Many thanks to Genevieve Berwick who has prepared this Events Briefing.
This is a briefing to inform members of forthcoming meetings, lectures, conferences and other events. Please send any information about future events, especially events outside London, to director@catholicunion.org.uk.
Third party events are occasionally cancelled without notice so if in any doubt please check with the organisers before attending.
The Centre for Catholic Studies at the University of Durham has an excellent ongoing programme of Catholic Theology Research Seminars, the Ushaw Lecture Series and conferences. For details, see https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/catholic-studies/.
See also events at Blackfriars Oxford: https://www.bfriars.ox.ac.uk/events/.
Thursday 8 July – Saturday 10 July
Bridges and Boundaries: The Role of the Virgin Mary in Faith and Culture. Exploring the significance of the Virgin Mary as a bridge between different faith traditions; and looking at how the Marian image traverses culture and theology. Part of the Summer programme at St Mary’s University. See https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/events/2021/07/bridges-and-boundaries.
Thursday 8 July 6.00pm
The Future of Christianity in Lebanon and the Wider Region. The Patriarch of Antioch, Head of the Maronite Church hosts this panel discussion on the cultural and political situation for Christians in the region. See here.
Thursday 8 July 7.30pm – 8.30pm
London Jesuit Centre Book Club: Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle SJ. The book club meets on the second and fourth Thursday of every month (except August) at Mount St Jesuit Centre. If you want to read ahead September’s book will be ‘Julian of Norwich: Wisdom in a Time of Pandemic – and Beyond’ by Matthew Fox. See https://corn-pug-ems8.squarespace.com/book-club.
Friday 9 July 6.00pm – 7.00pm
Webinar: The Glories of Catholic Architecture. Join an illustrated discussion about some of the finest Catholic churches in England and Wales and their treasures. See here.
Saturday 10 July 9.00am – 1.00pm
Tanabata: Story of Two Stars.This art installation takes place in Westminster Abbey when the Abbey is open for general visiting: 10th, 12th, 16thand 17th July and continues on throughout each afternoon. See
https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-events/family/2021/july/tanabata-story-of-two-stars
Saturday 10 July at 10am
The World in Crisis – The Cry of the Poor. The Archdiocese of Liverpool Justice and Peace Commission’s Annual Assembly will take place on 10 July via Zoom. Presentations will be given by Dr Gemma Simmonds CJ and Fr Dominic Curran. Both speakers will reflect and share ways in which we can prepare for the post-Covid future. There will also be an opportunity to take part in a Q&A session. Register for the event here.
Monday 12 July 7.00pm
Marking 60 Years of the Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Christian CND will be hosting a Zoom meeting to mark their 60th anniversary. Among other speakers, Marie Dennis (International Senior Advisor to Pax Christi) will talk about the steps the Vatican has taken to promote nuclear disarmament. There will also be a choice of workshops for attendees. To register for the event, click here.
Tuesday 13 July at 4pm
Aristotle on Virtuous Emotions and Their Education. Part of the series organised by the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues in collaboration with the Congregation for Catholic Education. For more details and registration see here.
Tuesday 13 July 6.30pm – 8.00pm
The Common Good: What does it mean for the Family? A continuation of the public conversation between Together for the Common Good and St Mary’s University exploring the teaching of the church regarding the Common Good. See https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/events/2021/07/common-good-event-two.
Wednesday 14 July 6.00pm – 7.15pm
We need to talk about Death and Dying…Theological, Ethical and Pastoral perspectives on an (almost) taboo subject. Join this panel discussion to explore questions such as ‘What does it mean to die well?’, ‘How can the Church support the dying and the bereaved in pandemic times?’ and ‘What do attempts to change the law on assisted suicide mean for Christians?’ See here.
Wednesday 21 July 7.30pm
Pope Francis’ Let Us Dream: Q&A with Austen Ivereigh. Las Casas Institute Discussion via zoom, to book, please email Sr Margaret Atkins on margaret@boarbankhall.org.uk
Friday 23 July – Sunday 25 July
Action for Life on Earth 2021 – ‘Moment of Truth’ is the theme of this year’s National Justice and Peace Network Annual Conference. Taking inspiration from ‘Laudato Si’, ‘Fratelli Tutti’and secular thinking on integral ecology, this conference was postponed from 2020. See https://www.justice-and-peace.org.uk/conference/.
Saturday 24 July
Jesus, Women and Nonviolence. With Sr AnneMcCarthy and Rev John Dear.
Please register before 19thJuly, see https://form.jotform.com/210448938112151.
Saturday 24 July 9.00am – 4.00pm
Undergraduate Open Day. St Mary’s University, Twickenham, information for prospective students. See https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/events/2021/07/undergraduate-open-day.
OTHER ONGOING EVENTS
Deadline: Wednesday 21 July
The Green Church Showcase. This ongoing hunt for inspiring church initiatives which protect and preserve the planet continues. This showcase builds on the earlier successful collaborations of the Green Church Awards and the Green Health Awards. See here.
From now until Sunday 22 August
Thomas Becket: Murder and the Making of a Saint. Marking the 850thanniversary of this historical event, this exhibition presents Becket’s journey to sainthood through an array of objects, manuscripts, stained glass windows and reliquaries. See here.
Ongoing until Sunday 31 October
What does Peace mean to you? ACN’s Open Call Art Competition.To mark Red Wednesday, ACN’s annual art competition for adults is now open for submissions. The Young People’s Art Competition runs alongside it. See here.
Vatican II Talks. To mark the 50 Years since Vatican II, the Brentwood Commission for Evangelisation and Formation have published a series of recorded talks through What Good News. Talks include ‘The Four Pillars of Vatican II’ and ‘Towards Authentic Liturgy’. See https://www.whatgoodnews.org/vatican-ii-talks.
LOOKING AHEAD – FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday 4 August – Friday 6 August
The God Who Speaks: Celebrating, Living and Sharing God’s Word. Online via zoom, the London Mount St Jesuit Centre is promoting the Society of St Gregory with this series of talks, litanies, music, contemplation, prayer and debate. See https://www.ssg.org.uk/summer-school-2021/.
Monday 13 September – Saturday 18 September
Pilgrimage to Ravenna. The Newman Circle are not currently holding meetings but still plan for this pilgrimage to Italy. They also have a Newman Retreat in Berkshire from 27-28 November . See https://www.newman.org.uk/LatestNews.
Friday 12 November – Saturday 20 November
Aid to the Church in Need’s Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Planned visiting to ACN projects, local Church leaders and Christian families along with the Holy sites. This pilgrimage will be led by Fr Dominic Robinson SJ and Neville Kyrke-Smith, National Director of ACN UK. See here.