This is a monthly 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.
There are numerous interesting events organised by the Las Casas Institute and others at Blackfriars Oxford, please see the Events Calendar on their website.
The Centre for Catholic Studies at the University of Durham has an excellent programme of Catholic lectures and other events. For details, click here.
The London Jesuit Centre also hosts a number of interesting courses. So does the Thomistic Institute in the USA though beware of the difference in time zones for live talks!
Catholic Union Events
Saturday 23 July 2022 11am – 5pm. The Catholic Union Summer Gathering. Booking is now open for the Catholic Union Summer Gathering on Saturday 23 July at St Mary’s College, Oscott, near Birmingham. Please join us to hear more about the Catholic Union’s work and to see the beautiful Pugin chapel and other treasures of Oscott. Tickets are only £28 per person, which includes lunch, refreshments and a tour. The day will start with Mass in the Chapel at 11am. Full details on how to book are here.
Forthcoming Events
Third-party events are occasionally cancelled without notice so if in any doubt please check with the organisers before attending.
Monday 2 May from 2 pm.
Mass for Migrants. The annual Migrants Mass will take place at Farm Street Church, London W1K 3AH. It is an opportunity to focus prayers and celebration on the dignity of work carried out by the migrant community. Bishop Michael Campbell, OSA, Retired Bishop of Lancaster will celebrate this Mass and preach the homily. See the poster here.
Monday 2 May from 5 – 6 pm.
The Magisterium and Catholic Social Doctrine. The Las Casas Institute will host Prof. Bracy Bersnak, associate professor in the department of Political Science and Economics at Christendom College, Virginia. He will speak on the debates around Catholic social doctrine revolving around whether a given theory or practice is compatible with the magisterium or not. This will take place online. Register here.
Tuesday 3 May from 6.15 – 7.15 pm.
Deep and Daring: The Gospel of John for the 21st Century. David F. Ford is one of the founders of Scriptural Reasoning and has been extensively involved in generating new modes of engagement for interfaith relations. This will be a public lecture in reference to his latest book The Gospel of John: A Theological Commentary. Venue: Leech Hall, St John’s College, 3 South Bailey, Durham, DH1 3RJ. Tickets are free. More information can be found here.
Tuesday 3 May from 6.15 – 7.15 pm.
What’s wrong with the House of Commons – Book Launch. To mark the publication of her new book: Held in Contempt: What’s wrong with the House of Commons? the IfG’s deputy director, Hannah White will discuss what parliamentarians can do to restore their flagging reputation. Click here for more information and to register.
Wednesday 4 May from 5 – 6 pm.
Dorothy Day: The Long Loneliness. Weekly online discussions are taking place at the Las Casas Institute on sections of Dorothy Day’s The Long Loneliness. The group is led by Edward Hamas, Research Fellow at Blackfriars Hall. This is an eight week programme, which is free and open for all. Registration required. For the full schedule, and to register – click here.
Wednesday 4 May at 6pm
Hensley Henson and the “National” Church of England in the Early 20th Century.Ushaw Lecture by Prof Julia Stapleton (Durham) about the Prayer Book crisis of 1927-28 and disestablishment. For in person attendance at Ushaw or to watch online, see here.
Thursday 5 May from 2 – 4 pm.
Faith in Europe – Briefing Meeting. Revd Dr Ashley Beck is the Associate Professor and Programme lead of the MA in Catholic Social Teaching at St Mary’s University will be speaking on ‘Catholic Social Teaching and Europe – the Key Issues’. This event is being hosted by The Churches’ European Relations Network. To receive the zoom link please email: philip.max.walters@gmail.com.
Sunday 8 May at 3pm
Procession of Our Lady of Willesden with preacher Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and prayers for the people of Ukraine. Procession begins from the RC Shrine of Our Lady of Willesden at 1 Nicoll Rd NW10 9AX.
Sunday 8 May from 4 – 5 pm.
Inspiration, Stress, and Play in the Poetry of G. M. Hopkins. Professor Michael Hurley is a professor of Literature and Theology at the University of Cambridge. The talk promises to be a fascinating insight into the poetry of an innovative and groundbreaking Catholic poet. Venue: St Mary’s Church, Hampstead. Those planning to attend in person please email the Parish Administrator at hampstead@rcdow.org.uk to book your place. You are also welcome to watch the livestream of the lecture by visiting https://www.churchservices.tv/hampstead’
Thursday 12 May from 6 – 7 pm.
Blessed are the peacemakers: Peace activism and Catholic theology in the twenty-first century. Dr Natalie K. Watson will be joined in conversation online with Bruce Kent, Vice-President of Pax Christi, Paul Rogers, Emeritus professor of peace studies at the University of Bradford, and Maria Power, Fellow at Las Casas Institute for Social Justice. They will discuss what contribution can Catholic Social Teaching make to a more peaceful world. Tickets £12.50. More information here.
Saturday 14 May from 11.30 am – 4.45 pm
Catholics in Health and Social Care: Ethics and Practice. St Mary’s University, Twickenham, will host an online training day on exploring the unique contribution that faith makes to the health and social care sector. Speakers include Bishop John Sherrington, Prof David Albert Jones, Margaret Doherty, and Dr Helen Watt. Free to attend. For more information and to register, please click here.
Monday 16 May from 11 am
“Exploring Belief”: Religion Media Festival. Dr. Nick Spencer will be in conversation with Rabbi Laura Janner Klausner, Professor Neil Alexander and Dr. Beth Singler to discuss science, religion and the future. The festival will be packed full of stand-out keynote speakers, in depth discussions and panel talks delving into all aspects of the presentation of religion. Venue: JW3 341-351 Finchley Road, London, NW3 6ET. Cost: £20. More information can be found here.
Thursday 19 May from 11 am
Dignity in street level bureaucracies: beyond reason, balance, and pragmatism . Prof. Tony Evans, Royal Holloway, will be the first speaker of the ‘Bureaucracy and Human Dignity’ seminar series. The event will focus on the argument that public policy practitioners have to use reason, balance, and pragmatism in everyday policy making to uphold human dignity. This is an online event hosted by the Las Casas Institute which is free and open to all. More information and to register, click here.
Friday 20 – Saturday 21 May from 10.30am – 4.30pm
Flourishing as a Contemporary Catholic leader and teacher. Network for Researchers in Catholic Education is pleased to announce that its annual conference will be held in collaboration with the Catholic Association of Teachers, Schools and Colleges. It will be a unique opportunity for researchers in Catholic Education and leaders/practitioners in CatholicEducation to work together. Venue: St Mary’s University, Twickenham. Tickets: £45 – £120. More information here.
Saturday 21 May from 10.30am – 4.30 pm
Family Education Trust Annual Conference. Speakers include Prof David Paton, Calvin Robinson and Stella O’Malley. Free to attend but charge for optional lunch. Venue: RAF Club, 128 Piccadilly, London.
For details and registration, see here.
Sunday 22 May from 5.30-6.45pm (and every fortnight until 28 August)
Series of Talks on the Medieval Church (“times crisis and decay but also of astounding creativity and achievement”) with Fr Michael Lang. St Joseph’s Hall, The Oratory, Brompton Road, London SW7 2RP.
Wednesday 25 May from 5 – 6.30 pm
Newman Lecture 2022: Sir James MacMillan. Sir James MacMillan, the composer and former Craigmyle Lecturer will speak on whether there is a moral dimension to the act of composition, and does the work of a composer ever impact on the desire to sustain civic values? This is hosted by the Catholic Halls at Oxford University. Venue: Flora Anderson Hall, Somerville College. More information and to book your free ticket, click here.
Wednesday 25 May from 6.30 – 8 pm
A University Education: Philip Booth in Conversation with The Rt Hon David Willetts. Lord Willetts is a former MP and author. His interests include “inter-generational justice” and the wide roles that university can play in economic and civic life and increasing the life chances of young people. Lord Willetts will be interviewed by Philip Booth about these questions and others, with the main theme being his book “A University Education”. Venue: St Mary’s University, Twickenham. Tickets are free. More information here.
Thursday 26 May at 6pm
What does Human Dignity Mean and Why Should We Care? The Richard O’Sullivan Memorial Lecture given by Prof Christopher McCrudden, organised by Law and Justice, the Christian Law Review. Free to attend. For more details and registration see here. Venue: University of Notre Dame, 1 Suffolk St, London SW1Y 4HG.