Trinity Term 2011

Discussion group on John Paul II’s challenge of the New Evangelisation

In many of his addresses and writings the now Blessed John Paul II spoke about the need for a ‘New Evangelisation’ of the world, and in particular of the Western countries. He saw this as an essential task for third millennium and often spoke about it in his meetings with young people. To mark his recent beatification there will be at meeting at Grandpont to discuss how we can take up the challenge in the light of the writings of John Paul II.

Each participant will read beforehand a short text from John Paul II on the subject, and give a brief presentation to the others. The ensuing discussion will focus how we can overcome the obstacles in the task, and consider how to present the faith to our friends and colleagues.

The session will take place at Grandpont House on Tuesday 21st June (Tuesday 8th week) from 5:15 (for 5:30) to 6:45.

The texts will be selected from the following works of John Paul II:

• Crossing the threshold of hope

• Encyclical Novo Millennio ineunte

• Apostolic letter to Youth, 1985

• Post-synodal apostolic exhortation Ecclesia in Europa

• Message for 20th World Youth Day, 2005

As a preparation for this session we will be watching the first half of the film Karol II (a film on the papacy of John Paul II) on Saturday 18th June (Saturday 7th week).

Hilary Term 2011

Discussion group on The Light of the World

Monday 31 January 2011 (Week 3)

The abuse scandal

chair: Chris Serpell (Pembroke)

Monday 7 February 2011 (Week 4)

Global catastrophe – on environment, development and debt

chair: Thomas Nailor (Blackfriars)

Monday 14 February 2011 (Week 5)

Dictatorship of relativism – on relativism, secularism and neo-paganism

chair: Francis Murphy (Magdalen)

Monday 21 February 2011 (Week 6)

Ecumenism and dialogue with Islam

chair: James Blythe (Brasenose)

The purpose of these sessions on chapters from Benedict XVI’s book is not so much to have a philosophical or theological discussion, but rather to explore how to use the explanations given to explain these issues to our friends and colleagues. In a nutshell, to discuss how to answer the questions people ask us regarding the Church.

More details from dancho.azagra@gmail.com

Michaelmas Term 2010

Benedict XVI: Reason and Faith reading group

Weeks 2 to 7

Convener: Rev. Dr James Pereiro, historian and chaplain of Grandpont House.

Reading material will be circulated beforehand.

Benedict XVI tries to restore confidence in the power of reason to answer the fundamental questions about truth, man’s dignity and his destiny, confronting the reductive scientific rationalism that deems true only what can be proved by experiment.

This reading group will concentrate its attention on the great speeches of Benedict XVI, from Regensburg to Westminster, exploring the interplay between Reason and Faith.

More details from pshrimpton@grandpont-house.org

Trinity Term and Long Vacation 2010

Seminars on John Henry Newman

The writings of the Venerable John Henry Newman (1801–1890) span a range of disciplines and together with his sermons and letters fill over seventy volumes. Countless books and articles have been published about him. This means that the specialist is well catered for, but that the ordinary person who knows little about Newman is left bewildered about where to start.

In anticipation of his beatification in September 2010, three seminars will take place at Grandpont House with a view to exploring different aspects of Newman’s life and teaching. They are not primarily intended for the specialist, but aim to make Newman more accessible to a general public.

Each seminar will comprise two talks, separated by a coffee break, the first more theoretical, the second more practical, anecdotic or historical. Some supplementary reading material will be provided during the morning, and those interested in following up the topic will be able to find further reading from this website.

Programme: 10 am First talk

11 am Coffee break

11.20 Second talk, followed by discussion and questions

Saturday 22 May

Newman and the laity

Newman’s idea of the laity Mgr Richard Stork

Newman’s pioneering thinking on the role of the laity in the Church meant that he developed a ‘theology of the laity’ long before Vatican II. His sermon on the priestly, prophetic and kingly roles of laity is one example of how he brought out the role of the lay person.

Newman and the formation of the laity Dr Paul Shrimpton

How Newman lived out his ideas in his dealings with lay people can be seen in his foundation of the Catholic University in 1854 and the Oratory School in 1859, as well as in his advice to individuals

Saturday 19 June

Newman and human flourishing

‘Lead kindly light’: reason and faith Rev. Dr James Pereiro

Newman’s ideas of the perfectibility of human nature were accompanied by a concept of ethos, indebted in good measure to Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, which influenced his vision of the relationship between reason and faith.

Newman’s pastoral idea of a university Dr Paul Shrimpton

The idea of human flourishing underpins Newman’s conception of education, influencing his idea of the university in which the true object is not instruction in a particular subject, but the development of a mature human individual.

Saturday 17 July

Newman and conscience

Newman’s teaching on conscience Rev. Dr Peter Bristow

One of Newman’s main contributions to religious thought is his insights into the workings and role of conscience, a theme which recurs throughout his writings and letters. He famously invoked the primacy of conscience in his Letter to the Duke of Norfolk.

Communicating Newman in the media Mr Jack Valero

Newman’s writings on conscience have ramifications for the ordinary Christian living in the world, and especially those in public life, as can be seen from the way they influenced such people as the young Joseph Ratzinger, as well as Sophie Scholl and other members of the White Rose student movement opposing Nazism in Germany.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

“Of one thing we may be sure, that the memory of this pure and noble life, untouched by worldliness, will endure and that whether Rome canonizes him or not he will be canonized in the thoughts of pious people of many creeds in England. The saint in him will survive.”

(Obituary in The Times, 12 August 1890)

“Newman belongs to the greatest teachers of the Church, because he both touches our hearts and enlightens our thinking.”

(Cardinal Ratzinger, Newman symposium, 1990)

John Henry Newman, one of Oxford University’s most famous alumni, entered Trinity College as an undergraduate in 1817, and became a Fellow and Tutor of Oriel College. Ordained as an Anglican clergyman in 1825, he became Vicar of St Mary’s, the University Church, and there delivered the sermons that made a deep impression on the rising generation in the University.

In the 1830s he became one of the leaders of the Oxford Movement and arguably its leading apologist. (Also known as ‘Tractarians’ after their Tracts for the Times, the Movement sought to reform the Established Church and defend it against liberalism.) Newman moved to the parish of Littlemore in 1842, and after resigning his Oriel fellowship was received into the Catholic Church in 1845. He left Oxford in 1846, returning on only two occasions: in 1878, when he was made the first honorary Fellow of Trinity; and in 1880 as a cardinal.

About the speakers:

Fr Peter Bristow was chaplain of Grandpont from 1975 to 1978. Now living in Manchester, he lectures at Maryvale Institute and has served for ten years as chaplain to a London branch of the Guild of Catholic Doctors. He has published The moral dignity of man (2004) and Christian ethics and the human person (2009), as well as various articles in journals and websites (including one on ‘Newman and true Ecumenism’ for Christendom Awake).

Mr Jack Valero is a former resident of Grandpont House. In 2006 he helped coordinate, with Austen Ivereigh, the Da Vinci Code Response Group. He was recently appointed Press Officer by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales for the Beatification of John Henry Newman in the run-up to and during the Pope’s visit to Britain. He is also acting as one of the three coordinators of Catholic Voices.

Fr James Pereiro is chaplain of Grandpont House and a member of the History Faculty, Oxford University. Besides academic articles on history and theology, he has published Cardinal Manning: an intellectual biography (1998) and ‘Ethos’ and the Oxford Movement (2008).

Dr Paul Shrimpton has taught at Magdalen College School, Oxford for twenty-four years. He has published A Catholic Eton? Newman’s Oratory School (2005) and is currently working on a book on Newman’s pastoral idea of a university education.

Monsignor Richard Stork was Regional Vicar of Opus Dei in Britain for fourteen years. He has completed a doctorate on Newman and the laity, and has written many articles and book reviews in theology, philosophy and history.