Conference on The Royal Priesthood at St Mary's University, Twickenham
St Mary's University in Twickenham will host a conference between 20th and 22nd June 2024, focussing on the theme of the Royal Priesthood and the Renewal of the Church,
The Royal Priesthood is a rich scriptural theme that draws together God's work of creating and saving humanity in Christ. It implies our divine filiation, the life of grace, the metaphysics of participation, the indwelling trinity, the church and the sacraments, the theology of nature and grace, and many other central Catholic doctrines. It has great potential to aid the renewal already well underway in contemporary Catholic theology, and, more concretely, to direct this renewal towards an awakening and revival of the church in our times.
This theme of the Royal Priesthood was an important aspect of Catholic theology from the mid-nineteenth century onwards and featured prominently in the Second Vatican Council. As part of the ongoing reception of the council, and in service to the contemporary church, the School of Theology at St Mary’s University, London, and The Aquinas Center for Theological Renewal at Ave Maria University, Florida, are delighted to work together to sponsor and organise a conference dedicated to this topic.
Programme
The three-day programme will include keynote speakers Professor John Bergsma (Franciscan University, Steubenville), Professor Matthew Levering (Mundelein Seminary, University of St Mary of the Lake) and Professor Lawrence Feingold (Kenrick-Glennon Seminary). Other speakers include Fr Michael Lang CO, Michael Dauphinais, Roger Nutt, Isaac Morales OP, Mark Miravalle. The conference will include papers from postgraduate and early career researchers at an afternoon panel session on the first day.
Daily Mass will take place in the Chapel. Bishop Erik Varden will be the main celebrant and homilist at the opening Mass.
