2018 - 2019
Building Bridges Over Walls
The Veritas Series for Faith and Culture endeavors to foster learning and dialogue by gathering our community together, as we seek to live lives of faith and justice.
The word veritas comes from the Latin word meaning truth. It is taken directly from the College motto: “Christus est Via, Veritas et Vita” (Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life). The pursuit of truth is at the centre of our mission.
In his Apostolic Constitution of 1990, Saint John Paul wrote, “A Catholic University, as any university, is immersed in human society... Imbued among its research activities, therefore, will be a study of serious contemporary problems in areas such as the dignity of human life, the promotion of justice for all, the quality of personal and family life, the protection of nature, the search for peace and political stability, a more just sharing in the world’s resources, and a new economic and political order that will better serve the human community at a national and international level. (32)”
This year’s series entitled, “Building Bridges Over Walls” challenges us to find new way of overcoming obstacles in living out the gospel, of bringing about healing in Christ’s Body and to foster the Church’s witness in the wider community.
Artists, activists, scientists and theologians will lead us in conversations that will both challenge us and point us towards a hopeful future.
Free parking and admission
Wheelchair accessible
7:30 p.m.
Joanne & Peter Kenny Theatre
Darryl J. King Student Life Centre
266 Epworth Avenue, London ON
"Path in Red" by Tracy Root
Nomad: The Soul of The People of Canada’s Arctic
Dr. Susan Aglukark
September 20, 2018
Through songs and stories, Susan will take you on the journey of the Canadian Inuit over the last 1000 years and shed some light on the psychological and cultural impact of that rapid change.
Liturgy and the Universality of the Church
Dr. Timothy P. O’Malley
October 18, 2018
Co-sponsored by the London District Catholic School Board
The Church must think about liturgical inclusion not simply as a series of tactics to increase liturgical participation. Instead, it must relate to the Church’s very mission to transform the entire world in Eucharistic love.
LITURGY AND INCLUSION: A Workshop for Educators and Diocesan Ministers
Dr. Tim O’Malley, Notre Dame Center for Liturgy
Friday, October 19, 2018 – 9:30-3:00 – King’s University
This workshop introduces Catholic educators to the Liturgy of the Hours as a tool for teaching about the inclusive imperative of the liturgy of the Church. Teachers, chaplains, administrators, as well as pastoral ministers, coordinators of youth ministry, deacons, priests and other interested parties are welcome.
There is no fee for this workshop which is sponsored by the Diocese of London Liturgy Office, The University of Notre Dame Center for Liturgy, and the Veritas Series for Faith and Culture at Kings University College. Lunch will be provided. REGISTRATION REQUIRED for planning purposes.
Registration online at: https://veritas-workshop.eventbrite.ca
Annual Christ the King Lecture
Who is My Brother, and Sister and Mother?
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
The church community is not immune from the polarizing influence of politically populist, nationalist, and nativist language. Rooted in the primacy of human dignity, this talk will explore the Gospel imperative for inclusion of those marginalized because of sexual identity, immigration policies, political unrest, marital status, and religious affiliation. Is Pope Francis opening new paths for Catholic Christians and others?
was appointed as the Archbishop of Newark and created a Cardinal in 2016. He graduated from Mount Saint Alphonsus Seminary with an M.A., Religious Education and an M.A., Divinity (1977-79). Among other responsibilities, Cardinal Tobin serves as the Archbishop Secretary for the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. He also sits on the USCCB Administrative Committee, Catholic Education Committee, National Collections Committee, the Sub Committee on the Church in Africa, and the Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations. He is a member of the Joint International Commission for International Dialogue between the Catholic and Orthodox and Co-Chair, North American Catholic-Orthodox Theological Consultation
Conversations over the Fence: Creative Initiatives in Ecumenical and Inter-faith Relations
Archbishop Donald Bolen
January 17, 2019
Co-sponsored by Commission for Christian Unity, Religious Relations with the Jews, and Interfaith Dialogue of the Diocese of London
Since the Second Vatican Council, we can say with confidence that dialogue is constitutive of the Church’s life in the world. Dialogue and relationship building takes many shapes, and some of those creative efforts, including receptive ecumenism, scriptural reasoning, dialogue with Indigenous spiritual traditions, and interfaith conversations in the sphere of culture.
Encounter as Bridging and Crossing
Sr. Teresa Maya, CCVI
February 7, 2019
Co-sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada
The Culture of Encounter is a multi-dimensional call. We are challenged to build bridges across all that divides humanity, but we are also encouraged to cross the bridges others have built. What are the competencies today’s Christians need to embrace in order to build and cross bridges?
Rediscovering Our Lost Family: Highlights and Lowlights in Contemporary Jewish-Catholic-Muslim Dialogue
Dr. Murray Watson
February 28, 2019
Co-sponsored by Center for Jewish, Catholic, Muslim Learning
Although Catholicism has a very long history of interacting with both Judaism and Islam, much of that history has been negative, tense and confrontational. This talk will provide a glimpse into some of the many good news stories and some of
the struggles that challenge us to come to know each other better, and to interact respectfully, and thoughtfully, as partners and, increasingly, as friends.
Not as Guests, but as Full Participants in Social and Ecclesial Life: Perspectives on Women in the Church Today
Dr. Catherine E. Clifford
March 21, 2019
This lecture will take place in the Vitali Lounge
Pope Francis maintains there is a need today for a “more widespread and incisive female presence” in the various settings of the church where important decisions are made. Beginning from the presence of lay and religious women at the Second Vatican Council, this talk will consider the many ways that women are actively contributing to the life of the Catholic Church today in often unacknowledged ways. How might their gifts be more fully received into the structure of the church?
Conversations with Kids4Peace
Carmiel FrutkoFf and Colleagues
March 28, 2019
Co-sponsored by Center for Jewish, Catholic, Muslim Learning
Kids4Peace brings together young people and adults to build peace in in the Middle East and in other parts of the world. They do so, using faith as a bridge and as a point of healing. They will facilitate three workshops with secondary school students from neighbouring school boards during the week. Tonight’s lecture, “My Jerusalem Story” will touch on the core issues of Border, Identity, Faith, Dreams and Aspirations of those who live in this wonderful and complex city. All are welcome.
Carmiel Frutkoff grew up in Jerusalem, and after years of volunteering for Kids4Peace, he joined the team as Program Director for Experience in 2017. A social entrepreneur, Carmiel created and led an initiative called "Pluralusalem", working to make change in Jerusalem on a variety of social issues. Carmiel holds a B.A. in International Relations and Political Science. His parents came as settlers from America in the early 1970’s.
Walls, Security, and the Sacred
Dr. Benjamin Muller
April 4, 2019
After spending nearly two decades examining borders from the perspective of critical security studies, Dr. Muller reflects on the relationship between security and the sacred in the contemporary vision of borders, which is an all too often ill-fated celebration of walls. What of the many barriers and fences referred to as “peace walls?” How might these developments have something to say about our contemporary ideas about security, safety, community, and the sacred?