St Thomas More Trust Draws Enthusiastic Crowd for Evening of Classical Philosophy and Catholicism in Christchurch

CHRISTCHURCH — The St Thomas More Trust successfully hosted an inspiring evening of intellectual reflection and community dialogue last night, Thursday 24 September, at the St Bede’s College Performing Arts Centre in Papanui. The event brought together community members, scholars, and curious minds for two engaging sessions led by guest speakers Dr. Jeffrey Lehman of the Augustine Institute and former US Navy fighter pilot Ali Ghaffari of the St John Henry Newman Institute.

• Session 1: Virtue, Vocation and the Examined Life

Opening the evening at 5:30 PM, this session invited attendees to explore how classical wisdom and personal calling intersect in the modern world.

• Session 2: The Consolations of Philosophy: Boethius and the Recovery of the Examined Life

The main feature of the night examined Boethius’ famous prison text, demonstrating how philosophy offers a way through human suffering rather than an escape from it. The session concluded with a catered supper and facilitated small-group discussions where attendees actively unpacked the themes together.

The evening offered a rare synergy between two distinct perspectives: Dr. Lehman brought classical texts into vivid, urgent focus for contemporary readers, while Ali Ghaffari provided an inspiring testimony of finding one's true vocation in the face of challenges, through the intersection of talent and opportunity, the input of mentors, and the call to truth and virtue found in the study of the liberal arts. "Evenings like this don't come around often in Christchurch," said Tomas Mones-Cazon, General Manager of the St Thomas More Trust. "Every conversation with Dr. Lehman and Ali challenges us to think harder and see more clearly what we are called to. Seeing our community gather to engage so deeply with these timeless questions was truly rewarding."

The St Thomas More Trust is dedicated to fostering deep intellectual inquiry, classical wisdom, and meaningful public discourse across New Zealand. To learn more about upcoming events or support future programs, visit stmtrust.org.nz.