In its story about the ordainment of a Bay Area woman as a Catholic priest, the Contra Costa Times turned to Saint Mary's Theology & Religious Studies Professor Zach Flanagin for a historical perspective of the church's position on women as priests. The story, "San Ramon woman to be ordained priest, angering Catholic Church," focuses on a woman who is a member of the Roman Catholic Womenpriests, an international group which the article says "has ordained about 150 women as priests, bishops and deacons worldwide -- including two priests who work in Los Gatos and San Francisco."

Observations from papal history expert Brother Charles Hilken about the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI appeared in local and national news outlets this weekend. The Saint Mary's history professor, and chair of the Cummins Institute, also appeared on the KPIX-TV/CBS-5 Sunday morning news show with anchors Phil Matier and Anne Mackovec to discuss Benedict's decision to resign.

KTVU-TV spoke with Theology and Religious Studies Professor Brother Mark McVann about the imprint of a cross that was discovered in the mid-section of a tree trunk in an East Bay cemetery. A groundskeeper who discovered the cross, and who also recently lost his brother in a tragic accident, took the appearance of the cross as a sign from his deceased sibling. Br. McVann spoke to KTVU's Jade Hernandez about the frequency and validity of faith-related apparitions throughout history.