Father Dave Pivonka, TOR '89 President | Franciscan University website

Franciscan University of Steubenville, in collaboration with the Veritas Amoris Project, is set to host the fourth annual Truth of Love Conference from June 21-23, 2024. The conference will delve into the theme of "My Body Given for You (Luke 22:19): The Eucharist and the Logic of the Gift," focusing on the concept of the human body as a gift rather than a matter of choice.

Dr. Jacob Wood, the conference organizer and associate professor of theology at Franciscan University, emphasized the importance of understanding the human body as a gift in the midst of a society that often disregards its significance. He stated, “We live in a world that has given up on the body, that wants to be saved from the body. Only in Christ’s body do we find the salvific hope that the world is hungering for: the redemption of the body through the Cross, its renewal through the Eucharist, and the restoration of the body in the Resurrection.”

Dr. Stephen Hildebrand, the vice president for Academic Affairs at Franciscan University, expressed gratitude towards the bishops for emphasizing the centrality of the Eucharist in the Catholic faith. He highlighted the significance of the Truth of Love academic conference in honoring the Eucharistic Lord as the core of both intellectual and spiritual life, stating, “The Eucharist demands our minds as well as our hearts.”

The conference will feature a lineup of distinguished speakers who will explore the theme of the body as a gift from various perspectives. Keynote speaker Bishop Earl K. Fernandes of Columbus, Ohio, will be joined by renowned theologians such as Rev. Dr. José Granados, Dr. Scott Hahn, Dr. Stephan Kampowski, Dr. Katharina Westerhorstmann, Dr. Nicholas Healy, and others.

Attendees interested in participating in the Truth of Love Conference can find more information and register at franciscan.edu/truth-of-love-2024.