Notre Dame can and must be a crossroads where all the vital intellectual currents of our time meet in dialogue, where the great issues of the Church and the world today are plumbed to their depths.
– Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C.
If Notre Dame is a crossroads, then this page aims to gather the dialogue that happens when thoughtful and faithful people meet on campus. Many of the contributions Notre Dame offers the Catholic intellectual tradition come in the form of presentations and publications delivered on campus by world-renowned experts in their fields. What follows is some of what they have had to say to the Church and the world.
The Place of Theology at a Catholic University
The 2014 Notre Dame Forum focused on the question, "What do Notre Dame graduates need to know?" This Forum event welcomed Catherine Cornille, chairwoman of Boston College's theology department, and Cyril O'Regan, Huisking professor of theology at Notre Dame, to discuss the role of theology in the life of a university.
Adoration of the Eucharist
The Notre Dame Center for Liturgy's first annual Liturgy Lecture welcomed Father John Baldovin speaking about the adoration of the Eucharist.
Prison Reform: Problematic Necessity
This 2014 Human Dignity lecture from the Institute of Church Life was offered by Martin F. Horn, distinguished lecturer in corrections at the John Jay College, City University of New York, and executive director of the New York State Sentencing Commission, by appointment of the Chief Judge of the State of New York.
The Immaculate Conception as a Sign of the Times
Sister Ann Astell, Notre Dame professor of Theology, speaks about the proclamation of the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception at the 2013 conference, "Mary on the Eve of the Second Vatican Council."
Saturdays with the Saints
This is an archive of the Saturdays with the Saints presentations offered by the Institute for Church Life on home football weekends. These lectures present the lives of saints and their relevance to us today.
Blessed Basil Moreau: Essential Writings
A panel discussion of the life and writings of Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., founder of the Congregation of t
Renewing our Zeal: Informing, Forming, and Transforming Catholic Higher Education”
A presentation by John Allen, senior correspondent for National Catholic Reporter and author of books about the Catholic Church and the Vatican, including a biography of the pope. This presentation was offered to a gathering of student affairs professionals from Catholic universities at the end of July 2012.
"Modern Questions, Ancient Answers: Defining and Defending Human Dignity in Our Time” - A presentation by Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York. His talk was offered to inaugurate the Human Dignity Project in the Institute for Church Life in 2011.
“St. Francis of Assisi: In His Own Words”
A presentation by Lawrence S. Cunningham, professor emeritus of theology. This talk was offered in October 2011 as part of the Saturday with the Saints series offered by the Institute for Church Life.
“Edith Stein and the Dark Night”
A presentation by Cyril O’Reagan, professor of theology at the University. This talk was offered in October 2011 as part of the Saturday with the Saints series offered by the Institute for Church Life.
"St. Teresa of Avila — First Woman Doctor of the Church"
A presentation by Keith J. Egan, professor of theology. This talk was offered in October 2011 as part of the Saturday with the Saints series offered by the Institute for Church Life.
"The New Evangelization and the New Media"
A presentation by Father Robert Barron, rector of Mundelein Seminary and acclaimed theologian, author, and speaker. This talk was offered as part of the Marten Program in Homiletics conference on Catholic preaching in June 2012.
“Preaching from and for the Liturgy”
A presentation by Father Michael Joncas, professor of theology at St. Thomas University and renowned liturgical musician. This talk was offered as part of the Marten Program in Homiletics conference on Catholic preaching in June 2012.
“The Challenges Ahead for Catholic Preaching in the 21st Century”
Archbishop Robert Carlson of St. Louis gave this presentation as part of the Marten Program in Homiletics conference on Catholic preaching in June 2012.
“Feasting at the Table of the Word: From Dei Verbum to Verbum Domini”
A presentation by Catherine Hilkert, O.P., professor of theology, given as part of the Marten Program in Homiletics conference on Catholic preaching in June 2012.
“Preaching with Children”
Ann M. Garrido teaches homiletics at the Aquinas Institute of Theology and gave this talk as part of the Marten Program in Homiletics conference on Catholic preaching in June 2012.
“African American Contributions to our American Catholic Preaching Challenge”
Father Maurice Nutt, C.Ss.R., is an acclaimed homilist and author. He gave this presentation as part of the Marten Program in Homiletics conference on Catholic preaching in June 2012.
Sr. Helen Prejean - Center for Social Concerns (download)
On Monday evening in front of an overflowing audience at the Center for Social Concerns, Sister Helen Prejean, C.S.J., recounted her experience of being awakened to fight for justice. She spoke of her work as a spiritual advisor to six men on Death Row and how walking with them to their executions has shaped her life’s work as a world-renown advocate against the death penalty.
Rev. David Hollenbach, S.J (download)
University Chair in Human Rights and International Justice Department of Theology, Boston College