The Von Hugel Institute hosts a series of seminars as well as the Annual Lecture. Details of upcoming as well as past seminars and lectures can be found here.

The theme of the Von Hügel Seminar Series 2011-12 is "Renewing Catholic Social Thought: An Agenda for the 21st Century"

The VHI is conducting research into the ways in which Catholic Social Teaching (CST) can inform public debate and policy. In 2011-12 there will be the first of a series of seminar programmes aimed at the renewal of CST.

In its modern form CST began with Leo XIII’s Encyclical Rerum Novarum in 1891. It has evolved for over a hundred years with a succession of documents ranging from further papal encyclicals to the solemn pronouncements of Vatican II (1962-65) and continuing under the pontificates of John Paul II and Benedict XVI. A summary of CST may be found in the The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church published by the Vatican in 2004.

CST evolved in response to and in dialogue with the changes in society, politics, and economics over its more than one hundred years of development. Between 1891 and 2011 these changes have been immense and the purpose of these seminars is first to identify the state of the world in the 21st century and second to begin to address the challenges this poses for CST. We have invited a number of distinguished scholars both Catholic and from other faiths and philosophical traditions to address what are consider are some of the main issues.

In addition to the seminar series, members of St Edmund's College are invited to the White Cottage for "Coffee, Cake & Chat" every fortnight (starting 4pm on Thursday 13th October) in the Michaelmas Term to discuss politics, religion and other topical issues.