Dominican Friars in Southern Africa to hold International Symposium on St Thomas Aquinas

by Admin · Published July 4, 2025 · Updated July 4, 2025

St Thomas Aquinas

By Fr Isaac Mutelo OP, Arrupe Jesuit University Regent of Studies – For the past ten years, the Dominican Vice Province of Southern Africa has held annual Dominican Study Weeks on different topics. This year, we are excited to present a two-day blended symposium on the theme “St Thomas Aquinas in the Contemporary World,” taking place from July 8 to July 9, 2025.

This year’s theme is particularly important as we commemorate three momentous anniversaries related to St Thomas Aquinas: the 700th anniversary of his canonisation in 2023, the 750th anniversary of his death in 2024, and the upcoming 800th anniversary of his birth in 2025. These milestones present a profound opportunity to reflect on Aquinas’ enduring legacy and the relevance of his philosophical and theological insights in our modern world.

In an era marked by rapid change and challenges in ethics, politics, education, and spirituality, the teachings of St Thomas Aquinas offer a timeless framework for dialogue and reflection. This symposium aims to engage scholars, priests, religious, and students in a collaborative exploration of how Aquinas’ ideas can inform our understanding of contemporary issues. Participants will also examine the application of Aquinas’ ideas to modern challenges across various fields, fostering discussions that bridge historical thought and contemporary realities. Additionally, we aim to promote collaboration among scholars from diverse disciplines to enrich our collective insights and approaches to Aquinas’ work.

This year’s conference promises to be particularly engaging, featuring around 17 local and international presenters covering a diverse range of topics including ethics, leadership, social Justice, artificial intelligence, environmental concerns, animal ethics, democracy, and politics. The guest of honour will be Professor Patrick Giddy, a seasoned author who has taught philosophy at the University of Lesotho for several years before joining the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, where he is currently a Senior Research Associate.