St. John Henry Newman: Doctor of the Church?

I Didn’t Know He Went to Medical School!

Father Joe Pearce, C.O., D.Min.

Friday, February 6, 2026 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

On November 1, 2025, Pope Leo XIV named St. John Henry Newman a Doctor of the Church and Co-Patron of Catholic Education, alongside St. Thomas Aquinas. When we hear the word “doctor”, our minds think of a medical doctor, or someone might think of a professor who has a Ph.D. St. John Henry Newman was neither.

What does it mean to be a “Doctor of the Church”, and why is someone given that title? Newman is only the 39th person to be so named. What is the Church stating about him with this great honor? These and other questions will be answered in this presentation.

Fr. Joe Pearce is a member of the Rock Hill Oratory and President of the John Henry Newman Association of America.

Suggested Donation: $25

Registration may be made below or by email to oratorycenter@gmail.com, with Newman in the subject line.