The Center for Catholic Studies

Newman's Idea of a University Today  

John Henry NewmannOn Wednesday, January 29, the Department of Religion and the Center for Catholic Studies hosted "Newman's Idea of a University Today."

Attendees heard from lecturer Msgr. Richard M. Liddy, Ph.D., from Seton Hall University, as well as a response from Professor C. Michael Shea, Ph.D..

Monsignor Richard M. Liddy, Ph.D., is the University Professor of Catholic Thought and Culture, and the Director of the Center for Catholic Studies at Seton Hall University.

In October, Pope Francis canonized John Henry Newman as a "Saint" of the Catholic Church. He was also, according to James Joyce, the best writer of prose in the English language (Ellman, 1959). His classic, The Idea of a University, has been called "the most influential book ever written in the English language about universities" (George Fallis, 2007).

This presentation focused on Newman's Idea of a University as involving learning communities aimed at the transformation of ourselves and the world. In that light it raised the question of the mission of the specifically Catholic University.

Categories: Faith and Service