Paluch Lecture – Spring 2026

The Declaration on Christian Education: A Key to Vatican II’s Future

On February 12, 2026, Dr. Harold D. Horell, the Margaret and Chester Paluch Chair of Theology at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake (USML), delivered the Spring 2026 Paluch Lecture titled, The Declaration on Christian Education: A Key to Vatican II’s Future.

Sixty years after the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church continues to implement its teachings. This Paluch Lecture examined how the 1965 document Gravissimum Educationis remains a vital guide for the modern Church.

The presentation encouraged the audience to see Catholic education as a catalyst for “universal human solidarity” rather than only a private matter of faith. By moving beyond traditional lectures and incorporating time for personal reflection and group discussion, attendees were able to internalize the Council’s call for “universal human solidarity” and “world responsibility” in their own lives and ministries.

The lecture examined the Council’s Declaration on Christian Education and other key documents to highlight the Church’s ongoing mission to promote “world responsibility.”

Dr. Horell referenced several Vatican II documents, including the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et Spes), to illustrate this “holistic” approach to education; that education should extend beyond the classroom to foster a sense of duty toward the global human family.

About the Paluch Lecture
Established in 1990, the Paluch Lecture is a prestigious event that fosters theological studies at Mundelein Seminary. It brings together scholars, theologians, and the faithful to explore the depths of Catholic theology. The Paluch Lecture continues to be a significant event in the Catholic intellectual landscape, fostering dialogue, scholarly exchange, and a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith.

About USML
USML educates and forms lay leaders and priests to serve the Church and its people. It has over 1,000 lay students and 100 seminarians from 30 dioceses. USML’s faculty are recognized as leaders in their fields, sought-after speakers, and members of pontifical academies, councils, and the International Theological Commission.