available for their other expenses, and any unused portion of the stipend will be transferred to the visiting Fellow's home province at the end of the fellowship. We also provide health and dental insurance. ������̳ will cover the cost of airfare to and from the United States.