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The St. Josemaría International Symposium is celebrating its twelfth edition this year, on November 14 and 15, at the Palacio de Congresos in Jaén. This annual meeting brings together experts, academics and interested members of the public to examine in depth the teachings and message of St. Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei, in different aspects of society and our lives.

The central theme of the symposium, “Voices of Hope,” invites us to reflect on how hope in Christ can inspire and sustain all human values, from friendship and culture to science and spirituality. As St. Josemaría said: «It is a time of hope, and I live from this treasure. It is not a phrase, Father,” you tell me, »it is a reality. So..., the whole world, all the human values that attract you with enormous force-friendship, art, science, philosophy, theology, sports, nature, culture, souls..., all of that, place it in hope: in the hope of Christ.

The symposium will begin on Friday, November 14, with the reception of participants and the inaugural conference “De dos en Dios. A proposal for marriage spirituality according to the teachings of St. Josemaría,” given by Javier Vidal-Quadras, president of the FERT Association. In addition, the St. Josemaría International Symposium Award will be presented.

Saturday, November 15, will feature various presentations and panel discussions, beginning with the conference “The Hope of the Christian. A reading from the encyclical Spe salvi of Benedict XVI”, by Pablo Blanco, priest and professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Navarra, and several panels that will address hope from perspectives such as social action, human reality and professional life. Speakers will include Almudena Calvo, Leire Navaridas, Ignacio Morón Henche, Aniceto Masferrer and more.

The symposium will conclude with a conference entitled “St. Josemaría, the Sick and Hope,” given by Professor Miguel Angel Martinez, and the official farewell by Luis Alberto Prados, Vicar of the Opus Dei Prelature in Eastern Andalusia.

Entrance to all activities requires prior registration and access will be via QR code, available on the official website.