Click here for tickets

Click here for tickets

‘Models of Priestly Formation. Assessing the Past, Reflecting on the Present, and Imagining the Future’ organised by the Faculty of Theology involving an international list of speakers.

For Photo Gallery Click Here

Rationale: The purpose of the conference will be:

• to reflect on the issue of priestly formation since Vatican II
• to assess the current situation
• to look at best practice from elsewhere
• to imagine new models of priestly formation into the future.

Priestly formation is a universal and international need in the Church. The promulgation of the new Ratio fundamentalis (2016) provides a road “roadmap” for this formation. The conference will reflect on existing models of priestly formation in dialogue with key ecclesial documents including Pastores Dabo Vobis and the new Ratio fundamentalis. The conference coincides with the twenty-fifth anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Pastores dabo vobis (1992).

Themes covered:

• the qualities required of those entering formation,
• models of priesthood,
• formation for collaborative ministry
• training in safeguarding

In 2017 commemorated the 500th anniversary of that key date in European history which marks the beginning of a long period of Reformations which divided western Christianity along confessional lines. The figure of Martin Luther is, of course, central to this story both in its historical unfolding and its later legacy. Commemorating that significant anniversary in 2017, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, is hosted a major international conference on “Martin Luther and Catholic Theology. Remembering the Reformation: What have we learned? What have we yet to learn?”

Click here for brochure.

Photo of Participants.

The intention was not only to look at the theological legacy of Martin Luther and its contemporary relevance, but, more specifically, to examine the reception (or otherwise) of Luther within the Catholic tradition and among Catholic theologians. The aim of the conference is to continue the journey beyond mutual polemic and caricature towards a more nuanced picture of Luther and Catholic theology. Indeed Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has shown how Catholics can have a sympathetic reading of Luther while not denying our theological differences. For him, the important thing to keep in mind is our common ground as Christians. We are honoured to welcome a very distinguished gathering of scholars of international standing to Maynooth to reflect on the theme of Martin Luther and Catholic Theology, both in his own day and in more recent Lutheran-Catholic dialogue

This was a three-day multi-lingual International Conference of Theologians exploring areas surrounding the theme of the Eucharistic Congress: Communion with Christ and One Another and attracted nearly four hundred participants. In addition to large keynote addresses by some of the world’s leading theologians, there were also smaller parallel sessions and workshops, including an Emerging Scholars session. Simultaneous translation was provided for the keynote addresses. The Symposium had a strong ecumenical flavour, with contributions from the main Christian denominations. The proceedings of the Symposium are in press and will be published in the next few weeks.

Conference in honour of Martin McNamara MSC. Invited speakers included Philip Alexander FBA, Professor of Post-Biblical Jewish literature, University of Manchester, Robert Gordon FBA, Professor of Hebrew, University of Cambridge and Dr Jonathan Kearney, Occasional Lecturer in Jewish and Islamic Studies, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth

Examining the parallel lives and thought of John Calvin and Ignatius of Loyola (co-hosted by Msgr. Hugh Connolly, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth and Very Rev. Dr Trevor Morrow, former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland). The conference proceedings were subsequently edited by Rev. Brendan McConvery and published by Veritas.

Examining Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical from the perspective of Theology, Economics and Development. Speakers included Prof. Rowena Pecchinino, Professor of Economics, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Dr Padraig Corkery, SPCM Dr Michael Shortall, SPCM and Mr Justice Kilcullen, Trócaire.

Speakers included Prof. Richard Kearney (Boston College); Prof. Grace Davie (Exeter); Prof. Patricia Casey (University College Dublin); Prof. Michael Conway (Maynooth).

Speakers included Prof Ben Quash (Kings College, London); Patrick Hederman OSB (Abbot, Glenstal); Selina Cartmell (Theatre Director); John F. Deane (Poet); Padraig Daly (Poet); Prof. Michael Conway (Maynooth).

Speakers included Prof. Miroslav Volf (Yale); Dr Martin Mansergh, Minister of State at the Department of Finance and Junior Minister for the Arts; Bishop Donal Limerick (Limerick); Pastor Anthony Joseph (Senior Pastor and President of Hope and Glory Ministries); Prof. Michael Conway (Maynooth).