Centre for Catholic Studies Franciscan Conference is taking place this week. There will be changes to Mass times and, on Thursday 14th March, the church will be in use for the conference all morning. Thank you for your patience.
Category Archives: CCS
Catholic Theology Research Seminar
Language, desire and creation in the context of Laudato Si’ by Prof Tina Beattie. Thursday 7th March, 5.00-6.30pm in Abbey House, Palace Green, Durham and online. Details and booking at https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/catholic-studies/about-us/events/ctrs—14-mar-2024—tina-beattie/
Catholic Theology Research Seminar
Dr Billy Crozier (Durham University) on The Quince Made Sweet: Love and Suffering in St Bonaventure’s Tree of Life. Thursday 7th December in Abbey House, Palace Green, Durham. Drinks from 5.00pm, seminar begins at 5.30. Also available online. Details and booking at on the Centre for Catholic Studies web page.
Catholic Theology Research Seminar
Cathleen Kaveny of Boston College, USA; East of Eden – A Case against Nostalgia. Thursday 9th November, 5.00-6.30pm, online. Details and booking at
Centre for Catholic Studies
Centre for Catholic Studies Book Launch: An online event to launch Neoliberal Religion by Durham’s Prof Mathew Guest. At the event, Prof John Barclay (Lightfoot Professor of Divinity, Durham University), Prof Linda Woodhead (King’s College, London) and Dr Tricia Bruce (University of Notre Dame) will be in conversation with the author. Monday 16th October at 5.30pm, via Zoom. Register at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/neoliberal-religion-ccs-book-launch-series-tickets-719627454087
Bishop Stephen
Bishop Stephen will be visiting the Centre for Catholic Studies on Thursday 28th September. As part of his visit, the Bishop will celebrate Mass at St Cuthbert’s, which will be at 12.30pm on that day. Bishop Stephen will make an official visit to St Cuthbert’s and the University Chaplaincy on Sunday 4th February.
Popery, Politics and Prayer
The 4th Early Modern British & Irish Catholicism conference, organised by Durham’s Centre for Catholic Studies. Tuesday 11-Thursday 13 July, at Durham. Details and booking at https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/catholic-studies/about-us/events/embic-iv/
Centre for Catholic Studies
CCS Scholarships
In partnership with the Institute of Our Lady of Mercy and an anonymous donor, the Centre for Catholic Studies is offering scholarships towards tuition fees to full-time or part-time MA and PhD candidates in Catholic theology and Catholic studies. Full details of the CCS scholarship funds available for 2023/24, including eligibility criteria and an application form, are available at https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/catholic-studies/facilities/funding-/
The closing date for applications is Sunday 28 May. Applications are open to current DU students and new candidates.
Ushaw Lecture
The Forgotten Women of the Catholic Literary Revival by Dr Bonnie Lander Johnson (Cambridge University). The lecture is at Ushaw on Tuesday 9th May and starts at 6.00pm, with drinks reception from 5.30pm.
Details and booking at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-forgotten-women-of-the-catholic-literary-revival-registration-595908346907
Catholic Theology Research Seminar
Gareth Rowe (Durham University/CAFOD): Climate, Covid and conflict: can Catholic social teaching show us the way through the storm? Thursday 27th April at 5.00pm, at St Cuthbert’s. The seminar will be followed by a Drinks Reception. Places are limited – book your place book your place through the Centre for Catholic Studies web page.
St. Cuthbert’s Lecture
If you missed the lecture by Rik Van Nieuwenhove (Professor of Medieval Theology at Durham University’s Centre for Catholic Studies) on “The Beauty and Significance of Jan van Ruusbroec’s mystical theology of the Trinity”, you can still watch it on YouTube. The Blessed Jan van Ruusbroec (1293-1381) was a spiritual author of the Low Countries who developed an attractive and highly original spirituality, which influenced Spanish, French, English and German spirituality in the early-modern period. Ruusbroec describes the mystery of the Trinity as “an ebbing, flowing sea”, forever drawing us in into itself through a life of interiority and sending us out into the world through a life of charitable activity.
St Cuthbert’s Lecture
On Thursday 9th March at 7.00pm Rik Van Nieuwenhove, Professor of Medieval Theology at Durham University’s Centre for Catholic Studies, will give a lecture on “The Beauty and Significance of Jan van Ruusbroec’s mystical theology of the Trinity.” The Blessed Jan van Ruusbroec (1293-1381) was a spiritual author of the Low Countries who developed an attractive and highly original spirituality, which influenced Spanish, French, English and German spirituality in the early-modern period. Ruusbroec describes the mystery of the Trinity as “an ebbing, flowing sea”, forever drawing us in into itself through a life of interiority and sending us out into the world through a life of charitable activity. The public lecture will outline Ruusbroec’s thought and how it is relevant to this day.
The lecture will also be available on our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/live/bV58Cm8Ay0M?feature=share
Ushaw Lecture
Centre for Catholic Studies
Tuesday 24 January – CCS Book Launch, 5.30pm GMT, online. An online celebration of the publication of: Receptive Ecumenism as Transformative Ecclesial Learning: Walking the Way to a Church Re-formed, edited by Paul D. Murray, Gregory Ryan, and Paul Lakeland. Paul and Greg will be joined by Linda Hogan (Trinity College Dublin) and Gabrielle Thomas (Candler School of Theology) to discuss the work.
Ushaw Lecture
Iconoclasm at Christmas: Catholic Visual Culture in the Heart of Europe, c. 1600 by Dr Suzanna Ivanič, FRHistS (University of Kent.) Tuesday 6th December, 5.30pm drinks for 6pm lecture. Attendance is free of charge and all are welcome. If you wish to attend, please register at https://centreforcatholicstudies.eventbrite.com Transport is available from Durham city centre – see website for details.
Job Opportunity
The Centre for Catholic Studies (CCS) at Durham University are currently advertising for a 0.6FTE Administrator to work with a focus on events and communications. Details and application at https://durham.taleo.net/careersection/du_ext/jobdetail.ftl?job=22001983&tz=GMT%2B00%3A00&tzname=Europe%2FLondon Closing date: Tuesday 13th December.
Ushaw Lecture
Forgetting to Remember: Catholics and Britain’s Armed Forces, c.1900–2020 by Prof Michael Snape, Durham University. Thursday 17th November; drinks reception from 5.30pm, lecture at 6.00pm. Transport available from Durham city centre. Book online at https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/catholic-studies/about-us/events/ushaw-lecture—17-nov-2022/
Catholic Theology Research Seminar
Opposing the “Heresy of Individualism”; Thomas Merton and Interreligious Dialogue by Prof Gregory Hillis (Bellarmine University.) Thursday 10th November at 5.00pm, online. Details and registration at https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/catholic-studies/about-us/events/ctrs—10-nov-2022/
Ushaw Lecture
Enlightenment in the English Cloister? The Canonesses of the Holy Sepulchre in Exile and at Home, c.1750–c.1815 by Dr Cormac Begadon (Durham University.) Tuesday 18th October; drinks from 5.30pm, lecture 6.00-7.15pm. Transport available from Durham city centre. Registration at https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/catholic-studies/about-us/events/ushaw-lecture—18-oct-2022/