Press
“The book, for me, is a source of hope. In the words of St. Ignatius he reminds us that God is always calling us, the Spirit is always moving. And in the words of Pope Francis: “God is always a surprise. You never know where and how you will find him. You are not setting the time and place of the encounter with him. You must, therefore, discern the encounter.” Chris Anderson, with the help of his many church mothers and fathers and his own experience, helps us along in that process of ongoing spiritual discernment.”
CATHOLIC TV:
Deacon Chris Anderson discusses writing, poetry, and the Catholic faith based on his book, Light When It Comes.
4/04/17
THE OREGONIAN:
Chris Anderson, Oregon State University professor and Catholic deacon, talks poetry
7/29/15
“Chris Anderson is an English professor at Oregon State University, where he has taught since 1986. He holds a PhD from the University of Washington, and is the author or coauthor of 14 books. His second book of poetry, “The Next Thing Always Belongs,” was published in 2011 by Airlie Press, a writers’ collective in the Willamette Valley. An earlier book of his essays was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award.”
FOX: You used the word “pure,” which it seems to me does reflect you and your poetry. Can you talk a little about that?
ANDERSON: I don’t know, let me think about that for a minute. It’s obvious that I tend toward the plain style; the pure, simpler, more conversational style. I really don’t—well, in some cases I do—like “poetic” language. Most of the time I’ll start to read a book of poems and it just won’t engage me, and I don’t necessarily generalize that therefore that person is a bad poet, but I just read what I want to read. And I tend to be attracted to poets like Wendell Berry or Jack Gilbert. I mean, there’s a range of poets who will attract me … or Marie Howe, or Mary Oliver … who I don’t think are showing off, who are not just being “techniquey.”
CATHOLIC SENTINEL:
Deacon Families Seeking Community
5/5/06
‘I think there is a strong effort to help foster these deacon communities,’ says Deacon Chris Anderson, who serves at St. Mary Parish in Corvallis. Ordained in 1997, he is a professor of English at Oregon State University and leads retreats and scripture studies at the OSU Newman Center.
Every few months, he and wife Barb (a pastoral associate at St. Mary’s) meet with other ‘deacon couples’ from the area to discuss faith and life and pray over it all. The common experiences of the couples – especially the travails -Â draw them together naturally.