The Royal Priesthood and the Renewal of the Church, International Conference at St Mary’s University

The Royal Priesthood is a rich scriptural theme which draws together God's work of creating and saving humanity in Christ. It implies our divine filiation, the life of grace, the metaphysics of participation, the indwelling trinity, the church and the sacraments, the theology of nature and grace, and many other central Catholic doctrines. It has great potential to aid the renewal already well underway in contemporary Catholic theology, and, more concretely, to direct this renewal towards an awakening and revival of the church in our times.

This theme of the Royal Priesthood was an important aspect of Catholic theology from the mid-nineteenth century onwards and featured prominently in the Second Vatican Council. As part of the ongoing reception of the council, and in service to the contemporary church, the School of Theology at St Mary’s University, London, and The Aquinas Center for Theological Renewal at Ave Maria University, Florida, are delighted to work together to sponsor and organise a conference dedicated to this topic.

Programme and speakers

Our three-day programme includes keynote speakers Professor John Bergsma (Franciscan University, Steubenville), Professor Matthew Levering (Mundelein Seminary, University of St Mary of the Lake) and Professor Lawrence Feingold (Kenrick-Glennon Seminary). Other speakers include Fr Michael Lang CO, Michael Dauphinais, Roger Nutt, Isaac Morales OP, Mark Miravalle. The conference will include papers from postgraduate and early career researchers at an afternoon panel session on the first day.

Daily Mass will take place in the Chapel. Bishop Erik Varden will be the main celebrant and homilist at the opening Mass.

Conference registration

Conference tickets are available until Thursday 6th of June 2024.

Venue

The conference is being held at St Mary’s University, Twickenham, in west London. The conference will be held in the Waldegrave Wing of Strawberry Hill House, which is located in the University grounds and is Britain's finest example of Georgian Gothic Revival architecture. It was designed and created between 1747 and 1792 by Horace Walpole, historian, writer, collector and son of Britain's first Prime Minister Sir Robert Walpole.

Our beautiful campus also includes the Chapel in the Wood, a Grade 1 listed building, the exterior of which is a copy of a chantry chapel found near the high altar of Salisbury Cathedral. The chapel contains stained glass windows from the workshop of the renowned Irish artist, Harry Clarke.

There will be Mass in the St Mary’s University Chapel on each day of the conference.

Find out more about the history and heritage of St Mary’s.

Travel and accommodation

St Mary’s University is an ideal location, easily accessible by several means of transportation. To assist with your planning, please see our directions to campus (by road, air, and train), and our campus maps.

On-site accommodation

Accommodation for 2 nights, is included with any purchase of the ‘full conference package’. Guests will be staying in our ensuite rooms, located behind the Sports Centre, in either Cashin or Cronin halls of residence.