Exploring and Promoting Catholic Social Teaching
The Priests’ Role in Forming Social Consciousness of the People of God
40th Easter Seminar for Priests and Seminarians

WHEN Sunday, March 31 to Wednesday, April 3, 2024

WHERE Shellbourne Conference Center  |  Valparaiso, Indiana

Union with Christ must transcend personal benefit to include those deprived of the necessities of life, extending mercy and evangelizing beyond one’s immediate sphere of influence.

The Church has urged a heightened sensitivity toward those in need with a trove of magisterial teaching on social justice. A strong awareness of the Church’s social doctrine should motivate her people to involvement in social projects, their professional work, and community activity. The priest must foster a grounded and action-oriented response in himself and his parishioners, encouraging service in daily life.

Pope Francis summarizes the challenges to social justice during these present times: “When human beings place themselves at the center, they give absolute priority to immediate convenience and all else becomes relative. Hence, we should not be surprised to find, in conjunction with the omnipresent technocratic paradigm and the cult of unlimited human power, the rise of a relativism which sees everything as irrelevant unless it serves one’s own immediate interests.”

POPE FRANCIS,
Laudato Sí, No. 122

Topics and Speakers

Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024

6:30 p.m.

Arrival and Light Supper


8:00 p.m.

Introductory Talk


Monday, April 1, 2023

7:00 a.m.

Morning Prayer


7:15 a.m.

Preached Meditation


7:45 a.m.

Eucharistic Concelebration
(Please bring alb and stole)


11:00 a.m.

First Presentation
Contemporary Social Doctrine (Lecture I)
Msgr. Martin Schlag
Professor of Catholic Studies, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul MN


4:45 p.m.

Holy Hour


7:00 p.m.

Second Presentation
Contemporary Social Doctrine (Lecture II)
Msgr. Martin Schlag
Professor of Catholic Studies, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul MN

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

7:00 a.m.

Morning Prayer


7:15 a.m.

Preached Meditation


7:45 a.m.

Eucharistic Concelebration
(Please bring alb and stole)


11:00 a.m.

Third Presentation
Contemporary Social Doctrine (Lecture III)
Msgr. Martin Schlag
Professor of Catholic Studies, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul MN


4:45 p.m.

Holy Hour


7:00 p.m.

Fourth Presentation
Ministry of Deliverance
Most Rev. Jeffrey Grob
Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, IL


Wednesday, April 3, 2024

7:15 a.m.

Morning Prayer


7:30 a.m.

Preached Meditation


8:00 a.m.

Eucharistic Concelebration
(Please bring alb and stole)


9:00 a.m.

Breakfast and Departure

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Midwest Theological Forum
4340 Cross Street, Suite 1
Downers Grove, IL 60515

Midwest Theological Forum (MTF) is a not-for-profit organization that promotes Catholic teaching through various theological media, especially the publication of printed works. An essential part of this mission includes spiritual and pastoral conferences and theological workshops for the ongoing formation of priests and seminarians in cooperation with the diocesan bishops. For more information visit www.theologicalforum.org

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