Paddy Gilger Teilhard Lecture with crowd

Upcoming Events

EVENTS

Divine Pop and Techno Slop: Theological Discourses on Social Media

Event Postponed until Spring 2027

September 10, 2026

One “dry run” for the “Age of AI” in which we now find ourselves is found in our experiences with social media—particularly as a venue for debating the high ideas of politics, religion, and culture. This focused colloquium will reflect on the state of "God talk" on social media and features authors of the recent book, Theological Discourses on Social Media.

EVENTS

Participation, Dignity & Democracy: A Virtual Catholic Theological Conference

September 16–17, 2026

A Zoom Forum hosted by multiple national Academic Centers on the public role of religion in democratic life. Various panels and dialogue include reflections on experiences of ‘democratic’ institutions across American Catholic communities (on the complex history of democracy in America: its gifts, its failures, its enduring promise); the challenge of Catholic preaching amid polarization, democracy, voting rights, immigrant communities and the increased challenges of voter safety; practical strategies of protecting democracy and voter safety; and remaining grounded in Spirit amid cross-cutting polarizations in society and the Church.

EVENTS

“Let All Who Are Thirsty, Come: Examining the Appeal of Catholicism and Rise in Conversions Among Young Adults”

September 19, 2026

A conference cosponsored by the Hank Center and Mission Integration exploring the increase of inquirers and conversions to the Catholic Church. Panels of practitioners, students, and scholars will discuss enchantment/re-enchantment of the life of faith; media influence; class, gender, and culture in this revival; whether or not this is a revival; and what this means for young people and the Church in 2026.

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Partner Conferences

Catholic Studies Consortium National Conference 2026

September 24–26, 2026

In Ex corde ecclesiae, St. John Paul II calls Catholic universities “to a continuous renewal, both as ‘Universities’ and as ‘Catholic’.” More recently Pope Leo XIV called for greater wisdom to “refocus our gaze on the ‘cosmology of Christian paideia’: a vision that, over the centuries, has been able to renew itself and positively inspire all the multifaceted aspects of education.” This renewal the popes speak about demands from university faculty and leaders the ability to read the signs of the times drawing upon the power of tradition and respond with innovation and creativity.

EVENTS

Ignatian AI Conference: Exploring Artificial Intelligence Through a Jesuit Lens

October 1–3, 2026

How can we explore the use and development of AI through a Jesuit lens? The Ignatian AI Conference will convene Jesuit scholars, AI experts, and industry professionals to engage this question directly. Participants will develop a shared framework to support reflection, decision-making, and formation at Jesuit institutions worldwide, launching a broader Ignatian AI network.

Teilhard de Chardin S.J. Lecture

Annual Teilhard de Chardin Lecture: Things Unseen: Theology, Science, and Ambiguous Futures in the Legacy of Teilhard de Chardin

October 21, 2026

The Hank Center welcomes Dr. Christiana Zenner, as our 2026 Teilhard de Chardin, S.J. visiting Fellow in Catholic Studies. Professor Zenner, who specializes in the areas of fresh water values and ethics; religious ecological ethics at the intersection of ecological theory, "Laudato Si," and the ecological turn in Catholic social teaching, will offer this year's Teilhard lecture.

Jesuit Lecture

On Growing Our Moral Imagination: Approaching Health Care with a New Faith-Based Vision

October 27, 2026

The Hank Center is pleased to welcome Fr. Michael Rozier, SJ for its 2026-2027 Jesuit Lecture. This lecture invites readers, both religious and secular alike, to imagine a future where prevention is prioritized, care is communal, and wellness includes the whole person. With theological insight and public health expertise, Rozier helps us see that health care is not merely an industry; it's a reflection of our deepest values and collective responsibility.

Bill Hank Dialogue

20th Anniversary Marquee Event: Inaugural Bill Hank Dialogue on Catholic Thought, Citizenship, and the Common Good

Event Postponed until Spring 2027

November 18, 2026

Join the Joan and Bill Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage for the inaugural Bill Hank Dialogue on Catholic Thought, Citizenship, and the Common Good. Honoring founding benefactor Bill Hank's legacy and the 20th anniversary year of the Hank Center, this event will explore how the Catholic intellectual and social traditions inform faith commitments, civic life, and our shared responsibility for the common good. Our Inaugural Bill Hank Dialogue features Cathleen Kaveny, Darald and Juliet Libby Professor of Law and Theology at Boston College, with a response from a very special guest. All are invited to enjoy Professor Kaveny's insights and to join in robust community dialogue that will surely follow.

Sobrino Colloquium

The 3rd Annual John Sobrino, S.J. Colloquium on Worship, Theology and Justice: Beauty and the Commitment to Justice

November 14, 2026

As part of Ignatian Heritage Month, the Hank Center for the Intellectual Heritage and Campus Ministry invite undergraduate students to participate in a research colloquium dedicated to the great Salvadoran priest and theologian, Jon Sobrino. While most remembered for his pioneering work in Liberation Theology, Sobrino was a priest whose pastoral ministry and daily celebration of the liturgy informed his entire life. Sobrino, then, embodied a sacramental structure of the Christian life which is nourished in worship, deepened through theological reflection, and expressed through acts of justice in the world. This colloquium, brings together undergraduate scholars from Loyola University Chicago and seeks to provide an opportunity for theological reflection rooted in worship and the Catholic intellectual tradition, and oriented outward in loving service to our world.

American Pope

American Pope: Leo XIV's Road from the South Side of Chicago to Vatican City

December 2, 2026

In "American Pope," Daniel Burke and Scott Detrow present the first comprehensive biography of the new pontiff. Burke, NPR’s Senior Editor of Religion and Spirituality, and Detrow, co-host of NPR’s "All Things Considered" spent the year after Leo’s election reporting in Peru, Chicago, and Rome. They tracked down Leo’s close confidants, childhood friends, family members, classmates, fellow clergy, and Vatican insiders. They gained unprecedented access to archival documents, letters, emails, and other personal correspondence that provide key insights into Leo's experiences and views. As a result, readers are introduced to the new pope through all stages of his life, leading up to his ascension as the first American pontiff.