Villanova University Department of Humanities

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Villanova University Department of Humanities

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In the Department of the Humanities at Villanova, we seek to enlighten the mind and transform the soul.

In our program, your mind will be developed, disciplined, and deepened through an inquiry into the great human questions. For nearly twenty years, the Department of Humanities has offered students at Villanova an innovative curriculum that seeks to explore the most important questions of human life. Through an integrated series of courses, we ask the big questions about the meaning of life and the reality of truth, beauty, and goodness in our world, seeking answers that accord with faith and reason.

10/23/2026

Please join us for our second Integral Humanities Symposium event of the year on Friday, November 6, 2026,

Dr. Amber Bowen (Eastern University) will lead discussion on the question of "Finding Your Vocation"--using the writings of Saint Edith Stein as inspiration. Hosted by our neighbors at Templeton Honors College, Eastern University, we look forward to a delicious dinner with fellow Villanovans and students from Eastern and Penn.

RSVP deadline is November 2, but register soon as seats are limited! https://bit.ly/47TY7gV

This event is part of a yearlong exploration of your burning questions about work, profession, and vocation, which began with a great evening of conversation with our own Dr. Andrew Lynn.

There will more IHS events in the spring, including a daylong retreat at Dundale Hall on Saturday, April 3, 2027.

10/23/2026

What a great night at the Fall 2026 Humanities lecture earlier this week!

A huge thank you to Dr. Camacho, Dr. Sweeney, and Dr. Tomko for participating in the panel and answering the question "Should We Be Like Gods?", in addition to highlighting some critical parts of Pope Leo XIV's encyclical. Another big thanks to senior Humanities major Alex Roth for moderating the event. And a thank you to all students, faculty, alum, and wider community who came out to support the Department and create a beautiful reception afterwards. The spirit of conviviality was in the air!

And don't worry if you missed it. The event is now available on our YouTube channel: https://buff.ly/6icwBIh

10/19/2026

Excited for *tomorrow* night's Fall Humanities Lecture! Hope you can join us:
🗓️ Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | 7-8:30 | Driscoll Auditorium

This year's Fall Lecture is occasioned by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, "Magnifica humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Age of Artificial Intelligence." Drs. Paul Camacho, Terence Sweeney, and Helena Tomko will together discuss the big and bold question: "Should We Be Like Gods?"--in dialogue with the encyclical and the treasury of tradition from which Pope Leo draws.

And we're excited to announce that the first 100 attendees at the lecture will receive a complementary copy of the encyclical. So come early to grab your seat and book!

Emceed by Humanities senior Alex Roth, the event is open to all and will be followed by a Magnificent Reception.

Approved for ACS cultural event credit

🗓️ Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | 7-8:30 | Driscoll Auditorium
Livestream: https://bit.ly/4sb2mhc

10/16/2026

Today Dr. Camacho's "Augustine & Pilgrimage" class visited Ostia Antica, the Roman port city where St. Augustine and his mother St. Monica received a mystical vision, together scaling upward into divine joy.

First photo is our pilgrims reading from Confessions, chapter 9, where Augustine shares with readers this great gift they received together soon before Monica's death:

"and we lifted ourselves in longing yet more ardent toward That Which Is, and step by step traversed all bodily creatures and heaven itself, whence sun and moon and stars shed their light upon the earth. Higher still we mounted by inward thought and wondering discourse on your works, and we arrived at the summit of our own minds; and this too we transcended, to touch that land of never-fail ing plenty where you pasture Israel for ever with the food of truth. Life there is the Wisdom through whom all these things are made, and all others that have been or ever will be; but Wisdom herself is not made: she is as she always has been and will be for ever." (9.24)

10/14/2026

Midweek update from Italy!

Yes, those are our pilgrims today at the Augustinianum in Rome, overlooking beautiful St. Peter's where they attended Mass in the piazza this morning. They also spent time in conversation with fellow pilgrim Fr. Bernie Scianna, Villanova's Vice President for Mission & Ministry, learning more about the Augustinian order and charism.

And we've also got here sublime San Gimigagno, Camacho very happy beneath the statue of Dante Alighieri at Santa Croce, Florence--and today's food update: Florentine foccaccia.

Still praying for you, Holy Father!

10/13/2026

Just one week to go until our biggest event of the semester next Tuesday: the 2026 Fall Humanities Lecture.

Emceed by Humanities senior Alex Roth, the event is open to all and will be followed by a magnificent reception. Drs. Paul Camacho, Terence Sweeney, and Helena Tomko will together discuss the big and bold question: "Should We Be Like Gods?"

This year's Fall Lecture is occasioned by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, "Magnifica humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Age of Artificial Intelligence." Each speaker will offer a response to the question, "Should We Be Like Gods?"--in dialogue with the encyclical and the treasury of tradition from which Pope Leo draws.

Approved for ACS cultural event credit

🗓️ Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | 7-8:30 | Driscoll Auditorium

10/12/2026

Good times in Italy, as Dr. Paul Camacho's class make their way over break in the footsteps of St. Augustine. The topic of conversation here? Best ever Humanities book. No clear winner, but the cappuccinos and pastries look amazing.

The pilgrimage comes at the midpoint of the class's conversations about "becoming what you are not yet" (Augustine). The group has taken lots of prayer intentions with them, to which they'll be adding the good health of our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV.

10/07/2026

Excited to officially announce our Fall 2026 Humanities Lecture--coming right after midterm break.

Save the date for Tuesday, October 20, 7-8:30, when Drs. Paul Camacho, Terence Sweeney, and Helena Tomko will together discuss the big and bold question: "Should We Be Like Gods?"

Emceed by Humanities senior Alex Roth, the event is open to all and will be followed by a magnificent reception.

This year's Fall Lecture is occasioned by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, "Magnifica humanitas: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Age of Artificial Intelligence." Each speaker will offer a response to the question, "Should We Be Like Gods?"--in dialogue with the encyclical and the treasury of tradition from which Pope Leo draws.

Approved for ACS cultural event credit.

🗓️ Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | 7-8:30pm | Driscoll Auditorium

10/06/2026

Today, Tuesday, October 6, we welcome Patrick Boyden, president of Regina Angelorum Academy (Ardmore), who will lead an info session about job/internship/fellowship opportunities in classical Catholic education (no education degree required).

There'll be brief info sessions in SAC 304 at 11:30 and 12:15 and conversations from 11:00am-1pm.

This info session is open to anyone in all years who is looking for interesting professional opportunities after Villanova.

10/05/2026

Tomorrow is Hoagie Day in Humanities! Stop by SAC 304 for mid-term sustenance (aka lunch) after 11:15am--first come, first served. And you'll also be able to pick up our brand new course listings for Spring 2027.

🗓️ Tuesday | October 6, 11:15am onward | Saint Augustine Center 304 (Humanities office)

Hope to see you there!

Address

800 E Lancaster Avenue
Radnor, PA
19085

Telephone

+16105196165

Website

https://www1.villanova.edu/university/liberal-arts-sciences/programs/humanities.html

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