The inspiration to organize The Summer Seminar came about through the discussions of a group of friends: Michael Novak, Richard John Neuhaus, Robert Sirico, Rocco Buttiglione, George Weigel and Maciej Zieba OP.
The first seminar of the Summer School entitled The Free Society and Centesiums Annus was held in Lichtenstein. Participants included students and doctoral candidates from the United States and South-East Europe.
Lectures and discussions were based on the social encyclical of John Paul II (Centesimus annus).
Since 1999 seminars under the title Tertio Millennio & Free Society have been organized by Tertio Millennio Institute. These are held every July in Krakow, where participants stay in the Dominican Priory.
Program
Classes consisting of lectures and discussions are given in English. They concentrate on issues revolving around democratic capitalism. Lectures reflect on its contemporary history in view of the social teaching of the Church, particularly in reference to John Paul II (CA). The program also offers an opportunity to partake in prayer and daily mass. In the leisure time attractive excursions are organized.
Among lecturers are:
- Michael Novak - american philosopher, theologian and economist, Director of Social and Political Studies at the American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research in Washington, DC; author of Spirit of Democratic Capitalism, Free Persons and the Common Good, Catholic Social Thought and Liberal Institutions and Freedom with Justice.
- Fr Richard John Neuhaus - director of Institute on Religion and Public Life, Editor-in-chief of the monthly publication First Things.
- George Weigel - director of Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, DC which is in cooperation with the Washington Post and Los Angeles Times, author of the John Paul II biography Witness to Hope.
- Fr Maciej Zięba OP - since January 1998 Provincial of the Polish Dominican Order, founder and Director of the Tertio Millenio Institute, author of many books and publications presenting the teaching of JPII and the social teaching of the Church.
Guest lectures are presented by Russell Hittinger- professor of the University of Tulsa, Paul Ballantyne- Director of the Center of Economic Education, and also Prof. Richard Legutko- philosopher at the Jagiellonian University.
Participants
In every session of the Summer Seminar there are approximately thirty-six students and doctoral candidates from the United States and South-East Europe.
Participants are actively united in a common concern for traditional values in the public life. At the same time, the variety of their backgrounds and cultural experiences contribute to the value of discussions and new perspectives.
School participants maintain contact with each other. In January 2000 around 200 people took part in the celebration of the Great Jubilee in Rome. A Polish group has initiated monthly meetings entitled “Millennium Debates”.
