When Elizabeth Olson,听M.S. 鈥�26, enrolled in the Lynch School鈥檚 Masters of Science in Data Science听program, she recognized she was not the typical data science student with a technical background. Instead, she brought years of experience as a teacher, time spent in ministry as a former nun, and a master鈥檚 degree in theology.听
Eager to learn and ready to gain experience in coding, statistics, and data science her goal was clear from the beginning鈥攖o explore how modern technology and artificial intelligence could help people engage more deeply with their faith. This ultimately led her to take "Applied AI and Machine Learning," a course that inspired her project that bridges theology and technology.
听鈥淚 came into the Data Science program really wanting to integrate theology and the Catholic faith with artificial intelligence. I know that Pope Leo XIV has a desire to lead the Church into a human-centered approach towards artificial intelligence, to bring the church into the modern world,鈥� Olson explained. 鈥淎nything I can do to help people love Jesus and to know that Jesus loves them is why I wanted to focus my project on the Catechism.鈥�
Inspired by the broader conversation within the Catholic Church about emerging technologies, Olson developed an AI-powered tool that helps users navigate the , a comprehensive text summarizing the fundamental Catholic beliefs and moral teachings.听
For many readers, the Catechism can be difficult to navigate. Currently, tools and 听are available for those who want to read the text in its entirety.听 However, the Catechism is not organized like a dictionary or database, making it difficult to locate exact passages or teachings about a certain topic.
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鈥淥ne of the things I love about the Data Science program is that we are always being pushed to use and learn new tools. I would never have been able to build this tool unless I had challenged myself through the coursework.鈥�
鈥擡lizabeth Olson,听 M.S.听鈥�26
Olson鈥檚 tool aims to make more approachable. 鈥淚magine you are walking into a huge library,鈥� she shared. 鈥淵ou could search through shelves, or you could go to a librarian who listens to your words and is able to locate what you are looking for.鈥澨�
Her AI tool functions much like that librarian. Using natural language processing, the system converts each paragraph of the Catechism into a string of numbers, then converts the user鈥檚 question into a series of numbers, and provides results from the Catechism that best match the user鈥檚 question in under one second.
Building the system came with challenges. Early in the process, Olson hoped to incorporate additional theological works; however, sourcing ethically usable data within the project timeline proved difficult. Preparing the Catechism text exclusively required careful work to ensure that her system could interpret it accurately.听
To make the project accessible beyond the classroom, she built a polished where anyone can try the tool.
鈥�My hope is that people will walk away with a clear sense of what the Church actually teaches," shared Olson. "I wanted to drill down to what the Church teaches from the authoritative voice, but also the beauty and the poetry of the Catechism. It is so empathetic, compassionate, and beautiful.鈥�
The project represents something larger than a technical achievement. It brings together her backgrounds in theology, education, and, most recently, data science, reflecting her broader goal of helping people encounter the beauty and meaning of the Church鈥檚 teachings through the tools of the modern world.
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M.S. in Data Science
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