Welcome to St Bede's Hall, Oxford
Avery Cardinal Dulles
The Strengths of a Catholic University
Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J. was one of the foremost Catholic theologians in the 20th Century. He died on 12 December, 2008 leaving behind him an impressive number of books and articles. Cardinal Dulles and I were friends, and I know from my personal contact with him that he had a great love and appreciation for Catholic education, especially Catholic higher education. In his 2002 article, The Advantages of a Catholic University in America magazine he wrote of the great advantages that a true and authentic Catholic university offers not only to its students but also to society at large. As the Chairman of the Board of St. Bede’s Hall, I would like to note and comment of some Cardinal’s Dulles’ most salient points, for the Cardinal articulates clearly some of the essential aspects of St. Bede’s own vision.
Cardinal Dulles states that he wishes to note ‘six major benefits that higher education can receive from being Catholic.’
The first benefit is that of a truly Christian personalism, that is, ‘the primacy of persons over things, the superiority of being over having, and of spirit over matter.’ Catholic education is not simply utilitarian whereby one is trained merely to enhance the technological age and foster the accumulation of wealth. Rather, a Catholic education is a genuinely humanist formation that will help students ‘to rise to the full level of their humanity, enabling them to find truth and meaning in their lives.’ St. Bede’s shares this Christian personalism. We strive to provide our students a wholistic education, an education that caters to the potential of the whole human person for the human person processes a dignity and value in and of himself.
The second benefit is that the Catholic Church possesses a 2000 year old tradition, a tradition that is still living today. The role of Catholic higher education, of which St. Bede’s is a part, is to help students, according to Cardinal Dulles, ‘adapt the heritage of the past to the needs of their own day.’
St. Bede’s is looking to have a student body that comes from many different cultures and religious back grounds, or no religious back ground at all. This third point does not undermine the Catholic ethos of St. Bede’s for the word ‘catholic’ means ‘universal.’ Cardinal Dulles notes that a Catholic institution of higher education respects every culture and through the student’s appropriation of wisdom and knowledge enhances the various cultures.
Cardinal Dulles states in point four that ‘the very nature of a university is to impart knowledge of many fields.’ St. Bede’s honours this principle. It wishes to offer our students the ability to study as broadly and deeply as possible. While St. Bede’s focuses on the Arts, it does not distain the Sciences. Rather, it sees a unity of truth, whereby the truth that pertains to the arts and the truth that pertains to the sciences form a unity of truth that enhances the full potential of every human person.
The Cardinal, then, in point five, addresses an issue that is of the utmost importance, that is, the relationship between faith and reason. St. Bede’s believes that there cannot be a discrepancy between what is truly of faith and what is truly of reason. Rather, it is the union of the two that provides and enhances the fullness of education and so the fullness of life.
The Cardinal concludes by stating that ‘as they are intellectually formed in the light of faith, students will become aware of moral imperatives and the power of the Gospel for the transformation of human society.’ An education that is truly universal and truly personal is, by its very nature, beneficial to every culture and every society. In fostering an authentic humanism within students, they will undertake their individual and social responsibilities with integrity and honour. St. Bede’s hopes to make its contribution to this noble goal – of forming students that give life and truth to the future.
Fr. Thomas G. Weinandy, OFM, Cap., MA, Oxon, Ph. D.
Chairman of the Board
St. Bede’s Hall, Oxford
Dear Friends and Colleagues of St. Bede’s Hall, 
First Anniversary of the Decree granted by Archbishop Vincent Nichols to St Bede’s Hall
A reception was held on the 25th March 2010 at number 42 St Giles to celebrate the first anniversary of the signing of St Bede's Decree by Archbishop Vincent Nichols. The evening started at 6.00pm when Fr Gareth Jones blessed the new premises and this was followed by an informal reception with refreshments. The event was well attended by students, tutors and supporters.
First Exchange Student at St Bede's Hall
Emily's blog
In the last three months, I have been constantly asked by several Aussies "Has England reached your expectations?" I know that when they ask this, they really mean "Have you drunk a lot of tea, watched a lot of EastEnders, visited the Queen, shopped at Marks and Spencers and suffered some degree of hypothermia?" Well, yes. I have done all of these, but it does not give a fair account of what England really is, let alone Oxford in itself.
From the very beginning I think they all could tell I was a foreigner; perhaps it was because I was the only person in town who had managed to layer on their entire wardrobe to go outside, or maybe it was because I was the only person over the age of ten to be found stomping in the snow and building snowmen. The weather has warmed up a little since then (I felt truly British when I declared "What a lovely warm day!" when it was only 10 degrees outside) and with the warming of weather the students are out in full force. You cannot walk though town without seeing students discussing 'the way in which Neo-Platonism changed society' or 'The best way to stay up for 48 hours straight.'
I know what you are thinking; why hasn't she mentioned St. Bede's yet? Obviously I was saving the best till last! One-on-one tutorials with Oxford professors, a tailor made course that allows me to pick my particular areas of interest, sitting out in the sun sipping tea and discussing Henry James really, does it get much better? After travelling from A Cocktail Party with Eliot to Kingsley's deathbed with Martin Amis, I have taken part in literary voyages I will not easily forget. After placing myself in the middle of the Rwandan genocide and passionately slamming books closed in disgust, to revisiting that day nearly a decade ago where a few men armed with nothing more than with box cutters, airline timetables and some rudimentary flight training within Western establishments filled the hearts of the world with fear, I have relived events that have drastically changed and contributed to the world we live in. With over two centuries covered, sixteen essays written, five libraries (one of which is home to over eight million books!) visited all within 8 short weeks, Oxford does, without a doubt, live up to its name - City of Dreaming Spires.
Academic Associates
We are delighted to announce that Professor Arvind Krishna Mehrotra, the leading Indian poet, critic and translator, has become an Academic Associate of St Bede's Hall.Arvind Krishna Mehrotra is professor of English at the University of Allahabad, India. He is the author of four books of poems, the most recent of which is The Transfiguring Places. The Absent Traveller: Prākrit Love Poetry from the Gāthāsaptaśatī of Sātavāhana Hāla, a volume of translations, has recently been reprinted in Penguin Classics. Arvind's edited books include The Oxford India Anthology of Twelve Modern Indian Poets and An Illustrated History of Indian Literature in English. He is currently working on a translation of Kabir to be published in NYRB Classics.
For further information see the entry in Who's Who
Substantial bursaries now available
St Bede’s Hall is delighted to be able to offer a number of bursaries for twelve-week courses starting in September 2010. These will amount to 50% of the fees, effectively reducing the cost for tuition, excursions and the social programme from $14,000 to $7000, and will apply in all subjects. Bursaries will be awarded on a case by case basis until the limit has been reached. Applicants wishing to apply should download and submit a completed application form as soon as possible.
Once a bursary has been granted a non-refundable deposit of $300 must be paid as soon as possible to secure the place.
A number of smaller bursaries amounting to 10% of the total cost are also available for short Summer courses. For a two-week course the bursary will amount to $220, reducing the cost to $1,980; for the four-week course the fees will be reduced by $400 to $3,600.
Students wishing to take advantage of this excellent opportunity to study in Oxford at a very reduced cost are advised to apply as soon as possible and should contact the Provost in advance to register their interest.
PRESS RELEASE
His Eminence George Cardinal Pell, Archbishop of Sydney has become a Patron of St. Bede's Hall, Oxford.
The Cardinal a graduate of Oxford University said "I would be honoured to serve as an honorary patron of St. Bede's Hall... I would be delighted to assist in any way that I can and look forward to visiting St. Bede's Hall when next I am in Oxford." The Cardinal concluded by wishing the academic community of St. Bede's Hall "every good wish for the success of the work."
The news was warmly welcomed by the Board of St. Bede's Hall. Today's announcement of the Australian Cardinal's patronage further strengthens the ties between St. Bede's Hall and Australia which had recently entered into a bi-lateral agreement with Campion College in Australia. The first student from Australia has arrived at St. Bede's and has begun her courses with the tutors of the new academic community.
For more information contact Dr. Penny Cookson
