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.

10/19/2026

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!

09/30/2026

Prof. Anna Moreland will be back *this* week, October 4, for another Sunday @ St. Rita's.

After the 7pm Mass, she'll be talking in St. Rita's Community Room about one of the great questions that St. Augustine puts in focus for us: "Knowing God, Loving God: Which Comes First?”

Stop by around 8 (or after 7pm Mass) for food, friends--and Moreland!

09/29/2026

It's 1842 Day, Villanova's annual day of giving--and we invite you to donate to the Department of Humanities! https://buff.ly/Alp6DFr

Our goal in Humanities has always been to invite students and faculty alike into the great questions at the heart of the intellectual life.

The names of our seminars tell you how big and important these questions are: Human Person, Society, World, God. In our electives you find those same questions asked with more specific purpose: Problem of Love, Problem of Suffering, Forgiveness, Forming Citizens, Epiphanies of Beauty--and so much more. St. Augustine is our patron is taking these questions seriously, but together in spirit of joyful friendship.

Our pioneering curriculum has been serving the Villanova community for over 20 years. And we hope that our alumni continue to live their lives with the confidence that comes from this kind of scholarly enterprise--which is why we call our alumni organization Humanities for Good.

Please consider an 1842 Day donation today to our work, including our Great Book Fund, which generously gifts all students in our Seminars with a key book to treasure.

For more about Humanities, our curriculum, and our alumni: https://buff.ly/lMrQ0uL

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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