Treasures New and Old

Encounter the Catholic Intellectual Tradition

Thinking with the whole Church

The St. Irenaeus Institute offers opportunities for all who are interested—from seasoned scholars to those exploring the faith for the first time—to discover, ponder, and engage deeply with the Catholic intellectual tradition.

The people we serve

Man stands and speaks before a group of people

Scholars and students

Cultivating a robust conversation between the university and the Catholic intellectual tradition.

Men standing and smiling as they listen to a lecture

Lay men and women

Providing forums for Catholics and other Christians to study the great texts and ideas of the Church’s tradition and to explore the fundamental questions of our day.

Priests and deacons

Fostering intellectual life and friendship among the clergy.

News and events

Our upcoming events and ongoing programs

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Public Conversation

Is Literature More than a Matter of Taste?

August 29, 2026

What does it mean to be a reader of good taste? Can the world of fiction really elevate or transfigure our lives? Join us for a public conversation between Joshua Hren, Colleen Hutt (Well-Read Mom) and Bishop Don Hying (Madison) on questions like these which form the heart of Dr. Hren’s extraordinary new book, More than a Matter of Taste: The Moral Imagination and the Spirit of Literature (Word on Fire Luminor, 2026). 10:00 AM, Sat., Aug. 29 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist (Atrium).

For-credit class

Early Christianity: The First Millenium and its Legacy

September 3, 2026

How was Christianity was understood, practiced, and integrated into people’s lives in the first millennium A.D? How has it shaped the subsequent history and culture of the West down to the present day? This fall, for-credit class at UW-Milwaukee will explore these questions. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:30-3:45 in Merrill Hall G16. Open to non-degree-seeking students. This class is supported by a grant from the Lumen Christi Institute with funding from the John Templeton Foundation (Grant #63614).

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Short Course

Carmelite Spirituality with St. John of the Cross

September 10, 2026

In this short course on St. John's Spiritual Canticle, we will explore the heart of Carmelite prayer and devotion all the while tracing the archetypal stages of the spiritual life. The seminar will include times of recollected prayer in Newman Center Chapel. Fall dates: Sep. 10, Sep. 24, Oct. 8, Oct. 22, Nov. 5, Nov. 19, and Dec. 5. This course is supported by a grant from the Lumen Christi Institute with funding from the John Templeton Foundation (Grant #63614). Contact Joshua Hren for interest

Recurring Seminar

Fides Patrum: Patristic Spirituality

September 12, 2026

Fides Patrum is a seminar devoted to the theology of the Church Fathers through study and discussion of their key writings. This fall, Fides Patrum will explore the theme of Patristic Spirituality: how were theology and devotion integrated in the age of the Fathers, and how can we learn from this today? The fall dates are: Sep. 12, Oct. 3, Oct. 24, Nov. 14, and Dec. 5. Fides Patrum meets at 10:00 AM at the new UWM Newman Center, preceded by Mass (9:00 AM) and coffee hour.

Full Schedule and Details

A Practical Symposium

The Church and the Land: A Practical Symposium

October 3, 2026

The Christian tradition has long recognized a deep, if mysterious, connection between the worship of God and the work of the land, a connection which goes all the way back to the beginning of creation: "The Lord God put the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it" (Gen. 2:15). Join us at the Catholic Ecology Center for an afternoon of festive gathering, practical workshops, and a keynote address devoted to exploring these two intertwined aspects of the human vocation.

Registration soon!

See all our programs

Our mission

The St. Irenaeus Institute exists to make the Catholic intellectual tradition a vital part of the Church and the university in the greater Milwaukee area. Under the patronage of St. Irenaeus, the early patristic expression of that tradition animates our work even as we reflect upon the entire intellectual patrimony of the Church, from theology and philosophy, to the arts and sciences. We serve students, scholars, priests, and lay Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

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Catholic

Believing in order to understand.

Intellectual

Reasoning in the light of faith.

Tradition

Treasuring the wisdom handed down.

Milwaukee

Handing on the deposit here and now.

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Our Partners

In Lumine Network

The St. Irenaeus Institute is a member of the In Lumine Network, a consortium of select Catholic institutes around the country devoted to the exploration of fundamental questions of human existence in the light of the Catholic intellectual tradition. Through fellowship programs, lectures, and seminars, In Lumine institutes foster intellectual friendships, cultivate a sense of wonder, and equip students with the virtues necessary for flourishing.

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Lux Patrum

Lux Patrum’s mission is to promote the study of classical, patristic, and medieval texts by publishing elegant, bilingual editions at an affordable price.

Upcoming Publications

Support Catholic intellectual formation in Milwaukee

“Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Unless the Lord keep the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it.”
‍—Psalm 127:1

First, please pray for our labors, that they bring many yields and fulfill God’s will. Please also consider making a one-time or recurring donation to the St. Irenaeus Institute. Without your generous gifts, our programs would not be possible; our unique efforts revitalize intellectual life, serving the city of Milwaukee from the heart of the Church, would cease.

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