Mary Magdalene’s discipleship legacy and the transformative impacts of spiritual curiosity are personal for Fr. Tim Uniac, CR.

The Provincial Superior of the Canadian Province of the Congregation of the Resurrection intends to share just how personal it is during his presentation at St. Jerome’s University on Nov. 6 as part of the Waterloo postsecondary institution’s "Lectures in Catholic Experience” series. The title of his talk is “I have seen the Lord: The Transforming Power of Mary Magdalene’s Proclamation.”

Uniac is drawing his speech material from his recently published book Mary Magdalene: A Resurrection Disciple. In an interview with The Catholic Register, Uniac shared why the musical Jesus Christ Superstar sparked an enduring devotion and intellectual fascination.

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“It hinges on the fact that during my confirmation preparation, I learned about Mary Magdalene not being a prostitute,” said Uniac. “Then I saw Jesus Christ Superstar, and they depicted her as a prostitute, which caused my curiosity to heighten to figure out why some people were referring to her still as a prostitute at that time. That's what really guided my desire to learn more about her.”

Uniac will outline during his talk that Pope Gregory I delivered a homily in 591 declaring Mary Magdalene was a sex worker.

“The whole issue of the conflated identity came out at that point,” said Uniac. “He confused her with other Marys in the Bible. That really perked up my interest as to what drove him to preach in that fashion at that time.”

While setting the record straight is indeed an aim of the book, the true thematic core of Uniac’s work is conveying how the first person who encountered Jesus after He rose from the dead exemplifies resurrection discipleship by virtue of her proclamation that she had seen the Lord. 

“I started then to develop that (proclamation) into a spirituality,” said Uniac. “She believed it transformed her life, and she further believed she couldn't keep it to herself. She believed it would further transform others when she shared the message, and it did with the apostles.”

Akin to what he relayed in his book, Uniac will encourage attendees to identify resurrection moments in their lives and to share that with others because “we believe it can reshape the world… it can transform the world.”

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The spiritual and academic journey Uniac has embarked upon with Mary Magdalene through the years inspired him to ultimately consider her as his personal patron saint. She is a trusted companion when life gets difficult.

“In those dark moments, I turn to her, and she brings light,” said Uniac. “She helps me to see things from a different perspective. Some of the things she endured helped me to endure the things I’ve (withstood) in my faith life as well."

Uniac speaks to Mary Magdalene, prays with her, reads about her and enjoys looking at artistic depictions of her.

A notable occasion where the saint helped him was when he mulled over a vocation to the priesthood. He was initially daunted by this form of service. While in prayerful discernment, Mary Magdalene kept popping into his head.

“I didn't know why,” said Uniac, “and then I began to reflect upon the story of her at the tomb and John's Gospel and realized that she must have been terrified at that moment. But she didn't let the fear stop her. She moved forward, recognizing that fear was drawing her closer to Christ. I felt that same urge within me, the fear was drawing me closer to Christ and closer to understanding what He wanted me to do with my life.”

Uniac said he is looking forward to a Nov. 6 audience mostly comprised of young adult scholars because of their thirst for knowledge and wisdom.

“What I see them doing is questioning things,” said Uniac. “It's not to simply take things because someone told them that this is what it is. They can actually ask questions. They can doubt. They can discover. They can explore different things with the Scriptures, and hopefully, Mary Magdalene might help them.

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“It's okay to ask ‘why,’ and ‘what does this mean,’ ‘I don't understand,’ ‘explain more’ (or to say) ‘I don't agree with you,' those kinds of things,” added Uniac. “I see younger people doing that sort of approach to spirituality.”

Uniac’s presentation will also be live-streamed on YouTube.