DYA Summer Study Week 2027: A Vision for Life

The annual Dominican Summer Study Week offers a systematic overview of Catholic theology for young adults and university students, especially for those seeking to make sense of theology and integrate it into a sustainable vision of Catholic life. This summer we return to the beautiful setting of Worth Abbey from 14th – 22nd July 2027, for a week of talks, workshops, prayer, discussions, walks, fellowship and much more!

New for 2027

• The two streams now run one after the other. In order to increase capacity, the two streams will run consecutively. Stream 1 runs from Weds 14th to Sun 18th July, and Stream 2 from Sun 18th to Thurs 22nd July 2027. If you’re new, you can do stream 1 and go straight on into stream 2, with 15% off for booking both.
• We’re also coming to Scotland! Stream 1 runs at Craig Lodge, Argyll, from Mon 5th to Fri 9th July 2027. [read more here]

About the week

The study week takes its starting point from St Paul’s letter to the Romans: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2) It is by the renewing of our minds, by being transformed by Truth, that we are able to discern the will of God and so live a happy and fulfilled life.

The study week aims to help students and young adults experience this transformation, offering a systematic overview of Catholic theology which provides a coherent vision for life.

Each day mixes talks, workshops and discussion groups with Mass, the Divine Office with the monks of Worth, time for personal prayer, and plenty of time to relax: walks, games and evenings with other young Catholics. The week is led by a team of Dominican friars and sisters.

Stream 1 – The big picture

Weds 14th – Sun 18th July · For those coming for the first time.

Many of us hear words like grace, redemption, the Trinity, or the sacraments without quite seeing how they all relate to one another. What is God’s plan for our salvation? How does it all fit together? The study week is a chance to see the big picture. Following the shape of St Thomas Aquinas’s Summa Theologiae, Stream 1 is a guided tour of the big picture of the Catholic faith:

• God and Creation: the Trinity, creation, and the human person
• Journeying to God: human happiness, the passions and the virtues, law and grace
• Christ Our Way: the Incarnation and Redemption, the Church and the sacraments

Stream 2 – What is a human being?

Sun 18th – Thurs 22nd July · For those who have already completed Stream 1.

Stream 2 takes a deeper dive into a particular area of theology, rotating topics each year. In 2027, we will look at ‘theological anthropology’, the study of the human person. It is a question that touches on just about every hot-button issue of the 21st century. What does it mean to be made in the image of God? How does Christian faith speak to evolution, to sexual difference, or to a distracted, digital age? Stream 2 aims to provide both the robust foundations of a theological anthropology, and explore some of the areas where that theology comes into conflict with modern culture.

• What is a human being? The biblical vision of the human person, body and soul, and the image of God
• Where we came from and what went wrong: evolution and human origins, the Fall and original sin, and how grace heals and raises us
• The human person today: where our culture’s picture of the person clashes with the Christian one, including areas such as marriage and family, transgenderism, sexual difference, and artificial intelligence

Who is speaking?

Fr Nicholas Crowe OP, the Prior Provincial of the English Dominicans and a moral theologian, will teach the first stream courses on beatitude, virtues, and grace. Fr Albert Robertson OP, a doctoral student in Cambridge, will teach the section on Christology and Sacraments for the first stream, and some of the foundational topics for the second stream. Fr Simon Gaine OP, a professor at the Angelicum in Rome and a member of the International Theological Commission, will be covering the second stream topics on evolution, original sin, and grace. Fr Toby Lees OP, priest-director of Radio Maria, and Sr Carino Hodder OP, a member of the Dominican Sisters of St Joseph, will look at the intersection of theological anthropology and modern culture for the second stream. Br Jerome Johnson OP, a deacon completing a Licenciate in theology at the Angelicum in Rome, will cover God and creation for the first stream. Sr Hyacinthe Defos du Rau OP, Prioress of the Dominican Sisters of St Joseph, will contribute to the second stream, and Fr John Church OP, who runs the Dominican Young Adults ministry, will be leading the week and contributing to both streams.

Who is it for?

The study week is open to any student or young adult (20s and 30s), whether you are new to the Catholic tradition or looking to deepen your faith. No background in theology or philosophy required!

What people said after the study week in 2026

• “As a recently baptised Catholic, very new to the faith and still learning to stand on my own two feet, the study week was a wonderful opportunity to explore the richness and depth of the Catholic faith through the thought of St Thomas Aquinas. But even more important to me was the welcoming, joyful and wonderful people I encountered throughout the week. I feel very grateful to have shared such a special week with them.”
• “Everyone was lovely; the friars and sisters were amazing at making accessible profound truths which illuminate the beauty of the faith.”
• “The study week is a brilliant time of prayer, study and socialising. The week enables you to go deeper in understanding of the faith while living out the Catholic life with fellow young adults.”
• “I enjoyed praying the Psalms during the the Divine office. I’ve been wanting to integrate more prayer into my life and through the study week, I’ve learnt that praying the Psalms is good place to start!”
• “A perfect opportunity to build your faith.”

Prices

There are a range of ticket options. Residential tickets cover full room and board, as well as all teaching. There is a campsite 5min by car from Worth Abbey which proved a popular option in 2026 and this option includes all meals, while non-residential tickets include lunch and dinner with the group. The benefactor ticket contributes to the costs of running the week, in particular covering bursaries for those unable to afford the full amount.

• Residential (shared room, all meals): £195 per stream, or £330 for both streams
• Camping (bring your own tent, all meals): £140 per stream
• Non-residential (lunch and dinner): £100 per stream
• Benefactor (residential): £250 per stream.

We don’t want cost to keep anyone away. If money is a difficulty for any reason, book your place and email us at dya@english.op.org to ask about a bursary. All requests are treated in confidence.

How to book

Book on Eventbrite, which reserves your place without taking payment, so no booking fees are deducted. We will then email you from dya@english.op.org with bank details for payment. Your place is confirmed once we receive your payment. Places are limited, so please book early.

Book now: Eventbrite Booking Page

How to get there

Venue: Worth Abbey, Crawley RH10 4SB

Worth Abbey is a monastery of monks of the English Benedictine Congregation. The nearest mainline station is Three Bridges, which is only four miles away, on the London to Brighton and Bedford to Brighton railway lines. It is 15 minutes by taxi from the station to Worth Abbey. If you are travelling by car and have space to offer a lift to others let us know. It may also be possible to arrange lifts from the station.

More information about how to reach the Abbey can be found on their website here: https://worthabbey.net/how-to-get-to-worth/

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Can’t make these dates? The study week also runs at Craig Lodge in Scotland, from 5th – 9th July. [Read more and book]

Questions? Email dya@english.op.org.