The Diocese will welcome Dr. Austen Ivereigh, a British journalist and biographer of Pope Francis, on Feb. 3 and 4.
Dr. Ivereigh’s visit is part of the ongoing Formation Process for a Synodal Church. In his presentation, “In a Time of Isolation, a Culture of Encounter,” Dr. Ivereigh will explain why Pope Francis has put synodality at the heart of his pontificate and how his experience in Argentina and Latin America has shaped his vision of the Church. Dr. Ivereigh will also touch on the spirituality of synodality and the practices that will enable us to become a more Synodal Church.
In addition to his work as an author, Dr. Ivereigh has been involved with the Synod on Synodality at the global level. He will share with the Diocese what he has experienced and reflect with us on how our local Diocesan Synod Synthesis connects to the wider Church.
Dr. Ivereigh has authored two books about Pope Francis: The Great Reformer: Francis and the Making of a Radical Pope (New York: Henry Holt, 2014) and a follow-up volume on the pontificate, Wounded Shepherd: Francis and His Struggle to Convert the Catholic Church, which appeared in late 2019. Following an interview about the impact of lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Ivereigh and Pope Francis worked together to write Let Us Dream: the Path to a Better Future: In conversation with Austen Ivereigh. Dr. Ivereigh is also a regular contributor to The Tablet, America magazine, and Commonweal. He and his wife live on a small farm in Herefordshire, England, where since 2019, they have practiced regenerative horticulture, and keep sheep and chickens.
Clergy, lay ministers and parishioners are invited to attend one of Dr. Ivereigh’s presentations at the Diocesan Pastoral Center. The presentation will be in English on Friday, Feb. 3, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and again on Saturday, Feb 4, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Dr. Ivereigh will also present in Spanish on the evening of Friday, Feb. 3 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. To register, please go to https://form.jotform.com/222715324638052. Those unable to attend in person may connect via live stream on the Diocese of San Bernardino's YouTube channel.
For more information or to watch past Synod Formation Day presentations, please go to https://www.sbdiocese.org/FormationDays/Formation-Day.html.