"Dr. Thom Parkhill arrived at St. Thomas fresh from his Masters studies  the same September (1978) that I returned to campus to complete my BA following a couple of years off with my wife Colleen (STU BA '80) to have our first child, Matt (STU BA '01; hopefully B.Ed '08).

Prior to this hiatus, I had been majoring in Theology. Upon my return I found that the department had morphed into Religious Studies. It was all rather disconcerting and disorienting as I had to shift mental gears to move from a strictly Roman Catholic cosmology to one that included a wide range of new traditions, world views and "ways of knowing". Thom patiently guided me through this transition (along with help from department chair Jeff Kay) as I moved from resistance, to confusion, to intrigued inquiry, to celebration of a much bigger, richer world.

My first class with Thom was "The Meaning of Work", a fascinating comparative journey that included visits to the medieval Benedictine Opus Dei, the ancient Hindu Bhagavad Gita, Studs Terkel's "Working" America, and a cross country quest for the meaning of "quality" in Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". Thom pointed me to wells of wisdom that still refresh me today as I assess just what it means to work, to be a worker, to participate in workplace communities, and to know the difference between a job and a vocation.

I was intrigued and a bit intimidated by this rather exotic (by STU standards) new prof with the big beard and the long braid, whose office, fragrant with incense and foreign in its East Asian decor, was buried in the basement of Edmund Casey Hall. My comfort zone was the STU chapel, in the familiar childhood world of my church upbringing. Thom helped me understand that it was safe to "leave home" and travel the world.

I witnessed how the RS department gradually evolved and expanded under Thom and Jeff's skilful development efforts, always trying to find a respectful balance between Catholic tradition and the Rest of the World, diplomatically engaging a faculty comprised of priests and laity, dogmatic practitioners and un-churched non-Christians. There seemed to be room for everyone in this tent, this "travelling road show" of a department.

We did not have an honours program in Religious Studies at that time. Since RS had captured my heart and imagination, it was somewhat frustrating to have to settle for a major when I so much wanted to pursue graduate studies. My particular passion was Feminist Theaology and my ambitious desire to challenge the Catholic Church's prohibition on the ordination of women. Thom and Jeff supported me in the development of an interdisciplinary major, the capstone of which was an independent study that provided a feminist critique of the nature of priesthood. I was engaged, excited and felt alive in this environment. I also felt nurtured by Thom and the others who made me feel like a true collaborator in learning, not just my own, but theirs as well.

(I would be remiss not to mention other RS or RS-cross-referenced faculty who were very important to me: Arnold Toner, John Jennings, Marc Smith, Al Bentley . . . and other exceptional teachers who contributed to my RS journey.)

I was particularly impressed by Thom's work with a group of other profs to introduce innovative learning methods to the classroom. Students who wanted to be spoon-fed information so as to be able to simply cough this up at exam time floundered in Thom's classes, which demanded commitment, discipline and frequent "ink-sheddings" (accompanied by occasional tear-shedding and blood-letting), and which forced students to dialogue, debate and think for themselves, digging deep not just for information but also meaning, understanding and respectful, diverse community.  

And then there were the special highlights of my Religious Studies journey: the visits to STU of notable theologians; the road trip Thom and Jeff organized so that students could attend an annual conference of the American Academy of Religion, held in New York City that year; and the visit to STU of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who spoke at the Fall Convocation that year, and who gave a public audience, assisted by RS students, in the STU chapel.  

On top of all this, of course: the personal, human element. Thom and I arrived on campus with newborns that September of 1978. My Matt and Thom's Jessica were introduced to each other in their respective baby carriers in the cafeteria of what is now George Martin Hall. I have fond memories of young fatherhood shared with Thom as we compared notes on childrearing practices.  Those babies are now married. Thom and I still compare notes. You never stop being a dad.

So, here we are 30 years later. It's been quite a journey. Thom and I are both scratching our heads as to what is happening to the Religious Studies department and the university community these days. These are challenging times. But we've been there before, although never with this much rancour. I sure hope things settle soon, and peace returns. Thanks for standing with me through many of my own life transitions, Thom. You know I will stand with you through yours."

Told on February 1, 2008 @ 12:25pm, by Bob Stranach.
Regarding Thom Parkhill from the Religious Studies department.