By Paula Day

The seedling has withstood pruning, seems well-rooted and shows promising new growth.

"We're at a watershed," observed Dr. Lyndon Reynolds, director of Aquinas Center at Emory University.

"For the first time there's a committee making long-range plans. We're seeking to expand. (Administering the center) will be slightly more expensive and the growth will be slower, but we have a foothold. What is needed now is a period of stability." A draft mission statement, stating the goals of the center, will be submitted to the board of trustees in mid-January, Dr. Reynolds said.

The southern province of the Order of the Friars Preachers planted the seed over a decade ago. Originally called St. Augustine Place, it was to be a Dominican house of studies at the university for the order's novices. Founder Father Bob Perry, OP, directed its first years, followed by Dr. Anne Mayeaux and Dr. Roberto Goizueta. Aquinas Center keeps its Dominican name and the order searches out visiting professors under the Dominican Scholars Program, but it is now completely independent of the Dominican community. With a $1 million endowment and its director on a tenured track as an assistant professor in Emory's Candler School of Theology, it hopes to grow.

The closer ties to Emory will enable Dr. Reynolds to make Aquinas a scholarly institution for Roman Catholic studies in the ecumenical environment of the prestigious Atlanta university. As such it will fill a void, for Georgia does not have a Catholic institution of higher learning.

Lyndon Reynolds joined the center as co-director in January, 1992, and became director later that year. He studied philosophy and psychology at the University of Oxford and has a Ph.D. in religious studies from the University of Toronto. Before coming to Atlanta he taught in the department of theology and religious studies in Bristol, England. His chief areas of research are medieval theology and the history of marriage in the Western Church. In addition to directing Aquinas Center, he is assistant professor of historical theology at Candler. He is married and has two children.

Dr. Reynolds hopes the center will eventually offer its own program of courses, but to do this it will need a permanent faculty of three and additional endowment. At the present time it holds a monthly symposium for Emory graduate students and professors and offers workshops and seminars for Catholics in metro Atlanta. Recent symposium topic included "What's Catholic about being a Catholic biblical scholar?" and an address by Dom Bernard Johnson, OSCO, abbot of the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, entitled "Catholic Monasticism in the 20th Century."

The Pitts Library of Candler is a major strength at Emory for those interested in Catholic studies, Dr. Reynolds believes. I n addition to an enviable Newman collection, the library holds the personal library and most of the papers of Cardinal Henry Edward Manning. Furthermore, Candler administrators have earmarked money for developing the Catholic collection.

As an adjunct to Catholic studies on an ongoing basis envisioned by Dr. Reynolds, Aquinas Center sponsors continuing education opportunities on a post graduate level for those wishing to deepen their knowledge of Catholic topics. Fall offerings included courses on Thomas Merton, Eastern liturgies and the Christian initiation of adults. Mary Ann Fischer develops and directs the emerging continuing education program at the center.

Aimed at priests, deacons, directors of religious education and those working in related fields, the program is open to anyone and gives continuing education units from Emory. Eventually the center anticipates offering a certificate program, according to Mrs. Fischer.

Mrs. Fischer has recently completed her thesis toward a master's in theological studies from Emory and she holds a master in pastoral studies from Loyola University. She joined the Aquinas Center staff in May of this year. For the past six years she directed adult education at St. Ann's Parish in Marietta, and continues to coordinate the parish RCIA program. She is the mother of six grown children.

Hoping to nurture dialogue among professional educators, Aquinas Center offered a Catholics in Education conference in October. The daylong discussion drew educators from the University of Georgia, Georgia State and Agnes Scot College.

"We had an extremely successful beginning," Mrs. Fischer said, but admitted surprise that "people from the high school and elementary schools weren't represented." Another Catholics in Education conference will be held in the spring.

Because of its proximity to the Centers of Disease Control and Emory's School of Medicine, Mrs. Fisher also foresees a niche for Aquinas Center as a site for the study of medical ethics.

Continuing education offerings in the coming months include a course by Father Bob Keller, OP, on Catholic social teaching and the nature of justice. Father Keller holds a Ph.D. in the sociology of religion from the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley, Calif.

"Marriage and Monasticism" will be taught by Father Gerald Dolan, OFM, STD, who came to Atlanta at the request of Archbishop James Lyke, OFM, to serve as a theological assistant.

Dr. Grace McNamara, professor of English at DeKalb College, will offer a course on Simone Weil and Lalor Ferrari will teach a workshop of interest to women in midlife called "The Second Journey: Woman in Transition." Ms. Ferrari, a certified spiritual director, holds a master's in adult community leadership from Regis College in Denver.

Emory University also will benefit from the center's focus. "The primary thing Aquinas Center does for Emory is provide a center for intellectual inquiry from within the Catholic tradition," commented Dr. Luke Johnson. The Robert W. Woodruff professor of New Testament and most senior Roman Catholic member of the faculty at Candler notes that the center's visiting scholars program offers "direct enrichment to the curriculum."

"And through its several programs (the center) provides a forum for serious intellectual conversations across a wide range of issues," he added.

"By so doing it contributes to the diversity and richness of intellectual life of Emory."

Aquinas Center of Theology is located at 1703 Clifton Road. Persons interested in its continuing education program may call 404-727-8864.