Sr. Marianne Farina, C.S.C.
Associate Professor of Philosophy and Theology
Office phone: (510) 883-2081
E-mail:

A.A.S., Art History, Rockland County Community College; B.F.A., Graphic Arts and Communication, Parsons School of Design/New School for Social Research University; M.A., Pastoral Theology, Santa Clara University; Ph.D., Theological Ethics, Boston College.

"The promotion of peace in the world is an integral part of the Church’s mission of continuing Christ’s work of redemption on earth . . ."
~ Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.

Sr. Marianne inspires students to engage in theological/philosophical study and interfaith discourse. She guides them to find resources for further explorations and to develop the skills necessary to share knowledge with others. Her teaching style includes lectures and seminar discussion.

The courses Sr. Marianne Farina teaches are:

• Fundamental Moral Theology
• Roman Catholic Sexual Ethics
• Catholic Social Justice Teachings
• Theology of Peace in the Roman Catholic Tradition
• Philosophical Ethics
• Introduction to Islam
• Islamic Philosophy
• World Religions and Ethics

Sr. Marianne is currently working on several research and writing projects. Her main focus is Aquinas’ virtue theory, especially as interpreted by contemporary authors, including Servias Pinkaers, David Burrell, William Spohn, Stephen J. Pope, Lisa Sowle Cahill, Jean Porter and David Hollenbach. She also is writing a comparison of virtue theories across religious traditions. Based on her experience working with local, national and international faith communities, Sr. Marianne is in the process of developing courses on methods of interfaith and cross-cultural dialogue; she claims that the despair many people feel today results from their losing the capacity to engage in sustained conversations with those who hold different perspectives or ideas. A special focus in this work will be to teach people the skills necessary to communicate genuinely and effectively with one another.

Her other academic interests are Spirituality, Art and Theology, Rituals and Sacraments; and Pastoral Theology.

Select Publications

"God's Presence and the Moral Life: Shared Resources from the Writings of Thomas Aquinas and Abu Hamid Muhammad al-Ghazali," Jarboeek Thomas Instituut te Utretcht, Annual Publication, 2005.

Moral Goodness and Friendship with God: The Moral Teachings of Thomas Aquinas and Hamid al-Ghazali, Dissertation, August 2004.

Developing National Catechetical Plans. Jessore, Bangladesh: National Center for Catechetical and Social Development, December 2003.