This year, St. Jerome’s Lectures in Catholic Experience introduces a series of talks by various academics and practitioners on the theme of “Solidarity in a Time of Solitudes.” During this time of increasing polarization and disengagement with the Church and the World, these lectures will challenge audiences to think about places, people, and processes that provide hope and inspiration in the shared pursuit of achieving the common good.

Michael W. Higgins, president and vice-chancellor emeritus of St. Jerome’s University, will be the inaugural speaker coming to the St. Jerome’s campus on September 12th. His talk, “The Synod, the Pope and the Controversies – Why we have cause to rejoice and not to fear,” will highlight the most important Church event in Catholic life since the end of the Second Vatican Council in 1965. As a Vatican analyst, biographer and scholar he will identify why this Synod matters, why its ecumenical constitution is innovative and why we are on the cusp of a radical re-shaping of how we do things as a Church.

“It is a pleasure to welcome president emeritus Michael Higgins back to St. Jerome's University for this timely talk on the Synod on Synodality and Pope Francis's papacy by one of Canada's foremost experts and frequent media commentators on the Catholic Church,” says Peter Meehan, president and vice-chancellor. “Catholic universities like St. Jerome's aspire to be places where the Church goes to think, and this important and engaging lecture will give much for Catholics and non-Catholics to think about.”

Michael W. Higgins has contributed to Catholic higher education for over forty years. He has authored and co-authored several books, including his latest, “The Jesuit Disruptor: A personal portrait of Pope Francis,” which will launch this September.

This free lecture has been made possible through the generous sponsorship of The Higgins Lecture on Religion and Media. It will be hosted in person only in the Notre Dame Chapel, in the SJ1 Library and Classrooms Building on the St. Jerome’s campus. Please register for this event, as space in the Notre Dame Chapel is limited.