Dear Reverend, Dhamananda, Governor Whitmer, Senator Peters, and honored guests,

It is a great honor to receive the Global Peace Award from the Buddhist Council of America here in Detroit, Michigan. I was born and raised here in Detroit. I received my undergraduate degree at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit. My father, Joseph Grudzen, worked at Chrysler Corporation for over 30 years. My great uncle, Floyd Grudzen, was President of the largest UAW local union with over 29000 members at Dodge Main. My sister, Susan Slack, brother James Grudzen, our daughter, Simone Grudzen, my wife, Marita Grudzen, and my classmate from Sacred Heart Seminary, Father Victor Clore, are with us today. Father Clore worked closely with Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, founder of the Catholic peace organization, Pax Christi International....

How to Read a Book Without Reading the Book

It happens. You’ve embarked on a research paper or thesis, and your professor tells you about a book that sounds perfect for your topic. Or you find the title in an online search, or a bibliography, or by searching Amazon or Google or a library database. You borrow it from your faculty member, or check it out of the library, or purchase it directly. When you finally have it in your hands, you discover that this perfect book is 857 pages long and weighs a ton. A more appropriate use might be as a doorstop. You realize you won’t live long enough to read the whole thing, especially since—maybe—it’s in a language in which you’re not entirely fluent, or its scholarly vocabulary is challenging. What now?

Here's a tip you can use with many books you’ll encounter in your studies: you don’t have to read the whole thing! Of course, the author might be disappointed—but he or she will never know. And that author probably used these same techniques in their research!

Instead, you can get the gist of the book by following these steps:

(Throughout this process, write down your reactions, ideas that come up, facts you want to remember.)

• Read the Introduction. There, the author will, or should, summarize the general content of the book: what it will cover, why it was written, the point or points of view expressed.
• Look at the Table of Contents. That will give you an even better understanding of the book’s scope as it lists the titles of the chapters, giving a hint of what’s in them.
• Pick a chapter that seems to align most closely with the focus of your project. Maybe knuckle in and read that whole chapter. Look for possible points to cite in your paper. 
• Now skip to the end. The very end, the final chapter—or, at least, the last paragraph. There, the author will usually offer their conclusions, along with a general overview of the book’s content. 
• Glance at the bibliography to be sure the author has done thorough research. Make note of relevant titles he or she has cited.
• Skim quickly through the rest of the book to be sure you haven’t missed any major points. If you find something that catches your attention, focus on that, again looking for quotable sentences or paragraphs. 

That’s it. You’ve “read” the book. Don’t feel guilty. Scholars all over the world are doing exactly what you did. (Just, please, don’t try these techniques with a work of fiction!)

I eagerly await your comments, suggestions, questions.

~Judy Clarence, M.L.I.S., GMU Librarian

librarian@globalministriesuniversity.org

Faculty members joined GMU Administration on July 15 to discuss their accomplishments, outreach to students, and share ideas for the future.

Ron Nakasone (Buddhist Studies) commented, "People need a safe place to come together." Joseph Sebastian (Interfaith Dialogue) added, "The situation in India shows the need to bring people together.'

Marita Grudzen (Environmental Justice Studies) stated,"[We should] support young people in their addressing of the climate crisis." Margie Schneider (Creation Spirituality) suggested a course on "Eco-Grief: How to Live in a Chaotic Climate."

Judy Clarence (GMU Librarian) encourages students to contact her for assistance in writing and research. Genie Florczyk concentrates on "helping African students with their Master's theses and improving their writing skills."

Teri Smith-Jones (Chaplaincy) has streamlined the Chaplaincy program.

Bridget Mary Meehan and Mary Theresa Streck offered the People's Catholic Seminary to hold a forum on particular GMU certificate programs.

A major topic of conversation was emphasizing spirituality while continuing theological education. Bridget Mary commented on GMU's "unique diversity of theological opinion."

Please keep Bill Manseau's wife in your prayers as she recovers from a thrombus and undergoes kidney dialysis.

Look for a page dedicated to news of individual faculty members' undertakings and accomplishments on the website in the near future.

EDUCATIONAL, INSIGHTFUL, SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT

The next episode of the GMU "Voices" podcast will be taped on August 12. It will trace the history of FCM from its founding in 1973 to the present. Bishop William Manseau, the founding president of FCM, and Tom Cusack, President of FCM today, will provide their insights into the evolution of FCM from its founding era, present status, and future directions. President Grudzen will moderate the discussion and show how GMU emerged out of FCM.

"Interfaith Spiritual Advocates"

President Grudzen is working with the New York State Office of Faith and Non-Profit Development to pursue funding for GMU's Community Chaplaincy program, now designated as "Interfaith Spiritual Advocates," for outreach to the immigrant and refugee communities in the State of New York in collaboration with Mustafa Gokek, President of Buffalo United for Peace The program is scheduled to be launched in January 2025.

GMU partners with the Institute of Science and Religion program in Cochin, India. You can view lectures on their YouTube channel.

Vatican convenes astrophysicists to discuss black holes, quantum theory

Theology for the 21st Century

A new cohort in the GMU's Religion and Science Program will begin in September 2024. Reduced tuition is offered to North American, European, and Australian applicants. Discover the compatibility of science, spirituality, and faith.

Collaboration with People's Catholic Seminary

GMU seeks to meet the needs and aspirations of those who wish to start Intentional Eucharistic Communities. Together with PCS, GMU is now offering:

Creating Inclusive Eucharistic Communities in an Emerging Synodal Church 

5 sessions  $475 + $25 App Fee

Women in the Bible and Christian Tradition

5 sessions  $475 + $25 App Fee

Credit for these courses can be applied towards a GMU graduate degree or certificate.

Some say life is a series of new beginnings. Have you ever thought of providing a welcoming, personal and sensitive venue to celebrate life’s significant changes for other people? The goal of The Center for Celebrant Training is to help you be the best celebrant you can be for funerals and end of life services, or weddings and joyous occasions..

Bridget Mary Meehan and Mary Theresa Streck were featured at the Magdalene Rising Summit held on July 22–24, 2024.

New PCS Retreat/Independent Course: Celebrating the Sacred Feminine in Your Life with Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan

"Celebrating the Sacred Feminine in Your Life" invites you to explore the beautiful mosaic of names and images that depict God's all-embracing, inclusive love for us. Each section provides imagery of the sacred feminine in Scripture, in Christian mystics, and in contemporary life. Open yourself to your belovedness as an image of the Divine Feminine in prayer and action, and explore new paths to spiritual healing, nourishment, and transformation in our world.

Celebrating the Sacred Feminine in Your Life is available as a private retreat, an independent study, or as a course for sharing in a cohort model.

Cohorts meet in a Zoom video conference to share insights on their meditations.

For those taking this course as an independent study or retreat, Bridget Mary will be available upon request to share with you in phone or Zoom conversations. 

A "Call for Papers" for the February conference has been issued. Interested parties can submit proposals for inclusion in the conference proceedings and publications to the three "hubs" in Africa, the Americas, and Europe.

A private donation of $500 has been received to give a scholarship to an African student.

We thank individuals and institutions for their continued generosity!

Breath of Summer

Creator God

who breathed this world into being,

who is discernible within

the harmony of nature,

the perfection of a butterfly's wing,

the grandeur of a mountain range,

the soaring eagle and hummingbird,

thank you for this world

which you have created.

Thank you for summer sun,

which reminds us

that your creative breath

is still alive and active.

Thank you for the warmth of your love,

sustaining this world,

your garden.

Please support your university!

https://www.globalministriesuniversity.org/

info@globalministriesuniversity.org