Centre for Catholic Studies Podcast
Centre for Catholic Studies
The Durham Centre for Catholic Studies is the first of its kind in British higher education. It represents a creative partnership between academy and church: a centre within the pluralist, public academy for critically constructive Catholic studies of the highest academic standing.
The aims of the Centre for Catholic Studies are:
-To provide a distinctive forum for the creative analysis of key issues in Catholic thought, culture, and practice.
-To engage, inform and shape public and ecclesial life from a leading knowledge and research base.
-To engage the breadth and depth of Catholic tradition in conversation both with the full range of disciplines and perspectives in a leading university and with the range of other faith traditions.
-To develop and pursue major collaborative and interdisciplinary research projects and to attract associated grant awards and philanthropic support.
-To model a vibrant and inclusive community of scholars of Catholicism and practitioners of Catholic theology.
-To form outstanding theologians who will shape the future from the richness of Catholic tradition in the church, academy, and public life.
-To foster and develop excellent working relationships with relevant regional, national and international public and ecclesial bodies.
The aims of the Centre for Catholic Studies are:
-To provide a distinctive forum for the creative analysis of key issues in Catholic thought, culture, and practice.
-To engage, inform and shape public and ecclesial life from a leading knowledge and research base.
-To engage the breadth and depth of Catholic tradition in conversation both with the full range of disciplines and perspectives in a leading university and with the range of other faith traditions.
-To develop and pursue major collaborative and interdisciplinary research projects and to attract associated grant awards and philanthropic support.
-To model a vibrant and inclusive community of scholars of Catholicism and practitioners of Catholic theology.
-To form outstanding theologians who will shape the future from the richness of Catholic tradition in the church, academy, and public life.
-To foster and develop excellent working relationships with relevant regional, national and international public and ecclesial bodies.
Episodes
Mentioned books
7 snips
Oct 14, 2025 • 45min
Sara Parvis - Women and the Reception of Nicaea
Dr. Sara Parvis explores the significant yet often overlooked role of women in the reception of Nicaea. She discusses how women acted as educators, copyists, and patrons, contributing to theological discourse and church politics. Notable figures like Queen Mavia and various female networks helped shape early Christian thought and preserve essential texts. Parvis argues for a re-examination of history that highlights women's contributions rather than their absences, asserting their vital role in the Nicene tradition.
May 15, 2025 • 46min
Clare Watkins - The Challenge of Clericalism
In this Catholic Theology Research Seminar, Prof Clare Watkins of the University of Durham gives a talk on 'The challenge of ‘clericalism’: looking beyond clergy for a liveable theology of ordained ministry in the Catholic Church'.
This seminar forms part of the Catholic Theology Research Seminar Series (CTRS). The CTRS is a regular forum for scholarly discussion of pertinent issues in the Catholic traditions of theology and Church. The seminar series ranges across the traditional theological disciplines (scriptural, historical, philosophical, systematic, liturgical, ethical and practical/pastoral), Catholic social thought and practice, and social-scientific approaches to Catholicism.
Mar 28, 2025 • 49min
Eilish Gregory - The Global Nursing Mission of the Little Company of Mary, 1877-1941
For the third CTRS seminar of 2025, Dr Eilish Gregory, the Little Company of Mary Fellow in the History of Catholicism at Durham University, gave a talk on 'The Global Nursing Mission of the Little Company of Mary, 1877-1941'.
You can view the slides that accompany Dr Gregory's talk at this link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/dos0md62tyvyofvpz8236/CTRS-Paper-The-Global-Mission-of-the-Little-Company-of-Mary-March-2025.pdf?rlkey=q87krtfsg2sl9gn61phx3mzcf&st=rftx1qdi&dl=0
This seminar forms part of the Catholic Theology Research Seminar Series (CTRS). The CTRS is a regular forum for scholarly discussion of pertinent issues in the Catholic traditions of theology and Church. The seminar series ranges across the traditional theological disciplines (scriptural, historical, philosophical, systematic, liturgical, ethical and practical/pastoral), Catholic social thought and practice, and social-scientific approaches to Catholicism.
Feb 20, 2025 • 46min
Antonia Pizzey - Imagining Church: Mystery, Imagination, and Metaphor
For the second CTRS seminar of 2025, we were joined by Dr Antonia Pizzey, the Postdoctoral Researcher at the Research Centre for Studies of the Second Vatican Council at the Australian Catholic University, who gave a paper entitled: Imagining Church: Mystery, Imagination, and Metaphor.
This seminar forms part of the Catholic Theology Research Seminar Series (CTRS). The CTRS is a regular forum for scholarly discussion of pertinent issues in the Catholic traditions of theology and Church. The seminar series ranges across the traditional theological disciplines (scriptural, historical, philosophical, systematic, liturgical, ethical and practical/pastoral), Catholic social thought and practice, and social-scientific approaches to Catholicism.
Jan 22, 2025 • 49min
Liam Temple - This Poverty of Spirit: The Capuchins on the margins of Catholicism
For the first CTRS seminar of 2025, we were joined by Dr Liam Temple, the Capuchin Fellow in the History of Catholicism at Durham University, who gave a paper entitled: “This Poverty of Spirit”: The Capuchins on the margins of Catholicism in England and Wales, 1850-1873.
This seminar forms part of the Catholic Theology Research Seminar Series (CTRS). The CTRS is a regular forum for scholarly discussion of pertinent issues in the Catholic traditions of theology and Church. The seminar series ranges across the traditional theological disciplines (scriptural, historical, philosophical, systematic, liturgical, ethical and practical/pastoral), Catholic social thought and practice, and social-scientific approaches to Catholicism.
Dec 6, 2024 • 48min
Emma Percy - Can Aquinas offer some hope to trauma theology?
For the second CTRS seminar of 2024-25, we were joined by Dr Emma Percy, the Senior Lecturer in Feminist Theology and Ministry Studies at the University of Aberdeen, who gave a paper entitled: 'Can Aquinas offer some hope to trauma theology?'
This seminar forms part of the Catholic Theology Research Seminar Series (CTRS). The CTRS is a regular forum for scholarly discussion of pertinent issues in the Catholic traditions of theology and Church. The seminar series ranges across the traditional theological disciplines (scriptural, historical, philosophical, systematic, liturgical, ethical and practical/pastoral), Catholic social thought and practice, and social-scientific approaches to Catholicism.
Nov 29, 2024 • 1h 19min
Bishop Dunn Memorial Lecture 2024 - Fr Hyacinthe Destivelle
Bishop Dunn Memorial Lecture 2025. Fr Hyacinthe Destivelle is introduced by Fr Anthony Currer, with Fr Andrew Louth (Emeritus Durham University) and Prof. Anna Rowlands (Durham University) as respondents.
Oct 24, 2024 • 34min
Nomi Pritz-Bennett: The Natural Mortification of Finitude: Loss and the Construction of Real Persons
For the first CTRS seminar of 2024-25, we were joined by Dr Nomi Pritz-Bennett, the Career Development Fellow at Durham University, who gave a paper entitled: 'The Natural Mortification of Finitude: Loss and the Construction of Real Persons'
This seminar forms part of the Catholic Theology Research Seminar Series (CTRS). The CTRS is a regular forum for scholarly discussion of pertinent issues in the Catholic traditions of theology and Church. The seminar series ranges across the traditional theological disciplines (scriptural, historical, philosophical, systematic, liturgical, ethical and practical/pastoral), Catholic social thought and practice, and social-scientific approaches to Catholicism.
Jun 7, 2024 • 49min
Tina Beattie - Language, Desire And Creation In The Context Of Laudato Si
For March's CTRS seminar, Tina Beattie (Professor Emerita of Catholic Studies, University of Roehampton), gives a paper on Language, desire, and creation in the context of Laudato Si'.
This seminar forms part of the Catholic Theology Research Seminar Series (CTRS). The CTRS is a regular forum for scholarly discussion of pertinent issues in the Catholic traditions of theology and Church. The seminar series ranges across the traditional theological disciplines (scriptural, historical, philosophical, systematic, liturgical, ethical and practical/pastoral), Catholic social thought and practice, and social-scientific approaches to Catholicism.
Jun 7, 2024 • 52min
Alana Harris - Student Power In Christ The Young Christian Students, Race And Liberation Theology
For April's CTRS seminar, we were joined by Dr Alana Harris, Reader in Modern British Social, Cultural and Gender History, King’s College London, who will give a paper entitled: ‘Student Power in Christ’: the Young Christian Students, Race Relations and Liberation Theology in Britain after 1968.
This seminar forms part of the Catholic Theology Research Seminar Series (CTRS). The CTRS is a regular forum for scholarly discussion of pertinent issues in the Catholic traditions of theology and Church. The seminar series ranges across the traditional theological disciplines (scriptural, historical, philosophical, systematic, liturgical, ethical and practical/pastoral), Catholic social thought and practice, and social-scientific approaches to Catholicism.
