Sexuality, Relationships, Marriage, and Family Life

2027 Call for Papers

Emma McDonald Kennedy, Villanova University (PA)

emma.kennedy@villanova.edu

Julie Hanlon Rubio, Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University (CA)

jrubio@scu.edu

This year’s conference theme, “Mary, Seat of Wisdom: Refuge and Rabble-Rouser,” invites us to reflect on Mary from a wide variety of methodological and disciplinary standpoints, considering Marian theology, historical and cultural studies of Mary, and popular Marian devotions.

Our session invites papers, panel proposals, and workshop proposals that take up one or more of these key questions as they relate to family, marriage, relationships, and sexuality. Preference will be shown to proposals that explicitly engage the conference theme, but proposals on other issues germane to the section will also be considered.

Potential paper topics include (but are not limited to):

• Marian devotion as a practice of the domestic church 
• "Marianismo" as a source of gendered expectations and roles in families
• Reclamations of Mary in Catholic feminist thought (radical, new orthodox, etc.)
• Marian submission, sexuality, and family violence
• Queer theologies intersecting with Marian theology
• Marian pilgrimage and family faith formation
• Images of Mary, colonialism, inculturation, and liberation
• Marian devotion and prayers for healing in families
• Intersections between Marian theology, familial roles, and political participation
• Mary and interfaith understandings of family

Proposals should be 250-500 words in length and must include:

• Presentation title
• Presenter name and email
• Presenter’s institutional affiliation/position (and/or independent scholar)

Email both conveners proposals by December 15, 2026. Notifications by mid-January 2027.