The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes is pleased to present a series on the theme “To Form A More Perfect Union: Division and Unity in the US at 250”. This three-part series will take place at the Prairie Theater and Event Center (400 University Avenue, Fond du Lac, WI).
April 23
Janine Geske, former justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, will speak about the constitutional history of unity in this country.
September 17 (Constitution Day)
Sister Dianne Bergant, CSA, will talk about unity and diversity from a theological perspective.
October 22
The Dignity Index suggests that “Our disagreements aren’t causing the divisions in our country; it’s what we do when we disagree.” Alexa Merrill, Program Assistant at The Dignity Index, will help you learn more about how to revive a culture of free expression and respect for viewpoint diversity.
Agenda
5:30 Doors Open
6:00 Remarks
7:00 Reception with Speaker and heavy hors d'oeuvres in The Winnebago Room
As part of “US at 250," CSA has also pledged to do 250 Acts of Mercy throughout 2026. Learn more about the Mercy Initiative.
Livestream Available
For those who cannot attend in person, a livestream will also be available on the CSA YouTube channel and a link to the recording will be shared on this page after each session.
About the Speakers
Justice Janine P. Geske
Justice Janine P. Geske currently serves as the Director of the Andrew Center for Restorative Justice and as a Distinguished Professor of Law at Marquette University Law School. She is on sabbatical as a member of the Marquette University Board of Trustees. In the fall of 2011, she served as a Visiting Professor of law at the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium in Restorative Justice at its Institute of Criminology. She served as interim dean of Marquette Law School from July 2002 to July 2003 and as interim Milwaukee County Executive from February 28 to May 6, 2002. She previously served on the Wisconsin Supreme Court from 1993-1998. From 1981-1993, she was a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge. Prior to becoming a judge, she served as chief staff attorney for the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee and then as clinical director and assistant professor of law at Marquette University.
In 2003, Marian College in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin awarded Justice Geske an honorary doctor of law degree and Marquette University High School awarded her the Spirit of St. Ignatius Award. In 2002, the Milwaukee Archdiocese recognized her with the Vatican II Award in communication.
She frequently teaches at judicial, legal, and community conferences on mediation, restorative justice, sentencing, evidence, the courts, and spirituality and work. She is a member of the American Bar Association, State Bar of Wisconsin, Fellows of the American Bar, Fellows of the Wisconsin Bar, American Law Institute, Association of Conflict Resolution and the Wisconsin Association of Mediators.
Sister Dianne Bergant, CSA
Sister Dianne Bergant served as President of Catholic Biblical Association of America (2000-2001) and as the Rev. Robert J. Randall Distinguished Professor of Christian Culture, Providence College, Providence, RI (2009-2010). She was awarded honorary doctorates from the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University, CA (2013), Marian University, Fond du Lac, WI (2014), and the Catholic University of Australia, Melbourne, Victoria (2015). She was an active member of the Chicago Catholic/Jewish Scholars Dialogue (1988-2017), a member of the Board of Trustees, Sacred Heart School of Theology (1983-1989), and of St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee, WI (1996-2005). She sat on the editorial boards of The Bible Today (1979-2005), Biblical Theology Bulletin (1990-2014), Catholic Biblical Quarterly (1992-2001), New Theology Review (1997-2003), Teaching Theology and Religion (2003-2005), and Chicago Studies (2003-2009). She has taught and lectured in various places in the United States, as well as in South Africa and Namibia, Trinidad, England and Ireland, Kiribati, Philippines, Thailand, Mexico, Nicaragua, Rome, Australia and New Zealand. She was widely interviewed after one of her students became Pope!
Alexa Merrill
Alexa Merrill believes the way we speak to each other can change the world—and shows up every day to prove it. As part of the team at Dignity.us, Alexa works to bring the Dignity Index to wider audiences through the connective tissue of community, operations, and storytelling—translating the Dignity Movement's vision into the infrastructure and relationships that make it real.
A Brigham Young University graduate in Sociology with training in Business Administration and Leadership Coaching, Alexa has been part of the Dignity Movement since their college years—growing from ambassador to a role spanning cross-functional operations, community development, and strategic support. This foundation has shaped a career centered on people, systems, and human dignity.
About the Organizers
The Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes (CSA), founded in 1858 in Barton, has been based in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, within the Archdiocese of Milwaukee for more than 150 years. Today, CSA has sisters across the United States and Nicaragua who strive to minister with simplicity and hospitality in the fields of education, healthcare, pastoral ministry, and social service. CSA Associates are women and men who choose to have an intentional relationship with the Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes.