2026 Neuhaus Lecture

First Things, in partnership with New College of Florida, is pleased to announce Bishop Robert Barron will present this year’s 2026 Neuhaus Lecture “Recovering the University’s Soul: Christian Humanism Against the New Nihilism” on Sunday, February 1st at 5 p.m. at the Mildred Sainer Art & Music Pavilion.

The Most Reverend Robert Emmet Patrick Barron is the bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, MI. He holds a Bachelor of Philosophy and a Master of Philosophy from the School of Theology of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he was a Basselin Scholar. He received his Sacred Theology Licentiate from Mundelein Seminary, and was ordained priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, IL in 1986. In 1992, he attained his Doctor of Sacred Theology at the Institut Catholique de Paris. From 1992 to 2015, he taught theology at University of St. Mary of the Lake. From 2012 to 2015, he was the rector of the Mundelein Seminary, before Pope Francis appointed him as auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, CA. In 2022, the Pope appointed him to his current post. 

Bishop Baron is a prolific author, speaker, and theologian. In 2000, he began a radio ministry show, Word on Fire, which has evolved into a website offering various new media advancing the Gospel. He hosted the landmark PBS documentary, Catholicism. The subsequent film series, Catholicism: The Pivotal Players, was nominated for an Emmy award and has been syndicated for national television.

Schedule for the evening:

5:00 p.m. – Welcome and introduction by New College President Richard Corcoran and First Things Editor R. R. Reno

5:05 p.m – Presentation of “Recovering the University’s Soul: Christian Humanism Against the New Nihilism”

6:00 p.m – Lecture concludes