Pope Leo XIV announced on Sunday that St. John Henry Newman will be declared a "Doctor of the Church" on November 1, coinciding with All Saints Day. This announcement holds special significance for the Toronto Oratorians, who will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of their foundation on the same day.

Newman, regarded as one of the most learned Englishmen of the 19th century, was a scholar deeply committed to university life. Numerous Catholic chaplaincies bear his name, and the term "Newman Centre" has become synonymous with Catholic centers on campuses across the country. The Toronto Oratory will host a celebratory dinner this Thursday evening, attended by Cardinal Francis Leo, the Archbishop of Toronto, along with many priest alumni who have been educated by the Oratorians.

The title of "Doctor of the Church" is a rare honor, awarded to only 38 individuals over the past two millennia. It signifies significant contributions to theology and doctrine, with the term "Doctor" derived from the Latin word for "teacher." Newman will join the ranks of esteemed figures such as Ambrose, Augustine, Chrysostom, and Athanasius. This designation serves as a reminder that faith is an intellectual pursuit, and the intellectual achievements of these saints should be admired and emulated.

The late Fr. Jonathan Robinson, who founded the Toronto Oratory in 1975, emphasized the importance of understanding great thinkers before evaluating their ideas. He taught philosophy at McGill University and was a convert to Catholicism, much like Newman, who left the Anglican Communion for the Catholic Church in 1845. Newman had to leave Oxford, where Catholics were not welcomed, and eventually settled in Birmingham, living in a community of priests known as the Congregation of the Oratory, founded by St. Philip Neri.

The Oratorians have thrived in Toronto, establishing a center for worship and scholarship in a neighborhood that some might consider less than ideal. They strive to embody the spirit of St. Philip Neri, whom Newman described as the "saint of gentleness and kindness." In a time marked by conflict, the Oratorians continue to promote a blend of faith and intellectual inquiry, reflecting Newman's legacy and the values he championed throughout his life.