It's Beautiful to be Old - Older People & Catholic Social Teaching

An in-person event with speaker Dr Peter Kevern and reflection on what Catholic Social Teaching says about growing old and ageing.
About this Event

Growing Old Grace-fully is hosting an in-person event, “ – Older People & Catholic Social Teaching, on Tuesday 13th October 2026, 10am-1:30pm in Cathedral Hall, St Anne’s Cathedral, Leeds.

Older People and those with an interest in the theology of ageing are invited to attend this event, with speaker Dr Peter Kevern and reflection on what Catholic Social Teaching says about growing old and ageing.

Modern secular culture presents us with two visions of what it is to be old: either as a period of aimless self-indulgence, or as a decline into illness and irrelevance. However, the Catholic Church (and particularly the three most recent Popes) has spent a lot of time reflecting on the theology of ageing and painting a more hopeful and inspiring picture. In this half-day session we will look at some of the key ideas growing out of this process, reflecting on what they mean for us as individuals, and on the prophetic challenge they bring to the western world in a time of change.

The speaker is Dr Peter Kevern, who until recently was Professor of Values in Health and Social Care at the University of Staffordshire.

The event will end with a shared lunch over which we can continue conversations. People are asked to bring some food to share, if they can.