St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry cordially invites you to join us either in-person or virtually for our Annual Academic Convocation to officially welcome the start of our 2025 - 2026 academic year!
This year's Convocation will feature St. Bernard's Vice President and Academic Dean, Dr. Matthew Kuhner, on the topic of "The Love That Surpasses Knowledge: Love of God as the Source and Shape of Theology":
This Convocation address for the opening of the 2025-2026 academic year will reflect upon how love is both the source and the shape of theology. Drawing upon the insights of Ignatius of Antioch, Hugh of St. Victor, Thomas Aquinas, and Matthias Scheeben, the address will consider the following questions: how is knowledge of God related to love of God? What does it mean for love to surpass knowledge? If love of God is truly the source and the shape of theology, how does this impact our studies today?
We invite current students, alumni, our Board of Trustees, community members and their families for any and all parts of this celebration of faith and our new academic year!
When: Saturday, August 23rd, 9:00am - 2:00pm EDT
Where: St. Bernard's Campus: 120 French Road, Rochester, NY 14618, and online via Zoom
Bishop of Rochester (in-person only)
Available in-person and online
(New and current students only). Available in-person and online
Dr. Matthew Kuhner is Vice President/Academic Dean and Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry. Dr. Kuhner earned his Masters in Theological Studies at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family in Washington, DC, and completed his Ph.D. in systematic theology at Ave Maria University in southwest Florida. Dr. Kuhner’s academic work has appeared in "Harvard Theological Review," the "Journal of Theological Studies," "Lux Veritatis: A Journal of Speculative Theology," "Angelicum," the "Journal of Moral Theology," "Pro Ecclesia," "Nova et Vetera," "Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture," and the "Journal of Jesuit Studies." He serves on the Editorial Board of "Communio: International Catholic Review" and is a founder/corporate member of the Sacra Doctrina Project. His areas of teaching and research interest reflect the integrated convergence of dogmatic and historical theology, with a special emphasis in 20th century Catholic thought and the theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar. Dr. Kuhner deeply loves teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and his favorite classes are Mary, Mother of God and Faith, Fiction, and Film: The Drama of Belief. Dr. Kuhner is married to his college sweetheart, Michelle, and they have the joy of sharing their lives with their daughters, Catherine Grace and Bridget Therese, and their sons, John Benedict and Aidan Dominic.
St. Bernard's Rochester Campus, 120 French Rd., Rochester, NY
A Zoom meeting link will be emailed to you prior to the event
