Lenten reflections for University staff and professionals

Fr John McDade, SJ, will be guiding the three Lenten reflections on the theme "Rediscovering our Roots: the Character of Catholicism" at the University's St Thomas More Chapel on April 10, 11 and 12 a 7.30 p.m.

Fr McDade, 60, has lectured in Systematic Theology at the Jesuit-run Heythrop College within the University of London since 1985, and has been principal there since 2000. For nine years, he was also the editor of the now defunct journal The Month: A Review of Christian Thought and World Affairs. He has had many articles published in various journals as well as in The Oxford Companion to Christian Thought.

Fr McDade has visited many times, among others to lead formation seminars for the Maltese clergy.

The reflections given by Fr McDade will focus on discovering the roots of Catholicism. The Church is always in danger of becoming locked into the present version of itself. What renewal consists in is the uncovering of aspects of the Church which are part of the tradition but which have got lost or been forgotten. When they are brought to light, a different account of Catholicism can surface. What might those be?

Fr McDade will be looking at the impulses within the project of Catholicism which spring from the earliest Christian community, some of the distortions which arise (according to von Balthasar) and the deep relationship between the Church and the Jewish people which is only just surfacing again.

For further information contact the University Chaplaincy on 2340-2341 or chaplaincy@um.edu.mt. Child-minding services will be provided.