University of St. Thomas launches new annual Summer Literary Series

The series will feature a "Who's Who of Catholic literary giants," live -streamed between June 17 and June 21.

The University of St. Thomas (UST), in Houston, TX, is launching a new annual tradition that will gather distinguished Catholic authors and scholars to discuss the joy and beauty of the written word. Called the Summer Literary Series, UST promises a “Who’s Who of Catholic literary giants” which this year includes Catholic author Robert Royal and renowned American poet Dana Gioia.

The Summer Literary Season is scheduled to run from June 16 to 28. While the majority of the 13-day event will be held live and in-person, UST has planned to broadcast live streams on June 17, 20, and 21.

James Matthew Wilson, the founding director of the Creative Writing program and chair of the department of English Literature at UST commented on the series in a press release:

“We intend for the Summer Literary Series to be the University of Saint Thomas’s gift to the people of Houston, of the country, and around the world, as we feature great artists and scholars who are building a culture of hope and beauty even now. We live in tumultuous times, but also times of tremendous energy and inventiveness, both in our culture as a whole and in the Catholic Church in particular, ” notes Wilson.

Wilson went on to quote philosopher Jacques Maritain, who wrote “to civilize is to spiritualize. In this spirit, Wilson suggested that anyone who wishes to “nourish the intellectual and artistic side of their lives” will benefit from UST’s Summer Literary series.

Livestream

One of the most anticipated days of the series is June 21, when Dana Gioia and Robert Royal will lead a conversation on the topic: “The Future of Catholic Letters.” The two will discuss the intellectual and literary achievements of 20th-century Catholics, as well as the prospects for what has been called “a 21st Century Catholic Literary Renaissance.”

UST President Dr. Richard Ludwick said of the event:

“The Summer Literary Series is an opportunity to showcase UST as a hub for some of the country’s most illustrious Catholic creative writers and thinkers, and it offers a one-of-a-kind experience for our students. We are particularly excited about this year’s livestream, which provides a window for the entire world into our special program here in Houston.”

Attendance to the Summer Literary Series is free and open to the public on weekday evenings, from 7:15 to 8:45, in Central Time.

Click here to see a full list of presenters and events, or to learn how to tune in to one of their livestream broadcasts.