For the first time since COVID-19 hit, the Jesuit Institute South Africa will host an in-person series of lectures known as Winter Living Theology (WLT). The guest speaker for this event is Fr Daniel Horan, OFM, an expert on the 20th-century mystic Thomas Merton. Fr Dan will be visiting Johannesburg, Durban, Cape Town, Botswana and Eswatini during his time here. He will also preach a retreat at the Origins Retreat Centre in the Cradle of Humankind entitled The Franciscan Heart of Thomas Merton.

The theme for this year’s series of lectures is “Searching for Meaning: The Wisdom of Thomas Merton for Our Times”. Thomas Merton (1915-1968), a trappist monk, was and remains one of the most influential Christian writers of the last century. His commentaries on politics, racism, nonviolence, nuclear threats, the Church and contemplative life are relevant to our context today. His autobiography Seven Storey Mountain, still in print today, was a best-seller and the beginning of his success as an author.
Fr Dan Horan is a 38-year-old Franciscan who is the current director of the Center for Spirituality and professor of philosophy, religious studies and theology at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. He was captivated by Thomas Merton’s work when he became a Franciscan. He has given talks, lead retreats and presented research in Merton studies at conferences around the world. He is preparing for the International Thomas Merton Society’s 2023 conference taking place at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame.

The focus of the WLT lecture series this year, Fr Dan says, is “to engage Merton’s life, thought and legacy, with an eye towards how he might assist us in addressing the pressing issues of our time in Church and society. Among these key issues are nonviolence and peace-making, interreligious and ecumenical dialogue, environmental justice, and systemic racism.” 

Fr Dan hopes that those familiar with Thomas Merton will deepen their appreciation of his relevance and insight and that those new to Merton will find a new source of inspiration and a new spiritual companion.

The lecture series will take place on the following dates:
19-22 July Cape Town – St Francis Xavier Seminary
26-28 July Durban – St Joseph’s Parish, Morningside
30 July Eswatini
2-4 August Johannesburg – Lumko Retreat Centre, Benoni
10 August Botswana 

To book for WLT 2022 please contact the Jesuit Institute at wlt@jesuitinstitute.org.za or call 011 482 4237

Retreat at Origins Retreat Centre 5-7 August
To book for the retreat please contact the Jesuit Institute at retreats@jesuitinsitute.org.za or call 
011 482 4237