Dear all:
On this day, Monday April 16, at The Catholic University of America, in Washington DC, Sister Maria del Fiat Miola, SSVM, earned a Doctorate degree in Early Christian Studies, after having defended her dissertation, which is entitled “Spaces of Salvation in Sixth-Century Arles: The Women’s Monastery as Household and Family.”
Our sister presented her dissertation before the examining committee and her parents, who afterwards had to leave while the five professors of the committee questioned the doctoral student at great length. The committee of the University was composed of her Director, Dr. William Klingshirn, two professors who were Readers of the thesis, and two other professors who acted as President and Secretary of the committee. Sr. Fiat defended successfully, and obtained the title “with distinction.”
Afterwards, sisters from the Provincial House and the Houses of Formation, Sr. Fiat’s parents, various professors, priests,and many other members of the academic community of the University were all present to celebrate with a toast.
It is a great joy that this sister of ours concluded these years of study and preparation with success. We trust that her intellectual work will be of great benefit for our Congregation and for the Church. We congratulate Sister Maria del Fiat for her new degree, and we entrust her to the prayers of all.
The graduation ceremony and official reception of the Ph.D. degree will take place on May 12, at The Catholic University, in front of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
