The Centre for Catholic Studies

The Centre for Catholic Studies is delighted to be launching this new initiative in Franciscan Studies. Since its foundation in 2007, the the Centre for Catholic studies has existed as partnership between the academy and the Church, and has become a home for critical and constructive Catholic studies of the highest quality. Over the last twelve years, that partnership has been enriched by working with religious congregations, Catholic charities and foundations from across these isles and beyond. In 2019, the CCS hosted the Franciscan Legacy conference, bringing together members of the Franciscan family, theologians, historians and others to explore the continuing significance of St Francis and Franciscan traditions, 800 years after Francis’ meeting with Sultan Malek Al-Kamil.

This 2021 summer school in Franciscan Studies builds on the energy and enthusiasm from that conference, and represents just the beginning of our ambitions for establishing a permanent home for Franciscan Studies here at Durham University. Bringing together world-leading Franciscan scholars, and participants from across the globe, we hope that the summer school will provide an opportunity to share the riches of the Franciscan charism with lay and religious across the world, and explore its significance for today.