Gastonia Times

Belmont Abbey College to Host Symposium on the Establishment of Catholicism in the American South

Belmont, N.C. (September 10, 2024) – Belmont Abbey College has announced The Haid Symposium on Catholicism in the American South, commemorating the hundredth anniversary of Abbot Leo Haid’s death. Scheduled for October 11-12, 2024, the symposium aims to foster scholarly engagement and promote collaboration among academics from colleges and universities nationwide as they examine the formation and development of Catholicism in the South.

Abbot Leo Haid, the founding Abbot of Belmont Abbey College and vicar apostolic of North Carolina until his death in 1924, played a significant role in nurturing a growing Catholic presence that transformed the religious landscape of the American South. His influence also left an enduring mark on its socio-political, literary, and cultural history.

The symposium will explore this legacy over the past century and celebrate an important yet often overlooked aspect of Southern and American Catholic history. By examining these years, it aims to deepen understanding of Catholicism's impact in the region.

Distinguished scholars from various disciplines will gather at Belmont Abbey College for discussions and presentations. Panels will include “Benedictine Contributions to Southern Catholicism,” “Southern Catholicism during the Civil Rights Movement,” and “Southern Catholicism and the Literary Imagination: Flannery O’Connor.” These sessions are intended to provide a platform for intellectual exchange, fostering new insights and collaborations that could shape future scholarship on Catholicism in the American South.

“We are overjoyed to host The Haid Symposium on Catholicism in the American South,” said Dr. Bill Thierfelder, President of Belmont Abbey College. “This symposium not only builds upon Abbot Leo Haid’s rich legacy of leadership in, and fidelity to, the Catholic Church but also highlights the profound contribution of the Belmont Abbey monastic community and their ongoing commitment to faithfully living the 1,500-year-old Rule of St. Benedict.”

Dr. Farrell O’Gorman, Chair and Professor of English at Belmont Abbey College, expressed his enthusiasm for the event: “The Haid Symposium provides a valuable opportunity for scholars to come together and explore the historical significance of Catholicism in the American South. Through a closer look at Abbot Leo Haid’s legacy, we will uncover vital aspects of the region’s religious and cultural development.”