January 15, 2014
Two Dominicans honored for outstanding scholarship, service
Two Dominican friars who teach at Providence College — Rev. Terence J. Keegan, O.P. ’60 and Rev. Albino Barrera, O.P. — have been honored with the Master of Sacred Theology, a degree conferred by the Order of Preachers to recognize “a life of truly outstanding scholarship.”
The honor was granted by Rev. Bruno Cadoré, O.P., master of the Dominican Order. Those chosen have demonstrated outstanding contributions to the theological sciences, led commendable lives of prudence, and devoted themselves fully to intellectual work for at least 10 years.
Father Keegan, who began teaching at PC in 1975, retired from the Ordinary Faculty in June 2013, though he continues to teach in the
Department of Theology. He was hired as assistant professor of religious studies and, promoted to associate professor in 1982 and to professor of theology in 1994.
In addition to his teaching, Father Keegan served the College as chair of the theology department and director of the Graduate Program in Theology (1986-1992), dean of Graduate Studies (1994-1995), executive vice president (1994-2005), and treasurer (1999-2005). He was also the regent of studies for the Dominican Province of St. Joseph and a member of the Provincial Council (1997-2002, 2007-2010). He is an active biblical scholar who has published numerous books and articles and has worked for many years on task forces with the Catholic Biblical Association of America.
Father Keegan received a licentiate in sacred scripture from the Pontifical Bible Institute in Rome, a doctorate in sacred theology from the University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, and a diploma from Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem.
Father Barrera, who has taught at PC since 1994, has held a joint faculty appointment in the departments of economics and theology since 2005. He was first appointed adjunct assistant professor of economics, then
assigned to the Department of Theology. He was appointed associate professor in 1998 and professor of theology in 2004.
Father Barrera received a licentiate in sacred theology from the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C., and a doctorate in economics from Yale University in 1988.
His most recent book is Biblical Economic Ethics: Sacred Scripture’s Teachings on Economic Life (Lexington, 2013).
