Department of Religious Studies

Director, Iona Spirituality Institute.
Professor of Religious Studies.

Contact Information
Iona College Department of Religious Studies
715 North Ave.
New Rochelle, NY 10801

Phone: (914) 633-2590
Fax: (914) 633-2248/2363
E-Mail: kdeignan@iona.edu
www.iona.edu/faculty/kdeignan

Education
Ph.D. Historical Theology: Fordham University, 1986.
M.A. Christian Spirituality: Fordham University, 1980.
B.A. English: Sacred Heart University, 1971.
Program in Spiritual Direction: Fordham University, 1990.

Departmental Information and Courses
Sr. Deignan joined the faculty of the Department of Religious Studies at Iona in 1981 as an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies after having served as an adjunct instructor and a part-time campus minister.  She teaches the core course RST 203, The Introduction to the Study of Religion and a variety of courses which comprise the spirituality studies track within the Religious Studies curriculum such as the Spiritual Masters Series, Prayer: Theology and Practice, Christian Mysticism, Women and Religion, Thomas Merton: An American Guru and the History of Christian Spirituality. Please see the department home page for more information on these courses.

Professional Interests
Sr. Deignan's current interests are in the areas of classical and contemporary spirituality including Celtic spirituality, inter-contemplative dialogue, the spiritual legacy of Thomas Merton, sacred iconography and composing sacred music for liturgy and prayer. She has also written on the theology of the Shakers, peace studies and issues related to women and religion. Sr. Deignan was the founder of the Iona Peace and Justice Studies Program and the Iona Peace Institute in Ireland. She is the founder and director of the Iona Spirituality Institute which sponsors a variety of programs for spiritual enrichment.  See below for the link to the ISI webpage. A composer of sacred song, Sr. Deignan has produced more than ten recordings of her original music and is a founder of Schola Ministries, a project in service to the liturgical and contemplative arts.  See below the link to Schola Ministries.

Professional Affiliations
Sr. Deignan is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the Catholic Theological Society of America, the International Thomas Merton Society and the Society for the Study of Christian Spirituality.

Professional Research and Publications
Sr. Deignan's publications include:
- Christ Spirit: The Eschatology of Shaker Christianity. Scarecrow Press, 1992. 
- "Thomas Merton's Vision of Transformative Education" Catholic Education, University of Dayton (in submission, Fall 1999).
- "Epiphany" Sacred Journey, December 1999 .
- "To Celebrate These Sacred Mysteries", " The Crow Series: Icons of John Giuliani" Icon Portfolio, Canada, December 1999.
- " Learning to Ignite: Teaching Spirituality to College Students", The Way Supplement, Autumn 1995.
- “Road to Rapture: Thomas Merton’s Itinerarium mentis in Deum” The Franciscan Review, Vol. 55, 1998.
- “Prisoner of Necessity: Thomas Merton’s Rain and the Rhinoceros” The Thomas Merton Annual, Vol. 11 (accepted for publication).
- "The Challenge of Peace: Prayer in the Nuclear Age," Review for Religious (May/June 1985, Vol. 44, No. 3). Reprinted in Pax Christi USA (Summer 1988, Vol. XII, No. 2).
- "Moment of Supreme Crisis: Apocalypse of the Poor and Oppressed," Sisters Today (July/August 1984, vol. 55, No. 10).
- "In Visitation to Creation" CND Dialogue, November 1995.

Reviews:
- M. Basil Pennington.
Thomas Merton My Brother: His Journey to Freedom, Compassion and Final Integration.
New York: New City Press, 1996.
DIAKONIA. Vol. XXIX, No. 3, December 1996 
- Michael Higgins
Heretic Blood: An Audiobiography of Thomas Merton
Canadian Broadcasting Company, 1998.

Iona Spirituality Institue
The Iona Spirituality Institute is a center for the cultivation of the spiritual life through the sacred arts of study, prayer, creative expression, and service to the community of Earth in a commitment to justice and ecological responsibility.  Follow the link to its web site. www.iona.edu/studentlife/ministry/isi/index.cfm

Schola Ministries and Anima Schola
Schola Ministries supports the muscianship of Sr. Deignan and the other muscians of Anima Schola, the liturgical ensemble of the Benedictine Grange, a vibrant Christian community in New England of which Sr. Deignan is a founding member.  Follow the link to its web site where you can find descriptions of current recordings and listen to selections from her recent CDs. www.animaschola.org

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