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As Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical “Magnifica Humanitas” was released, UST was ready as the campus community has been engaging at the intersection of artificial intelligence, human dignity and Catholic social teaching for quite some time. UST professors were featured in several publications locally, nationally, and worldwide sharing thoughtful comments about this profound document. Notable news media quoting UST professors include the Houston Chronicle, USA Today, Axios and the Associated Press, among many others.

Visit the University of St. Thomas online newsroom for direct links to these stories.

News and Success Stories | University of St. Thomas Houston Newsroom University of St. Thomas

UST philosophy professor Dr. Mirela Oliva brings the Catholic intellectual tradition to USA TODAY readers nationwide, offering her perspective on Pope Leo XIV's landmark AI encyclical "Magnifica Humanitas." We are proud to have UST's voice in the national conversation on artificial intelligence and human dignity.

'Profound, prophetic': Pope Leo warns of AI's dehumanizing effects The pope s treatise 'asks the right questions' of an industry better at building first and considering consequences later, one observer said.

Summer is here and it’s a good time to relax and engage with your mental health. UST is here for you. 🫶
 
The Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling students are offering low-cost counseling services to the greater Houston community. This is a great opportunity for those seeking support and guidance in their mental health journey.

Sessions can either be in-person on the University of St. Thomas campus or provided through a HIPAA-compliant tele-mental health video conference. All sessions will be conducted by CMHC counselors-in-training and supervised by the Clinic Director and Clinical Coordinator at St. Thomas.
 
📢 Share this with friends, family or anyone you know who could benefit from these services. Our counselors are here to help.
 
To learn more, contact the CMHC clinic at (713) 525-3879, or send us a DM.
 
     

What a trip! Dr. Sinda and Terry Vanderpool were joined by friends of University of St. Thomas for this year’s President’s Trip to Italy, a journey through some of the most sacred places.

Traveling throughout Italy including Milan, Florence, Orvieto, Assisi, Rome, and Naples, travelers walked in the footsteps of UST’s patron saint, St. Thomas Aquinas. They experienced his life and legacy firsthand through breathtaking frescoes, intricate statues, meaningful relics, and centuries-old architecture, including visits to his birthplace at Roccasecca, the great monastery of Monte Cassino where he lived as a child, and the beautiful Cistercian Abbey of Fossanova at which he died. The trip also focused on important sites for both the Franciscans and the Dominicans. A visit to Assisi was especially meaningful this year as the city prepares to mark the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis.

Travelers were led by Archbishop J. Michael Miller as their spiritual guide. He celebrated daily Mass for the group including a special private Mass at the tomb of St. Peter beneath the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, as well as a Mass in the chapel dedicated to the Eucharistic miracle of Bolsena in the Orvieto cathedral, which inspired the Feast of Corpus Christi composed by St. Thomas. The trip’s Eucharistic focus culminated in a visit to see the crucifix in Naples before which St. Thomas prayed that he wanted “Nothing but you, Lord” as a reward for his writings on the Eucharist. Associate Professor of Philosophy in the UST Center for Thomistic Studies Dr. Brian Carl served as an expert on St. Thomas Aquinas throughout the pilgrimage.

The crown jewel of the trip came on the morning of Wednesday, May 20, when the group attended a papal audience with Pope Leo XIV and witnessed him deliver his greetings in St. Peter’s Square. For a UST community already engaged with the Pope’s historic first encyclical on AI and human dignity, it was a moment none of them will forget.

What a trip, indeed. St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for us!

Dr. Sinda Vanderpool was recently featured in the May 12 issue of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Texas Catholic Herald!

The article showcases Dr. Vanderpool’s deep listening spirit, her connection to Houston, and her desire for the Archdiocese to be proud of its only Catholic university.

https://www.archgh.org/news/vanderpool-leads-ust-with-faith-listening-and-hope

Vanderpool leads UST with faith, listening and hope Official website of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

UST will hold a memorial Mass for Dr. Don Frohlich at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 22 in the Chapel of St. Basil. A reception will follow the Mass in the Malloy boardroom.

Dr. Frohlich was a longtime biology professor who inspired countless students and colleagues. Read more about him and his impact at UST.

We hope that you can join us as we pray for the repose of the soul of Dr. Frohlich.

https://news.stthom.edu/ust-mourns-beloved-biology-professor-dr-donald-frohlich/

UST Mourns Beloved Biology Professor Dr. Donald Frohlich For more than three decades at the University of St. Thomas, Dr. Donald R. Frohlich III inspired students to think more deeply about biology, evolution, genetics and, even more so, about the enduring relationship between science, philosophy and faith. Known affectionately by colleagues and forme...

Congratulations, Class of 2026!

Many moms were made proud today! 🫶👏👏👏