John Henry Newman, Doctor of the Church at 225

An Academic Conference on February 23, 2026 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM at The Catholic University of America

Co-Hosted by The Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies, and the schools of Theology and Religious Studies, Philosophy, and Canon Law

St. John Henry Newman (February 21, 1801 - August 11, 1890), Doctor of the Church

Dear Friend of the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies,

I am pleased to invite you to attend an afternoon academic conference entitled “John Henry Newman, Doctor of the Church at 225,” to be held on the campus of The Catholic University of America.

The conference is jointly hosted by the School of Canon Law, the School of Theology and Religious Studies, the School of Philosophy, and the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies. It will take place on Monday, February 23, 2026, from 2:00 to 5:00 PM, followed by a reception from 5:00 to 6:00 PM. The event will also be livestreamed via Zoom. 

The intended audience will be primarily graduate students in the University's three ecclesiastical schools, along with interested faculty and members of the wider community who want to learn more about St. John Henry Newman and his thoughts.

“John Henry Newman, Doctor of the Church at 225" will include invited speakers in theology and philosophy, as well as a biographer of John Henry Newman, and will conclude with a moderated panel discussion. This discussion will synthesize the themes of the afternoon and provide an opportunity for further conversation among the panelists and with the audience. 

Our speakers include:

  • Rev. Dr. Stephen M. Fields: S.J., Hackett Family Professor in Theology, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, College of Arts and Sciences, Georgetown University

  • Rev. Msgr. Andrew R. Wadsworth, C.O.: Director, St. Gregory Institute, Dept. of Ancient & Medieval Languages & Cultures, The Catholic University of America, and Provost of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri, Washington, DC

  • Matthew Walther: Editor, The Lamp

The livestream for the event will be at https://vimeo.com/event/5706113.​

We hope you will be able to join us for this event and celebrate the life and legacy of St. John Henry Newman, newest Doctor of the Church and co-patron of Catholic Education.

Sincerely yours,

David P. Long, S.T.L., M.Phil., J.C.D.

Dean, School of Professional Studies

Assistant Professor, School of Canon Law

Director, Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies