The Master and Margarita
2026-04-16 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-04-23 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-04-30 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-05-07 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-05-14 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-05-21 19:00 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | Gavin House, 1220 E 58th St., Chicago, IL, 60637
REGISTER BELOW
Meets Weekly on Thursdays: April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21
7:00 – 8:30 (the time has changed) | Dinner Provided
This event is designated for University of Chicago undergraduate students. Students will receive a copy of the texts. You may pick up your copy any time during business hours from Gavin House. Please reach out to William Hurley for any questions (whurley@lumenchristi.org).
A city whose citizens refused to believe in the existence of Jesus, God or Satan. A certain Satan who arrived in this city—Moscow—with his retinue, on a hot spring day. A nameless writer pilloried by his novel on Pontius Pilate and his fiery lover who was willing to do anything to save him, including going to literal hell. A mental facility. A talking black cat who cheated in chess and loved kerosene. The cruel fifth procurator of Judea, the knight Pontius Pilate.
A culmination of religious and political satire, warm humor, and surreal imagination, Mikhail Bulgakov’s masterpiece was at the same time ardent and deeply philosophical.
Our weekly dinnertime reading group will freely discuss the text in an enriching and inclusive communal setting. In our final session on Week 9, Professor Caryl Emerson from Princeton University will join us to answer questions and wrap up important themes of the book.
For each week, there will be 30-40 pages of required reading, and 10-20 pages of optional reading. Our conversation will focus on the required readings. At the end of each session, I will briefly go over the plot in the optional chapters so that we are on the same page. With that said, Bulgakov should be a light and delightful read, and I encourage everyone to do the optional chapters too. The questions and fragmented bullet points, as seen below, are guidelines that may prompt conversation but we definitely don’t have to adhere to them. Note that although they are generalized and willfully opaque, they still contain mild spoilers.
Copies of The Master and Margarita will be provided to all participants. Weekly meetings are held over dinner. Weekly reading assignments are kept at or below 30 pages.
Each quarter, the Lumen Christi Institute hosts a number of student-led reading groups at Gavin House (1220 E 58th St.). The reading groups are usually held over a shared meal and all participants are provided a copy of the text. Any undergraduate interested in a shared reading of a great text is welcome to join. No religious affiliation is necessary.
Schedule:

April 2

Book One, Ch. 1-3 (p. 3-41)
Optional: Ch. 4-6 (p. 42-67)

April 9

Book One, Ch. 7-9 (p. 68-94)
Optional: Ch. 10 (p. 95-104)

April 16

Book One, Ch. 11-13 (p. 105-139)
Optional: Ch. 14 (p. 140-147)

April 23

Book One, Ch. 15-16 (p. 148-170)
Book One, Ch. 18 (p. 183-201)
Optional: Ch. 17 (p. 171-182)

April 30

Book Two, Ch. 19-22 (p. 205-246)

May 7

Book Two, Ch. 23-24 (p. 247-282)
Optional: Ch. 25 (p. 283-292)

May 14

Book Two, Ch. 26-27 (p. 293-326)
Optional: Ch. 28 (p. 327-337)

May 21

Book Two, Ch. 29-30 (p. 338-353)
Book Two, Ch. 32-Epilogue (p. 363-373)
Optional: Ch. 31 (p. 354-356)

Series Description:
Undergraduate Reading Group
Each quarter, the Lumen Christi Institute hosts a number of student-led reading groups at Gavin House (1220 E 58th St.). The reading groups are usually held over a shared meal and all participants are provided a copy of the text. Any undergraduate interested in a shared reading of a great text is welcome to join. No religious affiliation is necessary.

Greek New Testament (Spring)
2026-04-17 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-04-24 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-05-01 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-05-08 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-05-15 10:00 - 11:00 | Gavin House, 1220 E 58th St., Chicago, IL, 60637
REGISTER BELOW
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Refreshments Provided
This event is designated for University of Chicago graduate and undergraduate students. Students will receive a copy of the texts.
“In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” This dramatic opening salvo of the Letter to the Hebrews, summarizing salvation history, is one of the most famous and consequential one-liners in the New Testament. But who is this Son? How is he “appointed heir of all things”? What is the relationship between God’s message through him and His message through the prophets? In this reading group, we will examine, through careful study of the Koine Greek text, how the Letter to the Hebrews answers these questions and more, with an eye to the authorship, audience, and genre of this mysterious text. All levels of Greek proficiency are encouraged to join. Advance preparation is recommended but not required.
Schedule:

April 9*: Hebrews 10.1–18 (Christ’s Sacrifice)

April 17: Hebrews 10.19–39 (Exhortation to Persevere)

April 24: Hebrews 11.1–22 (Examples of Faith Part I)

May 1: Hebrews 11.23–40 (Examples of Faith Part 2)

May 8: Hebrews 12

May 15: Hebrews 13

*The first session takes place at the normal time but on Thursday.
Series Description:
Language Reading Group
Each quarter, the Lumen Christi Institute hosts at least one classical language reading group at Gavin House (1220 E 58th St.). The reading groups are usually held over a shared meal and all participants are provided a copy of the text. Any student interested in working on his or her classical languages is welcome to join. No religious affiliation is necessary.

What Does Empathy Require? Maximilian Kolbe and Triumph of the Heart
2026-04-17 18:00 - 21:00 | Gavin House, 1220 E 58th St., Chicago, IL, 60637
REGISTER BELOW
6:00 – 9:00 p.m. | Dinner Served
This event is designated for current University of Chicago graduate and undergraduate students. Please contact William Hurley at whurley@lumenchristi.org with any questions.
Description:
Triumph of the Heart tells the story of St. Maximilian Kolbe, a Franciscan priest who volunteered to take the place of another prisoner in the starvation bunker at Auschwitz. Set in one of the darkest moments of the twentieth century, the film invites viewers to reflect on how compassion and solidarity can appear even in extreme suffering. This screening will explore the idea of empathy not as a simple feeling, but as a difficult and sometimes demanding choice in how we relate to others. Before the film, there will be a brief introduction, and afterward we will gather for dessert and refreshments to discuss several scenes and the themes they raise about empathy, solidarity, and human dignity. Pizza dinner will be provided beforehand, and all are welcome to join the conversation.
Each quarter, the Lumen Christi Institute hosts student-led events at Gavin House (1220 E 58th St.). These events are usually held over a shared meal. Any undergraduate interested in a shared discussion of an interesting film is welcome to join. No religious affiliation is necessary.
Schedule:

6:00 – 6:30 | Dinner
6:30 – 8:30 | Film Showing
8:30 – 9:00 | Post Film Discussion

The Cloud of Unknowing
2026-04-20 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-04-27 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-05-04 18:00 - 19:30 | Gavin House, 1220 E 58th St., Chicago, IL, 60637
REGISTER BELOW
6:00 – 7:30 p.m. | Dinner Provided
This event is designated for University of Chicago undergraduate students. Students will receive a copy of the text. You may pick up your copy any time during business hours from Gavin House. Other students interested in attending should contact William Hurley at whurley@lumenchristi.org.
Description:
The Cloud of Unknowing, a gem of English mysticism, is both a guide and a warning to the spiritual seeker. Written anonymously in the 14th century, the Cloud troubles the relation between man and God, making spirituality an antidote to the secular world and despair the path towards glimpses of enlightenment. Through the Cloud and the writings of contemporary thinkers and mystics, we will explore the spiritual lives of medieval laity and differing conceptions of the contemplative life.
Schedule:

April 6th: Introduction, What is Spiritual Life?

Exhortation, Chs. 1-6

April 13th: The Contemplative Life

Chs. 7-24

April 20th: The Work of the Soul

Chs. 25-46

April 27th: Perfection of the Soul

Chs. 46-60

May 4th: Conclusion, Practical Considerations

Chs. 61-75, Book of Privy Counseling

Optional Readings: Group Folder
Series Description:
Undergraduate Reading Group
Each quarter, the Lumen Christi Institute hosts a number of student-led reading groups at Gavin House (1220 E 58th St.). The reading groups are usually held over a shared meal and all participants are provided a copy of the text. Any undergraduate interested in a shared reading of a great text is welcome to join. No religious affiliation is necessary.

History of Monasticism
2026-04-21 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-04-28 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-05-05 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-05-12 18:00 - 19:30
REGISTER BELOW
6:00 – 7:30 p.m. | Dinner Provided
This event is designated for current University of Chicago graduate and undergraduate students. University of Chicago faculty and staff are also welcome to attend. Others interested in auditing should contact William Hurley at whurley@lumenchristi.org.
This project is made possible through the support of In Lumine Tuo: Expanding and Sustaining the Catholic Intellectual Tradition Nationwide (grant #63614) from the John Templeton Foundation and the generous support of our donors.
Description:
Monasticism is the form of religious life common to the Latin, Greek, Syriac, and Coptic churches. This course will examine its development from the age of the martyrs to the present and its perennial role within the Body of Christ. Of special interest will be the tensions between the solitary life and common life, flight from the world versus evangelization, and the way these tensions create opportunities for renewal. Also of interest is how monasticism adapts itself to new political situations: the collapse of the Roman Empire in the West, the advance of Islam, the French Revolution and Enlightenment and the prospects for monasticism in the 21st century.
Schedule:

March 31 – The Call of the Desert (1st-4th)
April 7 – Foundations of a New World (5th-7th)
April 14 – Vikings to the North, Saracens to the South (8th-10th)
April 21 – Shifts of Gravity: Cluny, Athos, and Monastic Reform (11th-13th)
April 28 – Cataclysms: The Fall of Constantinople and the Dissolution (14th-16th)
May 5 – The Age of Reason and Romantic Re-imaginings (17th-19th)
May 12 – Global Monasticism (19th-21st)

Series Description:
Non-Credit Course
Each quarter, the Lumen Christi Institute hosts a Tuesday evening non-credit course at Gavin House (1220 E 58th St.). Survey-style lectures are held over a shared meal, with no advanced preparation required. These courses offer accessible introductions to key aspects of the Catholic intellectual tradition. All UChicago students, staff, and faculty members are welcome to join. No religious affiliation is necessary.

What is a “Uni-versity”? Revisiting Newman’s “Idea of a University”
2026-04-22 15:00 - 16:30, 2026-04-29 15:00 - 16:30 | Gavin House, 1220 E 58th St., Chicago, IL, 60637
REGISTER BELOW
3:00 – 4:30 p.m. | Refreshments Provided
This event is designated for current University of Chicago graduate and undergraduate students. University of Chicago faculty and staff are also welcome to attend. Others interested in auditing should contact William Hurley at whurley@lumenchristi.org. The book may be picked up any time during business hours from Gavin House.
Description:
The crisis of the university has been frequently remarked. Mortimer Adler, onetime University of Chicago professor, decades ago prophetically sounded the tocsin regarding the fragmentation of the modern university. Battles over core curricula, distribution of limited resources, and arguments over research and teaching priorities are all indications of the crisis. Perhaps the greatest threats to the university in our Űber-Tech culture are posed by S.T.E.M. and AI.
So what is a “uni-versity”? What is its purpose? What should be the goals of a university education? Spurred by the modern spiritual and cultural genius of John Henry Newman, we will read and discuss his “Idea of a University.” Several months ago, Newman was declared a “Doctor” of the Catholic Church in recognition of his personal holiness and mastery of the Christian tradition.
In the light of Newman’s insights, come share your experiences at the University of Chicago. What classes have especially impacted you? How have you become a different person? What are your existential desires and hopes?
Schedule:

April 1: Newman’s preface [pp. xxxvii-xlvii] and Discourses One and Two [pp.1-32]
April 8: Discourses Three and Four [pp. 32-74]
April 15: Discourses Five and Six [pp.74-114]
April 22: Discourses Seven and Eight [pp. 114-161]
April 29: Discourses Nine and Ten [pp.161-181]

Class materials are accessible via the class Google folder found here.
Series Description:
Reading Course
Each quarter, the Lumen Christi Institute hosts a student-centered reading course at Gavin House (1220 E 58th St.). The reading course is usually held over a shared meal and all participants are provided a copy of the text. Any student interested in a shared reading of a great text is welcome to join. No religious affiliation is necessary.

The Turn to Tradition in American Law and Culture
2026-04-22 17:00 - 19:30 | Jenner & Block, 45th Floor
The Turn to Tradition in American Law and Culture
a panel discussion

Jenner & Block Law Offices (353 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654)
Wednesday, April 22
5:00pm Cocktail and Hors d’Oeuvres | 6:00 Dialogue and Q&A | 7:30 End
Register Below
This American moment is one of alienation and dislocation. In personal relations, an “epidemic of loneliness” has emerged as in-person friendships dwindle. Politically and morally, what once seemed to be long-held convictions seem suddenly up for debate. Is there still a “We the People,” as the Constitution attests? Does anything still hold this people together?
It is at this moment that “tradition” has made a return. Whether in reference to legal interpretation, moral frameworks, or even the person-to-person connections that bind one to another, tradition is having a moment. From the New York Times to the Supreme Court to the Hallmark Christmas movie, tradition is now being presented as a cure for what ails us.
But what is tradition? Is it something that ought to be overcome or stewarded? Is it something static, or can it develop? What status should long-held traditions hold in the interpretation of the law? What legal status do religious traditions have, and what can development in religious tradition tell us about development of legal tradition?
In this conversation among cutting edge legal and philosophical minds, Marc DeGirolami will lay out some major themes of his new book The Constitution of Practice: On Law and Tradition. Richard W. Garnett and Jennifer Newsome Martin will join him in conversation on the nature of tradition, law, and religion.
This event is co-sponsored by the Catholic Lawyers Guild and Jenner & Block Law Office.

An Ordinary Life Well Lived: Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead
2026-04-22 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-04-29 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-05-06 18:00 - 19:30 | Gavin House, 1220 E 58th St., Chicago, IL, 60637
REGISTER BELOW
6:00 – 7:30 | Dinner Provided
This event is designated for University of Chicago graduate students. Other students interested in attending should contact William Hurley at whurley@lumenchristi.org.
Description:
“Love is holy because it is like grace–the worthiness of its object is never really what matters.” – Marilynne Robinson, Gilead
Marilynne Robinson’s Gilead tells the story of Congregationalist minister John Ames, who, with the knowledge that the end of his life is near, decides to pen a testament to his seven-year old son, something for his son to keep close as he grows up without his father. Ames’ reflections are wide-ranging and probing: on faith and doubt, on fathers and sons, on forgiveness, and on return of an old friend’s prodigal child who threatens to disturb the peace Ames has made with his life. We’ll meet each week to discuss the novel and what Ames’ testament might teach us about love, grace, parenthood, and what it means to live well. In a world that prizes speed, spectacle, and novelty for its own sake, Gilead urges the opposite: attention, slowness, and fidelity to an ordinary life well lived. This, Marilynne Robinson says, “is an interesting planet. It deserves all the attention you can give it.” Join us each week as we do just that.
Schedule:

Week 1 (Wed. April 1)

Pg. 1–41

Week 2 (Wed. April 8)

Pg. 42–81

Week 3 (Wed. April 15)

Pg. 82–120

Week 4 (Wed. April 22)

Pg. 121–162

Week 5 (Wed. April 29)

Pg 162–206

Week 6 (Wed. May 6)

206–end.

Series Description:
Graduate Student Reading Group
Each quarter, the Lumen Christi Institute hosts a number of student-led reading groups at Gavin House (1220 E 58th St.). The reading groups are usually held over a shared meal and all participants are provided a copy of the text. Any graduate student interested in a shared reading of a great text is welcome to join. No religious affiliation is necessary.

What Does Virtue Have to Do with the Law?
2026-04-23 17:30 - 19:15 | University of Chicago Law School Auditorium, 1111 East 60th Street, Hyde Park, IL
REGISTER BELOW
5:30 – Symposium | 7:00 – 7:15 Q & A | 7:15 Wine & Cheese Reception
Please contact William Hurley (whurley@lumenchristi.org) for any questions.
This project is made possible through the support of In Lumine Tuo: Expanding and Sustaining the Catholic Intellectual Tradition Nationwide (grant #63614) from the John Templeton Foundation and the generous support of our donors.
The University of Chicago chapter of the St. Thomas More Society is co-sponsoring this event.
The University of Chicago Law School Federalist Society is co-sponsoring this event.

Description:
The American experiment depends on the people holding something in common. But what was once taken for granted is now up for debate, as all sorts of norms and established beliefs are under attack.
Is this the result of an improper intrusion of politics and morality into the legal realm? Should the law aspire to be morally naked? Or does the law depend upon a particular set of moral and political virtues?
What makes for a good constitutional judge? Are personal and professional virtues necessary to good judgment? Or do they inhibit it?
Is thinking in these terms helpful to address alienation, lack of trust, and institutional collapse? Or does it distract from the real issue?
In this spirited conversation, law faculty from a number of philosophical positions will come together to discuss the relationship between law, politics, tradition, and virtue.
Schedule:

5:30pm – Event Begins – Garnett Frames and Opens with Question
5:35pm – 5:45pm – DeGirolami Response
5:50pm – 6:00pm – Miller Response
6:05 pm – 6:15pm – Pacold Response
6:20 pm – 6:30pm – Bray Response
6:30pm – 7:00pm – Moderated Conversation
7:00pm – 7:15pm – Audience Q&A
7:15pm – End + Wine and Cheese Reception

Being Human in the Digital Age: A Discussion
2026-04-24 14:00 - 16:00
The dominance of technology in our lives and the precipitous rise of artificial intelligence in the last few years has raised profound questions. We are being asked to think more deeply about what it means to be human, how we should (and whether we can) live with our creations, and what kind of life we can share together. How should we understand these new technologies? How does our use of digital technology form us? Is it changing society in fundamental ways? How should we think about the religious aspirations and dimensions of this new technology? In this webinar, professor of theology Jared Ortiz will interview philosopher Anton Barba-Kay about his new book, A Web of Our Own Making: The Nature of Digital Formation.
This event is being cosponsored by the COLLIS Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture, the Saint Benedict Institute, Fons Vitae at Duke Divinity School, the Kateri Institute, the Harvard Catholic Forum, and the St. Kateri Institute.
For more information contact Geoffrey Zokal at gzokal@lumenchristi.org

Chicago Criminal Justice Reform Network Dialogue
2026-05-04 17:00 - 20:30 | St. Ignatius High School, 1076 Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, IL, United States
The Catholic Criminal Justice Reform Network (CCJRN), an initiative of the Lumen Christi Institute, will host an invite only evening dialogue with dinner in Tully Hall at Saint Ignatius High School to bring together those responsible for our criminal justice system and those most directly impacted by it: survivors of crime and returning citizens. The program will open with an (optional) Mass at the Church of the Holy Family at St. Ignatius.
The event will feature a panel of key players from the criminal justice system, and be followed by round table conversations. The roundtable conversations enable encounters among those who play key roles in our criminal justice system (including prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges, corrections officials, and law enforcement) with those persons impacted by the criminal justice system (including the formerly incarcerated, victims of crime, and their families).
For more information contact Geoffrey Zokal at gzokal@lumenchristi.org

The Gospel’s Response to the “Fatigue of Living” – Ever Ancient, Ever New: The Sources of Pope Leo XIV | West Suburban Catholic Culture Series
2026-05-13 18:30 - 20:30 | Ruth Lake Country Club, 6200 South Madison Street, Hinsdale, IL
The West Suburban Catholic Culture Series

Ever Ancient, Ever New:
The Sources of Pope Leo XIV
REGISTER BELOW

May 13th:
The Gospel’s Response to the “Fatigue of Living”
Schedule: 6:30 p.m. Drinks | 7:00 p.m. Dinner, Lecture, & Q&A | 8:30 p.m. End
LECTURE DESCRIPTION
Pope Leo XIV has already spoken movingly about the isolation and stress, especially for the young, of modern life. In a different format from our normal lecture, philosophers Joe Vukov and Mike Murphy will dialogue as they consider the prospects for the future as the Church confronts challenges such as social media, cyberreality and artificial intelligence.
Business casual attire encouraged. For questions, or if you would like to request a comped ticket as a priest, religious, or high school teacher, please email Margaux (Killackey) Taffet at mtaffet@lumenchristi.org.

The Vocation of the Patristic Theologian
2026-05-23 16:30 - 18:30 | Lewis Towers, Loyola University of Chicago Water Tower Campus, 111 E Pearson St, Chicago, 60611, United States
This event is open to graduate students and faculty. For more information and to receive the registration link contact gzokal@lumenchristi.org
This forum invites graduate students and scholars to reflect on the vocation of the patristic theologian and its relationship to contemporary theological studies, the academy, and church today. A panel of senior faculty and early career scholars will speak on this topic in order to provide perspectives from those at every stage of their scholarly career. The discussion will be moderated by Fr. Matthew Dunch of Loyola University Chicago.
This reception and forum, following the annual meeting of the North American Patristics Society, is co-organized by the Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage at Loyola University of Chicago and The Lumen Christi Institute.

The Mystery of Christ from Chalcedon to Maximus
2026-06-14 - 2026-06-20 | Gavin House, 1220 E 58th St., Chicago, IL, 60637
Apply here
The Mystery of Christ from Chalcedon to Maximus
Please note that this Seminar will now take place at the University of Chicago!
This seminar will offer a contextual study of doctrine of the person of Jesus, beginning with the council of Chalcedon and culminating in Maximus the Confessor. This period is determinative for Christian thought on Christ for subsequent centuries and maps a complex interrelation between philosophy, politics, scriptural exegesis, and the accrued weight of prior Christian tradition. Students will be exposed to a wide range of texts and equipped to teach them effectively in the classroom.
Lewis Ayres, Angelicum University/Durham University
Paul Blowers, Milligan University
Fr. Andrew Summerson, Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies
Co-presented with the Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies at the University of St. Michael’s College.

There are no tuition costs for the seminar and all course materials are provided. Lodging and most meals will be provided. Students will be responsible for some meals on their own.
After completion of the seminar, participants will receive a travel reimbursement of up to $350 to offset travel expenses.
Participants will arrive on Sunday, June 14 and depart on Saturday, June 20.
Fifteen applicants will be admitted to the seminar.

Working knowledge of relevant ancient languages will be helpful, but not essential. Preference will be given to Ph.D. students in theology, philosophy, classics, and other relevant fields of study. Advanced M.A. students will also be considered.
There will be two sessions each day in the morning and in the afternoon. Each session will include lectures and seminar-style discussions. Students will be expected to prepare the readings carefully and participate in the discussions of the material.
The application deadline is February 2, 2026.
Contact us with any questions at seminars@lumenchristi.org.

Glimpses of Wonder: Epiphanies of Beauty in the Midst of Technological Change
2026-06-14 - 2026-06-20 | Duke University, Chapel Drive Durham , NC 27708, Durham, NC
Apply here
Glimpses of Wonder: Epiphanies of Beauty in the Midst of Technological Change
Cosponsored by the Society of Catholic Scientists.
Eugene Wigner, a winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1963, was not only a celebrated scientist but also defended the “unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics” in aesthetic terms. The beauty of the natural realm and the capacity of mathematical reason not only to measure the world but to see beyond its own finitude and look for a whole in the midst of parts is both mysterious and ubiquitous. In times of technological change, those parts move at an accelerated pace. True human flourishing is not necessarily about slowing down or accelerating the advance of progress as finding a new measure that allows one to see epiphanies of beauty and learn from them about oneself, the world, and the creator of the beauty of the world.
The point of this seminar will be to compare ancient visions of the wonder and beauty of creation, above all in the Augustinian and Franciscan intellectual tradition, with the challenges of technological revolutions, medieval and modern. The idea of the mechanical arts predates Newtonian mechanism and is already a theme in 13th century Paris, as can be found in distinct realms of technological advancement ranging from the motion of mechanical clocks to the engineering of the Gothic cathedral. The point is not to vindicate ancients, moderns, or contemporaries but to create a fruitful dialogue between ancient grammars of wonder and the intellectual, moral, spiritual, and everyday challenges that arise in the midst of rapid and accelerating technological change.
In order to give a foretaste for the summer seminar, Lumen Christi will offer a virtual masterclass on related themes, to be held on January 23, 2026 for graduate students from any university or discipline. The program is entitled “Glimpses of Wonder: Faith, Reason, and Technology in the University Today” and will be led by the seminar organizers, Peter Casarella and Sr. Damien Marie Savino. Click here for more information and registration.
Instructor: Sr. Damien Marie Savino, FSE, Ph.D., University of Notre Dame,
author of Learning the Language of Creation: Catholic Social Teaching and Integral Ecology, forthcoming in the spring of 2026 with Liturgical Press.
Other presenters from Duke:
Peter Casarella,
author of The Song of Creation: Saint Bonaventure’s Franciscan Pilgrimage into God, forthcoming, Word on Fire Academic.
Matthew Whelan, author of Christianity and Agroecology, Cambridge UP, 2025.
Norman Wirzba, author of Love’s Braided Dance, Yale UP, 2024.
Reinhard Huetter, Duke Divinity School and International Theological Commission
Kevin Hart, author of Lands of Likeness: For a Poetics of Contemplation. Chicago, 2023.
LOCATION AND FORMAT:
The seminar will take place at Duke University in Durham, NC. Admitted students will be required to arrange their own travel to and from the seminar.
Admitted students will be granted a stipend of $350 to offset travel costs in addition to having their lodging and meals covered for the duration of the seminar.
Participants will arrive in Durham, NC on Sunday, June 14 and depart on Saturday, June 20. The seminar will take place from Monday to Friday, with a lecture and discussion session each morning and afternoon.
Participants will be required to read the assigned materials in preparation for the seminar.
In order to receive the $350 stipend, students must participate fully in all seminar activities and complete a survey at the end of the seminar.
Open to graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in STEM fields, medicine, the history of science, philosophy, theology, and relevant fields.
Applicants must submit an online application, including details on their course of study, a statement of interest, and a letter of recommendation.
15 applicants will be admitted to the seminar.
This project is made possible through the generous support of our donors.
The Application Deadline is February 2, 2026.
Contact us with any questions at seminars@lumenchristi.org.

Catholic Social Thought in Business Education
2026-06-16 - 2026-06-19 | Catholic University of America, 620 Michigan Ave NE, Washington, DC 20064, Washington, DC
Apply here
We are pleased to announce the sixth annual seminar on “Business and Catholic Social Thought: A Primer.” During the seminar, graduate students and faculty members in business schools will cover foundational principles in Catholic social thought and apply them to their own field of research and teaching. This seminar aims at widening epistemological preconceptions and showing practical implications of Catholic social thought for business in a way that affirms the goodness of business directed toward the common good. Participants will delve into social encyclicals, secondary sources, and relevant business texts that show the path for principled entrepreneurship in order to gain knowledge, exchange experiences, receive help with their syllabi and consider how best to integrate Catholic social thought into business education.
The seminar is co-sponsored by the Terrence J. Murphy Institute for Catholic Thought, Law, and Business, the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame; the Ciocca Center for Principled Entrepreneurship at the Catholic University of America; the Lumen Christi Institute; and the Markets, Culture and Ethics Research Centre at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome.

Location:
The seminar will take place at the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. between Tuesday June 16 (day of Arrival) and Friday June 19 (Departure after lunch).

A limited number of travel grants are available to all admitted applicants.

To apply for financial assistance, please complete and submit the attached request for funds to murphyinstit@stthomas.edu by April 27, 2026 – Click for the Attachment

There are no tuition/registration costs to attend the seminar. All participants will be provided with accommodations and meals.

Application Information

This seminar will be open to graduate students and faculty of any specialization in business schools.

Applicants will be required to submit a completed online application, including:

An updated CV/resume.
A brief statement of research interest related to Catholic social thought no longer than 750 words.
All application materials can be submitted via the online application interface. Fifteen participants will be admitted to this seminar.

Application materials are due March 2, 2026.

This seminar will be led by:

David Cloutier, University of Notre Dame

Msgr. Martin Schlag, University of St. Thomas
Nicholas Schmitz, The Catholic University of America

Andreas Widmer, The Catholic University of America

"Judgment in Rome: Art and Papal Teaching from John Paul II to Leo XIV."
2026-06-21 - 2026-06-25 | Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome, Piazza Santa Apollinare, 49, 00186 Roma, Italy, Rome, Italy
We are pleased to announce the inaugural summer seminar on Law in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, “Judgment in Rome: Art & Papal Teaching from John Paul II to Leo XIV.” During the seminar, participants will engage in seminar discussions on papal teachings (writings, speeches, etc.) from Pope St. John Paul II to Pope Leo XIV on the topics of law, justice, judgment, and related matters. Attendees will also encounter artistic works located throughout Rome that address the theme of judgment. Participants will be provided with a curated reader of papal teachings on seminar topics. One goal of the seminar is to equip participants to better incorporate Catholic teaching on judgment and jurisprudence into their teaching, scholarship, and service to the academic community and to the legal profession.
The seminar is co-organized by: The Center for The Constitution and the Catholic Intellectual Tradition at The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, the Eleanor H. McCullen Center for Law, Religion and Public Policy at Villanova University, the Center for the Study of Liberal Democracy at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, The Catholic Criminal Justice Reform Network at the Lumen Christi Institute, and Notre Dame Law School.
Location: The seminar sessions will take place in Rome, with seminars held at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross and the Augustinianum, and artistic site visits taking place across Rome.
Participants will arrive on Sunday, June 21 and depart on Thursday, June 25.

All participants will be provided with accommodations and most meals as well as travel stipends of $750

The seminar is by invitation only.

Elisabeth Lev – Duquesne University/University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum)
Scott Roniger – Loyola Marymount University
Fr. Petar Popović – Pontificial University of the Holy Cross
Ralf van Bühren – Pontificial University of the Holy Cross

The Thought of René Girard
2026-07-02 - 2026-07-08 | Gavin House, 1220 E 58th St., Chicago, IL, 60637
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The Thought of René Girard
For Undergraduate Students.
One of the most influential 20th century Catholic thinkers, René Girard transformed our understanding of culture, religion, and human behavior. His “mimetic theory” builds on the demystifying power of the Old and New Testaments to illuminate the religious history of mankind. Through an intensive reading of his more accessible works, in conjunction with the fiction of the greatest writers, this five-day seminar for undergraduate students will explore Girard’s key insights into imitation, conflict, and scapegoating, connecting them to central themes of Christian theology.

Location and Format:
This seminar will be held at Gavin House in Chicago, Illinois.
Participants will arrive on Thursday, July 2 and depart on Wednesday, July 8.
The seminar will comprise of two 2.5-hour sessions each day (with only afternoon sessions on Sunday). Each session will have a seminar-style discussion of the text and the issues at hand. Students will be expected to prepare the readings carefully, submit study questions in advance, and participate actively in each session. The seminar will also include optional excursions within Chicago.
Admitted students will be granted a stipend of $350 to offset travel costs in addition to having their lodging and meals covered for the duration of the seminar.
Application Information:
This seminar is open to all undergraduate students (including 2026 graduates) interested in understanding the thought of one of the great modern Christian apologists. Applicants must be 18 by the time of the seminar.
Applicants will be required to submit an online application form including:
A list of completed coursework.
At least one and as many as two letter(s) of recommendation from a professor at the school in which the student is currently enrolled.
A statement of interest no longer than 750 words, which includes an explanation of how this seminar might bear on the student’s current intellectual interests.
All application materials can be submitted via the online application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Fifteen applicants will be admitted to this seminar.
Application Deadline is February 2, 2026.

The Thought of John Henry Newman
2026-07-19 - 2026-07-25 | The National Institute of Newman Studies, 211 N. Dithridge St., Pittsburgh, PA, PA 15213, United States
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National Institute of Newman Studies, Pittsburgh, PA
Fr. Stephen Fields, SJ, Georgetown University
Staff of the National Institute for Newman Studies
Now in its twelfth year, this intensive seminar will examine the achievements of Saint John Henry Newman as a theologian, philosopher, educator, preacher, and writer. Remarkably, in each of these areas Newman produced works that have come to be recognized as classics: An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, The Grammar of Assent, The Idea of a University, and the Apologia Pro Vita Sua. This seminar will approach Newman’s thought through a critical engagement with these texts.
Students will also be introduced to the work and digital Humanities’s tools of the National Institute for Newman Studies.
This seminar is cosponsored by the National Institute of Newman Studies (NINS).
LOCATION AND FORMAT:
The seminar will be held at the National Institute of Newman Studies in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
There are no tuition costs for the seminar and all course materials are provided. Lodging and most meals will be provided.
After completion of the seminar, participants will receive a travel reimbursement of up to $350 to offset travel expenses.
Participants will arrive on Sunday, July 19 and depart on Saturday, July 25.
Participants will be required to read the assigned texts in preparation for the seminar.
Fifteen applicants will be admitted to the seminar.
In order to give a foretaste for the summer seminar, Lumen Christi will offer a virtual masterclass on related themes, to be held on January 23, 2026 for graduate students from any university or discipline. The program is entitled “Glimpses of Wonder: Faith, Reason, and Technology in the University Today” and will be led by the seminar organizers, Peter Casarella and Sr. Damien Marie Savino. Click here for more information and registration.
QUALIFICATIONS AND APPLICATION:
This seminar is open to Ph.D. students in theology, philosophy, classics, and other relevant fields of study.

A completed online application form. An updated CV.
At least one and no more than two letter(s) of recommendation.
A statement of research interest no longer than 750 words, which includes an explanation of how this seminar might bear on the student’s current or future research plans.
One academic writing sample (30 pages maximum).
All application materials can be submitted via the online application.

THE APPLICATION DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 2, 2026.
Contact us with any questions at seminars@lumenchristi.org.

Economics and Catholic Social Thought: A Primer
2026-08-02 - 2026-08-05 | University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN 46556, Notre Dame, IN
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Now in its ninth year, this seminar is designed as an introduction and immersion into Catholic social thought for graduate students and (junior) faculty in economics, finance, or related fields. Participants will cover foundational principles in Catholic social thought, starting with the human person, dignity, freedom, subsidiarity, solidarity, and the common good, and moving toward applications of these principles to conceptual understandings and ethical considerations involving economic topics such as utility theory, firm and business ethics, wages, markets, globalization, poverty, and development. Participants will delve into social encyclicals, secondary sources, and relevant economics texts.
This seminar is sponsored by the Lumen Christi Institute; the Catholic Research Economists Discussion Organization; the De Nicola Center for Ethics and Culture; the Kellogg Institute for International Studies; and the the Institute for the Scholarship in the Liberal Arts, College of Arts and Letters, University of Notre Dame.
Format: There will be two sessions each day, featuring a different instructor. Each instructor will open with a lecture, and then we will turn to a seminar-style discussion of the texts and issues at hand. In the final sessions, we will discuss how the material can be applied to each student’s particular area of interest.
Location: The seminar will take place at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend.
Participants will arrive on August 2 and will depart on August 5.
There are no registration or tuition costs to the seminar.

All participants will be provided with accommodations and meals.
Partial travel reimbursement funds are available as awarded to offset travel costs.

Application Information: This seminar will be open to PhD students and faculty in economics, finance and related fields.
Applicants will be required to submit a completed online application form, including:
An updated CV.
A brief statement interest no longer than 750 words.
All application materials can be submitted via the online application.
Fifteen students will be admitted to this seminar.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the seminar is filled. For fullest consideration, apply by April 6, 2026
Please direct any further questions to seminars@lumenchristi.org

Catholic Social Thought: A Critical Investigation
2026-08-02 - 2026-08-08 | Gavin House, 1220 E 58th St., Chicago, IL, 60637
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“The Lumen Christi Institute will host its second week-long seminar for recent PhDs interested in the Catholic intellectual tradition. In this seminar, participants will read, analyze, and discern continuities and discontinuities in Catholic social thought from the late 19th century to the present. Lectures, seminar reports, and discussion will focus on original sources (encyclicals and other magisterial documents), beginning with Rerum novarum (1892) and concluding with Caritas in veritate (2009) and Evangelii Gaudium (2013). This intensive course is multi-disciplinary, since this tradition of social thought overlaps several disciplines in the contemporary university including political science, political philosophy, law, economics, theology, and history. The seminar is an opportunity to meet 12 to 15 promising scholars working in different academic fields, all with interests tied to Catholicism.
This seminar is our 2026 annual postdoctoral/early career scholar seminar.
There are no seminar fees and reading materials are provided. LCI will cover accommodations and most meals. Additionally, participants travel expenses will be reimbursed up to $500.
Applicants must have received the Ph.D. no earlier than January 2022. Ph.D. candidates will be considered and must complete the Ph.D. by seminar (July 1, 2026).
The seminar will begin with Vespers, followed by a welcome dinner on Sunday, August 2 and conclude the evening of Friday, August 8.”
This project is made possible through the support of In Lumine Tuo: Expanding and Sustaining the Catholic Intellectual Tradition Nationwide (grant #63614) from the John Templeton Foundation and the generous support of our donors.

"From Ancient Wisdom to Person-Centered Care": Historical, Philosophical, and Theological Foundations of Healthcare
2026-08-04 - 2026-08-08 | Anselm House (University of Minnesota), 720 Washington Avenue SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, United States
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Anselm House & Lumen Christi Institute present:
“From Ancient Wisdom to Person-Centered Care”: Historical, Philosophical, and Theological Foundations of Healthcare”
August 4-August 8, 2026
At a time when many learners in the health sciences feel stretched thin, morally conflicted, or uncertain about who they are becoming, we have created a space for the hungry and the weary to slow down, ask deeper questions about the professions they are entering, and deepen their moral and spiritual perspectives as they seek purpose in the healing arts.
From Ancient Wisdom to Person-Centered Care is a 4.5-day immersive experience for graduate-level health sciences learners—especially medical and nursing students—who want time and space to reflect on the deeper meaning of medicine, faith, and vocation amid the realities of modern healthcare.
During the first 2.5 days, participants will gather around shared meals, interactive lectures, seminar-style discussions, and unhurried conversations with faculty to explore foundational texts from the Judeo-Christian tradition and its philosophical partners. Readings range from ancient Greek and Hebrew sources through figures such as Galen, Hildegard of Bingen, and Maimonides. Together, we will wrestle with enduring questions that continue to shape clinical practice today: What does it mean to care for the whole person? What is the clinician–patient relationship really for? How do calling, character, and conscience matter in healthcare? These questions will be explored in conversation with ancient wisdom and carried forward into contemporary contexts.
As the seminar unfolds, learners will also be introduced to modern philosophical and theological accounts of personhood, attending carefully to how the promise and pressure of contemporary medicine—especially where efficiency, technology, and institutional demands collide with deeply held values—can be navigated with integrity and hope.
The experience culminates in a day-and-a-half symposium with the noted physician and philosopher Daniel P. Sulmasy. His work on spirituality in healthcare will enliven participants’ imaginations as they engage him in an intimate setting with one of the leading voices at the intersection of medicine, ethics, and faith.
Hosted at the University of Minnesota, the program also includes time to explore local art and culture, participate in worship at congregations or parishes of one’s choosing, and build community with peers who seek to become clinicians formed not only by competence, but by wisdom.
If you are a graduate-level health sciences student who has ever wondered:

What is medicine and healthcare ultimately for?
How can I live my faith and values with integrity in healthcare?
How do I navigate moral conflict, burnout, or disillusionment as a clinician in training?
Who am I becoming through this work—and who do I hope to be?

—this experience may be for you.
The seminar will be led by Professors Jon C. Tilburt, M.D. (Mayo Clinic), Evan Beacom (University of Minnesota Twin Cities) & Daniel Sulmasy (Georgetown University)
LOCATION AND FORMAT
This is a fully in-person experience; no virtual option is available. Attendance for the full program is required. Learners interested in attending only the final 1.5-day symposium may find more information at www.Anselmhouse.org.
The seminar will be held at Anselm House at the University of Minnesota between Tuesday August 4th and Saturday August 8th.
QUALIFICATIONS AND APPLICATION
The seminar is an opportunity to meet 15 promising scholars training in the medical fields at the graduate or resident level. There are no seminar fees and reading materials are provided. Accommodations and most meals will be provided. Additionally, participants will be reimbursed travel expenses up to $350.
Application Information:

Applicants will be required to submit a completed online application, including:

An updated CV/resume.
A brief statement of research interest related to seminar theme no longer than 750 words.
An academic letter of recommendation that speaks to the applicants academic qualifications and ability to participate in a collaborative learning seminar format.

All application materials can be submitted via the online application. Fifteen participants will be admitted to this seminar.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the seminar is filled. For fullest consideration, apply by April 6, 2026.

This seminar is made possible by Anselm House and the support of the Lumen Christi Institutes grant, In Lumine Tuo: Expanding and Sustaining the Catholic Intellectual Tradition Nationwide (grant #63614) from the John Templeton Foundation, and the generous support of donors.
Learners interested in attending only the final 1.5-day symposium may find more information at www.Anselmhouse.org.
Contact us with any questions at seminars@lumenchristi.org.
