Saint Patrick’s College Maynooth selected for prestigious philosophical theology grant

07 Sep 2021

The Faculty of Philosophy at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth has been selected to host one of the twelve grants offered by the project Widening the Horizons in Philosophical Theology, anchored at the University of Saint Andrews, and funded by a £2m grant from Templeton Religion Trust.

This project is an ambitious international initiative spearheaded by Professor Judith Wolfe.  It comprises leading and emerging researchers in the fields of philosophy and theology from the UK, Belgium, Ireland, Germany, the USA, Canada, and Australia.  The project’s impressive aim is to shape and widen the future direction of research trends in philosophical theology within the continental tradition in relation to Christian revelation.

Commenting on the grant award, Reverend Professor Michael Mullaney, President of Saint Patrick’s College Maynooth, noted “this grant will continue to bring internationally renowned scholars working at the intersection between philosophy and theology to the corridors of Saint Patrick’s College, along with supporting our cutting-edge and future-orientated research in Christian philosophy.  We are delighted and humbled to have been selected.”

This is two-year project led by Dr Philip John Paul Gonzales of the Faculty of Philosophy at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth will explore analogical metaphysics in relation to incarnate mimetic desire.

Dr Gonzales commented, “the project which launches on 1 October 2021 fits directly within, and supports, the constructive and forward-looking approach of the Faculty of Philosophy as seen with our recent international conference, The Future of Christian Metaphysics (April, 2021), and our forthcoming conference, The Future of Christian Thinking (April 2022).

Notes for Editors:

  • Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth opened its doors as an educational institution in 1795 as the National Seminary, becoming a Pontifical University in 1896.  In the intervening two centuries, it has established for itself an impressive reputation for scholarship and learning.  The Pontifical University and National Seminary are often referred to as Maynooth College.  Today, as a Pontifical University, the College specialises in the study of theology and philosophy at both postgraduate and undergraduate level and related areas, in one of the most beautiful campuses in Ireland, and the support of Ireland’s newest university, Maynooth University.  Saint Patrick’s College attracts students from home and abroad from a wide variety of backgrounds and careers. Students who wish to add the study of Philosophy and/or Theology to their chosen career and gain a deeper insight into their role in shaping a better society and serving the common good.  Further information is available on maynoothcollege.ie
  • More information regarding Widening Horizons and its projects can be found here: philosophical-theology.wp.st-andrews.ac.uk/projects/ 
  • Notes on The Future of Christian Thinking, global conference at Maynooth campus April 2022, maynoothcollege.ie/the-future-of-christian-thinking-international-conference-27th–30th-apr-2022 

Contact for Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth: Paul Hurley, Marketing Director, Saint Patrick’ College, Maynooth, E: [email protected]                                                        

Contact for the Catholic Communications Office Maynooth: Brenda Drumm +353 (0) 87 310 4444 and Katie Crosby +353 (0) 86 862 3298.