Thomas M . Kelly, MA, PhD

Professor

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Contact

THOMASKELLY@creighton.edu
College of Arts and Sciences
Theology
Christian Spirituality (Master of Arts)
CRHL - Creighton Hall/Administration Building - 109

Thomas M . Kelly, MA, PhD

Professor

Thomas M. Kelly is a Professor of Theology at Creighton University. He completed his undergraduate education at the University of Notre Dame (’91) and his Ph.D. from Boston College (’99). From 1998-2002 he taught in the department of theology at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H and has been at Creighton University since 2002. Dr. Kelly has held various administrative positions at Creighton including being the founding director of the M.A. in Lay Ministry (2003-2005), the Academic Director of Encuentro Dominicano, Creighton University’s study abroad program in the Dominican Republic (2005-2007), Campus Director of Encuentro Dominicano (2007-2010), the M.A. in Theology (2009) and director of undergraduate majors (2010-2016). Dr. Kelly has taught immersion courses in El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Bolivia and Peru over the past ten years. He has utilized immersion education, especially in reference to Fair Trade practices, to educate first world university students about the reality of global poverty and suffering, the response to this by the Catholic Church as well as their own obligation to use their privilege to make a concrete difference in the world. Dr. Kelly is particularly proud of former students who have and continue to volunteer all over the world and then take up professions which “effectively will the good of others.” He has published nationally and internationally on topics ranging from philosophical hermeneutics, liberation theology, immersion education, marriage and social ethics. His latest books analyze the life, ministry and death of Rutilio Grande, S.J., the first Jesuit killed in civil war in El Salvador (1980-1992). When the Gospel Grows Feet (Liturgical Press, 2013) and Rutilio Grande: Homilies and Articles (Liturgical Press, 2015). One emphasis of this book is the importance of the understanding of “church” promoted by Fr. Grande in El Salvador. Of particular interest to Dr. Kelly is the way in which the Catholic Church responds or fails to respond to contemporary issues of peace and justice. Dr. Kelly has been married to his wife Lisa for 24 years and together they parent Andrew, Michael and Catherine. Both Dr. Kelly and his wife are members of Ignatian Associates, a lay organization committed to Ignatian Spirituality. The Kelly family has lived throughout Latin America including Bolivia, the Dominican Republic and El Salvador.
 
For a more thorough view of research, teaching and service please see his CV.

Curriculum Vitae

Research Focus

Concrete Ecclesiology, Community-Based Learning, Ignatian Formation, Liberation Theology, Church in Latin America, CST and Business/Economics

Department

Theology

Position

Professor

Books

  • Bias
    Kelly Thomas, The Bias Blind Spot and the Biases of Introspection [Book Chapter] 2022
  • etal Bias: A Philosophical Study 2022
  • Kelly Thomas M, etal Bridge building 2020
  • Kelly Thomas M, Rutilio Grande, SJ 2015
  • Grande Rutilio, etal Homilies and writings 2015
  • Grande Rutilio, etal Rutilio Grande, SJ: Homilies and Writings 2015
  • Transforming Ourselves, Transforming the World : Justice in Jesuit Higher Education
    Kelly Tom, Encuentro Dominicano [Book Chapter] 2013
  • Kelly Thomas M., When the gospel grows feet 2013
  • When the Gospel Grows Feet
    Kelly Thomas M, Part 1: Colonialism and Conquest [Book Chapter] 2013
  • When the Gospel Grows Feet
    Kelly Thomas M, Part 4: Lessons for the Church in North America [Book Chapter] 2013
  • When the Gospel Grows Feet
    Kelly Thomas M, Part 3: Ecclesiology in Context: The New Evangelization [Book Chapter] 2013
  • When the Gospel Grows Feet
    Kelly Thomas M, Intro [Book Chapter] 2013
  • When the Gospel Grows Feet
    Kelly Thomas M, Part 2: Vatican II and a New Mission [Book Chapter] 2013
  • When the Gospel Grows Feet
    Kelly Thomas M, Appendix [Book Chapter] 2013
  • Kelly Thomas M., Encuentro Dominicano: Creighton University's Commitment to Education for Transformation [Book Chapter] 2013
  • Cisneros Sandre, etal Letters 2007
  • Crews Clyde F, etal Faith and mission 2007
  • Kelly Thomas, Greek Mythography in the Roman World 2005
  • Kelly Thomas M., Not one without the other conceptions of 'Language' and 'Religious experience' 2005
  • Kelly Thomas, Walking the Tightrope of Reason: The Precarious Life of a Rational Animal 2004
  • Kelly Thomas, Ancient Greek Athletics 2004
  • Kelly Thomas M., Latin American Liberation Theology [Book Review] 2004
  • Salzman Todd A, etal Marriage in the Catholic tradition 2004
  • Kelly Thomas M, Theology at the void 2002
  • Kelly Thomas, Polis and Politics: Studies in Ancient Greek History 2001
  • Kelly Thomas, Andrew Dunn, an Irish story 2001
  • Kelly Thomas, Antiochus III and the Cities of Western Asia Minor 2000
  • Kelly Thomas, Words of Christmas 2000
  • Kelly Thomas, Early Music Musings: A Music Lover's Religious Motto 1999
  • Kelly Thomas, Warfare and Agriculture in Classical Greece 1999
  • Kelly Thomas, 'An Italian Office Book of the Late Thirteenth Century', by Morné P. Bezuidenhout (Book Review) 1992
  • Kelly Thomas, Book Reviews -- An Italian Office Book of the Late Thirteenth Century (South African Library General Series, 15) by Morne P. Bezuidenhout with a foreword by Giulio Cattin 1992
  • Kelly Thomas, Tomlinson, R.A., 'Greek Sanctuaries' (Book Review) 1978

Publications

  • Jesuit higher education
    Kelly Thomas, etal Communal Discernment in Service to a Synodal Church
    13:2 2024
  • Journal of multidisciplinary research (Miami Gardens, Fla.)
    Nolt Kate, etal Technology Use for Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA): A Pilot Community Initiative in the Dominican Republic (DR)
    14:2, p. 29 - 33 2022
  • American Journal of Economics and Sociology
    Kelly Thomas M., A Revolution in Catholic Thought on Poverty
    80:4, p. 1061 - 1086 2021
  • Journal for peace & justice studies
    , Ignatius, Poverty and a Commitment to the Poor
    28:2, p. 27 - 39 2018
  • Journal of Church and State
    Kelly Thomas M., Priest Under Fire: Padre David Rodriguez, the Catholic Church, and El Salvador's Revolutionary Movement
    59:1, p. 124 - 126 2017
  • Supplement Series for the Journal of Religion & Society
    Kelly Thomas M., A House Divided: Catholic Libertarian Economics and Catholic Social Thought
    14, p. - 2017
  • Theological Studies (Online)
    Kelly Thomas M., Faith and Joy: Memoirs of a Revolutionary Priest
    77:3, p. 748 - 749 2016
  • Theological Studies
    Kelly Thomas M., The Challenge of Priestless Parishes: Learning from Latin America
    77:2, p. 548 - 549 2016
  • Theological Studies
    Kelly Thomas M., Crucified People: The Suffering of the Tortured in Today's World
    77:2, p. 510 - 511 2016
  • America
    Kelly Thomas M., 'A Priest with His People'
    214:19, p. 20 - 22 2016
  • Supplement Series for the Journal of Religion & Society
    McPherson David L., The Claims of Religious Identities in Secular Societies
    13 2016
  • Supplement Series for the Journal of Religion & Society
    Hamm M. Dennis, S.J., The Importance of Being Samaritan in the Gospel of Luke
    13 2016
  • Journal of Religion and Society
    Kelly Thomas M., From Salvation to Liberation: The Identity of the 'Poor' in Latin American Catholicism, p. 176 - 188 2016
  • Journal for Peace and Justice Studies
    Kelly Thomas M., Remembering the UCA Martyrs: Education and Evangelical Conscientization in Collaboration with Rutilio Grande, SJ.
    25:2, p. 127 - 142 2015
  • Supplement Series for the Journal of Religion & Society
    Duda Gintaras K., Big Questions in Cosmology: Intersections between Science and Religion
    11, p. 93 - 109 2015
  • Journal of Religion and Society
    Kelly Thomas M., Inquiry for Action: The Latin American Church and the Social Sciences Post Vatican II, p. 82 - 92 2015
  • Early Music America
    Kelly Thomas, Chants Encounters
    20:4, p. 68 2014
  • Journal of religion & society
    Kelly Thomas, 11. Challenging the Status Quo: How Rutilio Grande, S.J. Used Scripture to Address Socio-Economic Inequality
    16:Supplement, p. 179 - 189 2014
  • Supplement Series for the Journal of Religion & Society
    Kelly Thomas M., Challenging the Status Quo: How Rutilio Grande, S.J. Used Scripture to Address Socio-Economic Inequality
    16:Supplement, p. 179 - 189 2014
  • Journal of Leadership, Accountability and Ethics
    Kelly Thomas, Effective Leaders are Ethical Leaders
    10:4, p. 90 2013
  • Proceedings of the Northeast Business & Economics Association
    Kelly Thomas, Systemic Change: We Can Do More and Better With Less, p. 165 - 166 2012
  • Early Music America
    Kelly Thomas, Early Music as a Humanitarian Pursuit
    15:1, p. 8 2009
  • Kelly Thomas M., Engaged Spirituality: Faith Life in The Heart of the Empire 2009
  • The Journal of philosophy
    , DISAGREEMENT, DOGMATISM, AND BELIEF POLARIZATION
    105:10, p. 611 - 633 2008
  • Spiritus
    Kelly Thomas, Where Two or Three are Gathered: Christian Families as Domestic Churches
    6:1, p. 140 - 142 2006
  • International journal of the humanities
    Kelly Thomas M., Literature and Art as Encounter: The Intrinsic Religious Dimension of the Humanities
    2:1 2006
  • Kelly Thomas, The Long March: Xenophon and the Ten Thousand 2005
  • McEvoy J. J, etal The mystery of faith 2005
  • Kelly Thomas, Can the 'theological virtues' have meaning for philosophy? 2005
  • INTAMS review
    Kelly Thomas M., Love of Neighbor in Karl Rahner's Anthropology
    10:1, p. 61 - 73 2004
  • Early Music America
    Kelly Thomas, Early Music Musings: Past and Present
    9:2, p. 9 - 9 2003
  • Spiritus
    Kelly Thomas, A Daring Promise: A Spirituality of Christian Marriage
    3:1, p. 152 - 154 2003
  • Journal of Religion & Society
    Kelly Thomas M., A Christian theology of marriage and family
    5 2003
  • Kelly Thomas, Science of philosophy 2002
  • Kelly Thomas, Plutarch 2002
  • Logos - Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture
    Kelly Thomas M., An integrated theology of married love
    5:1, p. 76 - 102 2002
  • INTAMS review
    Kelly Thomas M., The Sacramentality of Marriage as a Primary Model of Discipleship
    7:1, p. 13 - 25 2001
  • Early Music America
    Kelly Thomas, Early Music Musings: A Medieval Time Trip
    6:2, p. 7 - 7 2000
  • Kelly Thomas, Hammond, Nicholas G. L., 'Alexander the Great: King, Commander, and Statesman' (Book Review) 1982
  • The American historical review
    Kelly Thomas, Thucydides and Spartan Strategy in the Archidamian War
    87:1, p. 25 - 54 1982
  • Kelly Thomas, Books Afloat and Ashore: A History of Books, Libraries, and Reading among Seamen during the Age of Sail 1978
  • Library History
    Kelly Thomas, Thoughts on the writing of library history
    3, p. 161 - 169 1975
  • Romanic review
    Kelly Thomas, Love in the 'Perlesvaus': Sinful Passion or Redemptive Force
    66:1, p. 1 - 12 1975
  • The American historical review
    Kelly Thomas, The Traditional Enmity Between Sparta and Argos: The Birth and Development of a Myth
    75:4, p. 971 - 1003 1970
  • Journal of librarianship
    Kelly Thomas, Continuous Education: A Nineteenth-Century Pioneer
    1:1, p. 62 - 67 1969
  • Kelly Thomas, From an Old Note-Book (Book Review) 1967

Grants

  • A Spirituality of Encounter: St. Ignatius, Pope France and Lessons from the School of the Poor
    /Sponsor: Dr. George F. Haddix President's Faculty Research Grant