The Department of Theology & Religious Studies in Limerick is hosting the 2009 Congress of the European Society for Catholic Theology. This will be the first time that the conference will take place in Ireland and it will also mark the twentieth anniversary of the foundation of the society. The last conference took place at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in September 2008 attended by some 250 theologians; previous congresses have taken place in Graz, Munich-Freising, Stuttgart and Fribourg.

The ESCT brings together many theologians from among the different countries of Europe. Its members work at theological institutes, universities, academies, seminaries, and within both Church and society. Accordingly, this European society is an international membership organisation in which both national and regional sections also exist, from Lithuania to Malta, and from Ireland to Slovakia. As a society, and as individual members, we are firmly committed to ecumenism and many of our activities have a deliberate ecumenical dimension.

The call for papers is now open, with a deadline of April 1. Registration is also open and those who register before April 1 receive reduced rates. We also welcome papers from junior or emerging scholars.

The Organising Committee consists of:

• ·       Prof. Lieven Boeve (KU Leuven, President, ESCT)
• ·       Prof Eamonn Conway (Limerick, Vice President, ESCT)
• ·       Prof Pierre Van Hecke (KU Leuven, General Secretary, ESCT)
• ·       Barry McMillan (Galway Mayo Institute of Technology)
• ·       Dr Michael Howlett (Waterford Institute of Technology and President ESCT Irish Section)
• ·       Dr Gabriel Flynn (Mater Dei Institute of Education)
• ·       Ronan Tobin, (All Hallows College, Dublin)
• ·       Dr Geoffrey Turner (Leeds, UK)
• ·       Members and support staff of the Department of Theology &
  Religious Studies, Mary Immaculate College, - University of Limerick – (see www.mic.ul.ie/theology <http://www.mic.ul.ie/theology

Keynote speakers include:

• ·       Prof Dr Seán Freyne, Professor Emeritus of Theology, Trinity College,
  Dublin http://www.tcd.ie/Religions_Theology/staff/freyne_sean.php
• ·       Dr Stella Morra, (Rome) http://www.stellamorra.eu/curriculum-i.html
• ·       Bishop Dr Donal Murray, Bishop of Limerick,
  http://www.limerickdiocese.org/
• ·       Prof. Dr. H. D. Mutschler, Ignatius Institute, Krakow
• ·        Bishop Dr Karl Golser, Bishop of Bozen-Brixen / Bolzano-Bressanone, Italy (http://www.ecclesiabz.com)

 Cardinal Seán Brady will preside at the main Conference Eucharist.

 We have negotiated good rates at nearby hotels but again, early booking is advised. All information as well as on-line registration facilities can be found at: http://www.mic.ul.ie/theology/ESCT/Conference.html. Further information from mary.t.martin@mic.ul.ie.

 We are most grateful to the many Irish colleges/faculties and religious orders who have generously funded the conference.

For more information visit http://www.mic.ul.ie/theology/news.htm

Or contact:

Eamonn Conway
Head of Theology & Religious Studies
Mary Immaculate College
- University of Limerick -

Tel +353 61 204353
Fax +353 61 313632