St. Michael’s College invites first‑year students to join the Gilson Seminar, a two‑course introduction to big questions at the intersection of Christian faith, culture, ideas, and global experience. In the Fall, you’ll explore faith, ecology, science, literature, and the arts through weekly lectures and small tutorials. We’ll read great texts by Augustine, Dante, Pope Francis, and Dorothy Day. In the Winter, readings focus on the history and art of Rome itself, leading to an 11‑day learning trip to Rome and Assisi at the beginning of May 2027. Join us to experience one of the world’s great centres of belief and culture.
The Seminar is taught by Dr. Michael O’Connor, a professor in the College’s Christianity and Culture program and current holder of the Bennett Family Chair in Christianity and the Arts.
- Why should I enroll?
The Gilson Seminar introduces you to university-level studies on a small scale, with students who share an interest in international experience and in the relationship between ideas, art, and the Christian faith.
- What are the courses?
Here’s a look at the two half-courses:
Fall: The Gilson Seminar in Faith and Ideas
This course will explore questions related to Christianity and ecology, science, literature, the arts, and politics. The course features a weekly lecture on a major topic and a small tutorial in which you will have a chance to explore the subject in greater depth. Throughout this course, you will have a chance to read, reflect, discuss, and write. You will receive 0.5 course credits for taking this course, which would be one of normally 5 courses that you would take in the Fall term.
Winter: The Gilson Seminar in Faith and Rome
This course includes an eleven-day international learning experience in Rome, Italy, in May 2027, that explores the roles that the Catholic Church and Vatican have played in ecology, science, literature, the arts, and politics. The course features daily lectures and site-specific talks and tours in Rome and Assisi. You will have a chance to immerse yourself in the living history of one of the world’s great centres of belief and culture and in turn to reflect on, discuss, and write about this experience. You will receive 0.5 course credits for taking this course, which runs in the Winter term.
- What will I be reading?
Some of the material you’ll be reading could include selections from:
- St. Augustine’s Confessions, an autobiography about what it means to search for truth and to believe in God when not very many people think there’s a point to it.
- Dante’s Divine Comedy, the Italian poet’s arresting and beautiful meditation on justice and mercy, politics and ethics, faith and love.
- Dorothy Day’s The Long Loneliness, an autobiography about committing your life to social justice activism out of your belief in God.
- Laudatosi’, Pope Francis’s teaching on the environment and what it means to care for each other and the Earth in a faith-based commitment.
- What about Rome—when do I go? Are there fees?
The travel portion of the Gilson Seminar in Faith and Rome takes place in Rome, Italy, in May 2027.
The Faith and Rome Seminar is based in the centre of Rome. In advance of the trip, you will receive more detailed information and also safety training and other preparation.
All students admitted to the Gilson Seminar in Faith and Rome are responsible for their own airfare and incidentals. The cost of room, board and programming comes out of your student account through an ancillary fee paid when you register for this course. The fee amount, subject to confirmation, will not be more than $2,500.
Please note that trip dates are subject to change. The University of St. Michael’s College follows the guidance of government health authorities and the Faculty of Arts and Science when arranging student travel.
If you have questions about the course, please email Michael Czobit at michael.czobit@utoronto.ca.