On the occasion of St. John Paul II’s feast day, we will enter into the thought of this great saint concerning the gift of human life and, in particular, the value and meaning of suffering. What is lost in a culture that exceedingly seeks to take control over life from conception to death? What value and meaning is to be found in suffering, illness, infertility, old age, and even in the process of dying? How can we articulate the value of life—and the place of suffering—amid great cultural pressure to exert dominance and freedom of choice over life and death? These cultural challenges call for a deeper understanding of life as an undeserved gift from beginning to end, and of how we are called to be stewards of life.
Location: In-Person event at St. Augustine’s Seminary (2661 Kingston Rd, Scarborough ON)
This event will also be held ONLINE via Zoom. Please see below to purchase tickets.
Cost:
In-Person - $50 plus HST
Online - $20 plus HST
If you would like to join our mailing list, please send an email to lay.formation@staugustines.on.ca.
If you have any questions, please contact our Event Coordinator, Chère MacLean at chere.maclean@utoronto.ca
Please note: The recommended age of all attendees is 15 and over.
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY
Julia pursued her graduate studies in the theology and philosophy of the human person at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute in Washington, D.C., finding an intellectual home wherein to pursue ethical and existential questions about the increasing technological mastery over human life in its origins and end. Her dissertation offered a philosophical critique of the theoretical foundations of bioethics in America through the thought of the German-Jewish philosopher, Hans Jonas. Julia currently resides with her newlywed husband in Mississauga, Ontario, and looks forward to sharing her passion for her studies as an educator in Canada.