Peter Maurin Conference
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September 6-8, 2024
READ THE PRESS RELEASE HERE READ THE CHICAGO CATHOLIC ON THE CONFERENCE HERE READ A REFLECTION ON THE CONFERENCE FROM YOUNG CATHOLIC WORKER MATTIE JENKINS READ A REFLECTION ON THE CONFERENCE BY GEOFFREY GNEUHS AT ALETEIA Videos of the conference are forthcoming. Photos by Damian Chlanda. |
How can we transcend the pull toward polarization in both our Church and our culture in order to recreate the social order with "a philosophy so old that it looks like new"?
The Peter Maurin Conference will consider the life and vision of Peter Maurin, co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement. Maurin's pithy "Easy Essays" have been a staple of The Catholic Worker newspaper from its inception. His essays promoted philosophical personalism and economic distributism and a program of renewal based on Catholic Social Tradition. Maurin's program called Catholics to commit to houses of hospitality, voluntary poverty, the works of mercy, agrarianism, and public roundtable discussions.
The conference will feature keynote addresses and roundtable discussions on key topics of Maurin's thought and ask how Peter's program can inspire us to "blow the dynamite" of the Gospel to create a world in which it is easier to be good. Please email Mark Franzen with any questions.
The Peter Maurin Conference will consider the life and vision of Peter Maurin, co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement. Maurin's pithy "Easy Essays" have been a staple of The Catholic Worker newspaper from its inception. His essays promoted philosophical personalism and economic distributism and a program of renewal based on Catholic Social Tradition. Maurin's program called Catholics to commit to houses of hospitality, voluntary poverty, the works of mercy, agrarianism, and public roundtable discussions.
The conference will feature keynote addresses and roundtable discussions on key topics of Maurin's thought and ask how Peter's program can inspire us to "blow the dynamite" of the Gospel to create a world in which it is easier to be good. Please email Mark Franzen with any questions.
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REGISTRATION
This conference is free and open to the public, but we ask that you register so that we can plan accordingly. Register by filling out the form below.
Contact Mark Franzen with any questions. Hosted by Canterbury House and St. Gregory's Hall at Mary, Mother of God Parish in cooperation with the Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage at Loyola University Chicago and the Department of Catholic Studies at DePaul University.
This conference is made possible by a grant from the Helen Brach Foundation. |
SCHEDULE
All events held in the Msgr. Klasen Building (1609 W Gregory St) unless otherwise noted. Friday, September 6 5:00 p.m. Registration 6:30 p.m. Dinner 8:00 p.m. Keynote: Personalism "on the streets": Maurin and Emmanuel Mounier Welcome: James Murphy (Canterbury House) Introduction: Fr. Paddy Gilger, SJ (Loyola University) Keynote: Jonathan Sozek (Albertus Magnus College) 9:00 p.m. Compline Saturday, September 7 8:30 a.m. Lauds 9:00 a.m. Breakfast 9:30 a.m. Keynote: Peter Maurin: Systematic Agitator Introduction: William Cavanaugh (DePaul University) Keynote: Lincoln Rice (Casa Maria Catholic Worker) 11:00 a.m. Roundtable Discussions Peter Maurin's Roots: French Influences Alex Palma (La Salle University) Stefan Gigacz (University of Divinity, Australia) Nicolai Berdyaev and Jacques Maritain: A Friendship Guiding the ‘Third Way’ of Personalism Against Sovereignty Spencer Hess (John Paul II Catholic Worker Farm, Kansas City) Martin Tomszak (Valparaiso University) “Strikes Don’t Strike Me”: In Search of a Personalist Resistance Jeromiah Taylor (Vulnera Christi Catholic Worker, Wichita) Brian Terrell (Strangers and Guests Catholic Worker Farm, Iowa) 1:00 p.m. Angelus, break for lunch 3:00 p.m. Roundtable Discussions Peter Maurin’s World and Adjacent Social Movements Nicholas Groves Harry Murray (Nazareth College) “Lady Poverty is a beautiful girl”: Practicing Poverty and Precarity Dawn McCarty (Casa Juan Diego, Houston) Abigail Rampone (Fireplace Community, Chicago) Peter Maurin and the Third Way: Putting Ideas into Action Geoffrey Gneuhs (Former Chaplain, New York Catholic Worker) Laurie Johnson (The Maurin Academy) 5:30 p.m. Vespers 6:00 p.m. Dinner 7:30 p.m. Easy Essay Open Mic Participants are invited to read their favorite of Maurin’s Easy Essays or to compose their own. Musical performances encouraged! Sunday, September 8 9:30 a.m. Mass 10:30 a.m. Breakfast and Wrap-up discussion 12:00 p.m. Close |
