Love, Conflict, and an Unfolding Universe

A WISR Conference—marking a decade of growth from the Omega Center through the Center for Christogenesis, and into a new horizon

Enter the conversation where love and complexity converge.

November 9–11, 2026
The Villanova Inn · Villanova, Pennsylvania

In 2026, we celebrate a decade of visionary work—ten years of imagining love as the energy of transformation, and a pivotal turning point as that work continues under a new name: the World Institute for Science, Religion and Culture (WISR). We invite you to gather with us in person (and online) at Villanova University to mark this milestone and deepen our shared journey.

More details on speaker lineup and schedule are coming soon—for now, plan to join us!

Get your early-bird registration Below

Speakers

FAQs

Hotel & Lodging

Vision

Evolution is our story. Movement toward greater consciousness is our direction. And yet we find ourselves in a world wrought with conflict, war, separation, violence, and ecological wounding — the list goes on.

How did we arrive here? Are we doomed to fail as a species? Or is something deeper at work beneath the fractures of our age?

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin lived through two world wars. He witnessed devastation on a scale modernity had never known — and yet, beneath the surface of things, he perceived an energetic depth of love drawing the universe toward greater unity and consciousness. What is this cosmic love? Why is it essential to our moment? And how might it become, once again, the leading edge of our evolutionary becoming?

In November 2026, we will gather to ask these questions together — and to mark a decade of visionary work imagining love as the energy of transformation. This milestone arrives at a pivotal turning point, as that work continues under a new name: the World Institute for Science, Religion and Culture (WISR).

Join us in person at Villanova University, or online from anywhere in the world, to deepen this shared journey.

Confirmed Speaker Lineup

The following speakers are confirmed for plenary talks and panel discussions.
As additional speakers are added, they will be included here.

Ilia Delio

Ilia Delio, OSF, PhD, is a Franciscan Sister of Washington DC and Professor at Villanova University. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the World Institute for Science, Religion and Culture, an online educational forum focused on integrative thinking and personal formation. She is the author of over twenty-five books, including The Christian Mutation: Reclaiming the Dynamic God of Jesus (Orbis, 2026), The Not Yet God: Carl Jung, Teilhard de Chardin and the Relational Whole, The Hours of the Universe which won the 2022 Gold Nautilus Book Award and The Unbearable Wholeness of Being: God, Evolution and the Power of Love (Orbis 2013) which received the 2014 Silver Nautilus Book Award.

Ilia graduated with a B.S. in Biology from DeSales University, a master’s degree in biology from Seton Hall University, a doctorate in Pharmacology from Rutgers University-New Jersey Medical School, and a doctorate in Historical Theology from Fordham University. She is also the recipient of four Honorary degrees, as well as the Association for Catholic Colleges and Universities Monika Hellwig Award for her contributions to the Catholic Intellectual Tradition.

Her area of research is Systematic-Constructive theology with a focus on religion and evolution, following the vision of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. She continues to develop a new framework of God, self and world through the integration of science and religion, mapping the next level of human evolution in an age of artificial intelligence.

Kathleen Duffy

Kathleen Duffy, SJ, PhD, is Professor Emerita of Physics, Director of the Institute for Religion and Science at Chestnut Hill College, President of the American Teilhard Association, Associate Editor of Teilhard Studies, and serves on the Board of Cosmos and Creation. Kathleen is the recipient of the Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris Causa from Iona College, New Rochelle, NY, October 18, 2009; was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Catholic Witness, St. Hubert High School in 2005; and received the John Templeton Foundation Quality and Excellence in Teaching Award in 1998.

Her current research interests concern the religious essays of Jesuit paleontologist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, his spirituality, and the relationship of his synthesis to modern developments in science. She has published award-winning books including Teilhard’s Mysticism: Seeing the Inner Face of Evolution; Teilhard’s Struggle: Embracing the Work of Evolution; an edited volume of essays about Teilhard’s life and work entitled Rediscovering Teilhard’s Fire, as well as many book chapters and articles. Kathleen also guides evening, weekend, and week-long retreats on topics related to Teilhard’s life and work.

Dan Horan

Daniel P. Horan, PhD, is Professor of Philosophy, Religious Studies and Theology and Director of the Center for the Study of Spirituality at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. He is also Affiliated Professor of Spirituality at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. A columnist for the National Catholic Reporter, he is the author or editor of more than fourteen books, including Catholicity and Emerging Personhood: A Contemporary Theological Anthropology, A White Catholic’s Guide to Racism and Privilege, and The Way of the Franciscans: A Prayer Journey Through Lent. Prof. Horan’s most recent book is titled Engaging Thomas Merton: Spirituality, Justice, and Racism and his next book, due out in Summer 2024, is titled Fear and Faith: Hope and Wholeness in a Fractured World. He is currently working on a book on Christology tentatively titled, Not Because of Sin: Reconsidering the Reason God Became Human.

His academic research, writing, and teaching focuses on medieval and contemporary spirituality, theological anthropology, Christology, antiracism and LGBTQ issues, and theologies of creation. Prof. Horan regularly lectures around the United States and abroad; and serves on several university, academic, and publication editorial boards. He is recipient of numerous awards for his writing and service and is co-host of The Francis Effect Podcast.

Andrew Del Rossi

Andrew Del Rossi, Ph.D., is a theologian, author, and retreat leader with a focus on the integration of spirituality and psychology. He holds a doctorate in theology with a concentration on Christian spirituality from La Salle University in Philadelphia, serves as the director of the Spirituality Center at Daylesford Abbey in Paoli, PA, is on the Board of the American Teilhard Association, and hosts the Sacred Synergy podcast. Andrew's new book Sacred Synergy: Spiritual & Psychological Growth in an Evolving World was published with Paulist Press in May of 2026.

Gregory Stock

Gregory Stock, Ph.D., is a scientist, writer, entrepreneur, and public communicator whose work represents a deep exploration into what it means to be human in the 21st century. During his career, he has developed the foremost paradigm for personal inquiries into values and beliefs, which has significant implications for humankind as it faces the profound shifts brought by silicon and biotech. Today, Greg serves as an expert speaker and advisor to biotech and healthcare companies and to non-profits at the cutting edge of human health.

Early Bird Registration

For student scholarships, submit this application and our team will follow up with registration instructions.

All registrants (in-person and virtual) will receive online access to stream programming, plus recordings of the sessions. Access information and other updates will be sent to the email provided.

If you encounter any issues during registration, please consult our step-by-step troubleshooting guide for assistance.

To register using ETF, or if you encounter errors when donating from outside the US, try this alternative secure form. If issues persist, contact us.

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