A&O PRIZE FOR CLERGY (2010): Father Terry

THE ALPHA OMEGA ARTS
By TAHLIB

Father Dempsey at Museum at Contemporary Religious Art

MISSOURI---In recognition of his curating the spring 2010 exhibition, "The Suffering Christ in Contemporary Art," the Alpha & Omega Project for Contemporary Religious Arts is pleased to name Fr. Terrence E. Dempsey, S.J. as the 2009 recipient of the A&O Prize for Clergy Advocates.

Fr. Dempsey is the Founding Director of the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art (MOCRA) at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1991, he received his doctorate in art history and religion at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley in conjunction with the University of California at Berkeley, while studying under the direction of Jane Daggett Dillenberger and the late John Dillenberger of the Graduate Theological Union and Peter Selz of the University of California.

In 1995, Fr. Dempsey was named the first holder of the May O’Rourke Jay Endowed Teaching Chair in Art History and Religion at Saint Louis University, a position he still holds. In 1997, he was awarded the distinguished alumnus of the year award by the Graduate Theological Union, and in 1999, he was named outstanding teacher of the year in the College of Arts and Sciences at Saint Louis University. Fr. Dempsey has curated over fifty-five exhibitions. Fr. Dempsey is also the author of numerous articles and a frequent lecturer.