Dr Edward Sri inspires Melbourne university students on love and faith

As part of his recent visit to Melbourne, American theologian and author Dr Edward Sri presented a keynote address at Australian Catholic University (ACU) and a live-audience podcast recording at John Paul II House, a Catholic centre for university students in Carlton, engaging students and young adults in conversations about love, relationships and living the Catholic faith in everyday life.

At ACU, Dr Sri delivered a talk titled ‘Men, Women and the Mystery of Love’, drawing from his well-known work on St John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. The event drew students and young adults from across Melbourne, eager to hear Dr Sri speak about love, relationships and the call to ‘self-gift’ in a modern world.

Love is about choosing the good of the other, day in and day out, in imitation of Christ’s own love.

In his address, Dr Sri unpacked the Christian vision of human love as a vocation rooted in the giving of a person’s self.

‘The modern world often reduces love to emotions or fleeting attraction,’ he explained, ‘but the Christian understanding goes deeper. Love is about choosing the good of the other, day in and day out, in imitation of Christ’s own love.’

For many students, the event was deeply personal. Angella, a university student from Hopper’s Crossing, attended the lecture with 12 members of her parish young adults group, St Peter’s Young Adults (SPYA). Their group had been exploring the Theology of the Body through Christopher West’s series of videos and through conversations on marriage and religious vocations.

‘Dr Sri’s book Men, Women and the Mystery of Love has been on my reading list, so hearing his perspective in person was an exciting opportunity,’ Angella says. ‘Getting my copy signed was an added bonus—the Lord is good!’

Dr Sri’s work has had a far-reaching impact on young Catholics, including many in Melbourne. Angella says his series A Biblical Walk Through the Mass, now available on the Hallow app, has deepened her understanding of the Mass.

‘It’s an extremely powerful series, leading Catholics to engage with Mass more deeply—being rooted in Scripture and learning to worship God as he asks,’ she explains. ‘This book has also been popular amongst Catholics in Melbourne, as seen through The Peter’s Net featuring it as well.’

The Peter’s Net is a local initiative run by university students to help their peers explore the Catholic faith and understand its relevance in their lives.

Angella was especially moved by the way Dr Sri began his ACU talk with a simple but profound question: Are you happy?

Through the pursuit of virtue and reliance on God’s grace and mercy, we are challenged to transform self-seeking love into self-giving love.

‘Through humour, powerful storytelling and his proclamation of the truth of our human dignity in Christ, Dr Sri enlightened us on how to love authentically,’ she says. ‘We are called to honour the truth of the imperfect person and not allow our emotions to rule our decision-making. Instead, through the pursuit of virtue and reliance on God’s grace and mercy, we are challenged to transform self-seeking love into self-giving love.’

She was struck by Dr Sri’s observation that ‘virtue gives us the freedom to love’.

‘Dr Sri has inspired me to strive in mastering the virtues I need, to grow into the woman God has called me to be, no matter what vocation he leads me to,’ she adds. ‘It is only through complete surrender to God’s grace and mercy that I am able to make a gift of myself and always will the good of the other.’

The Faith in the Everyday podcast, hosted by John Eric-Ighalo, provides a space for open conversation with young adults about faith and daily life. A recent live-audience recording featured Dr Sri as a special guest. He is no stranger to the format—his own popular All Things Catholic podcast reaches listeners around the world. In a relaxed, conversational atmosphere, students were able to engage with Dr Sri personally, not only during the recording but also afterwards, as they mingled, asked questions and shared their own experiences of faith and university life.

Dr Sri’s visit was brief, but it highlighted the deep thirst among young Catholics for authentic formation and accompaniment. His ability to connect timeless truths to the daily concerns of university students reminded them that the mystery of love is not abstract theology but a living reality, one that shapes their relationships, decisions and discernment of vocation.