On behalf of the Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage at Loyola University of Chicago, the Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies, and the Lumen Christi Institute, I am pleased to invite you to save the date for a special symposium and reception entitled The Vocation of the Patristic Theologian, taking place on at the conclusion of NAPS on Saturday, May 23, 2026, from 4:30–6:30 PM at Loyola University Chicago’s Water Tower Campus.
This reception and forum is intended especially for graduate students and faculty in the Chicagoland area, as well as those attending the annual meeting of the North American Patristics Society (NAPS). Attentive to the distinctive challenges involved in teaching foundational Christian texts, the evening will invite participants to reflect on the vocation of the patristic theologian and its relationship to teaching, contemporary theological scholarship, the academy, and the life of the Church.
A panel of senior faculty and early‑career scholars will offer perspectives from across the academic journey, with conversation moderated by Fr. Matthew Dunch, SJ (Loyola University Chicago). The program will also provide time for fellowship among colleagues. Register today here.
Please also note the February 2 application deadline for our upcoming summer graduate seminar in Chicago, The Mystery of Christ from Chalcedon to Maximus, led by Lewis Ayres, Paul Blowers, and Fr. Andrew Summerson. Additional details can be found below and at www.lumenchristi.org/seminars, and we are grateful for your help in sharing this opportunity with qualified students.