Date: Friday, February 6, 2026
On February 6th, parents of Pacifica students gathered in the 20th Street Seminar Room for the inaugural Parent’s-only philosophy seminar, “Lessons from Augustine: Christian Wisdom in Santa Monica,” led by Dr. David C. Albertson. The event delved into the life, faith, and enduring legacy of Augustine of Hippo, a prominent Christian thinker in history, and explored the profound spiritual insights his story offers to contemporary Santa Monicans.
Dr. Albertson guided attendees through excerpts from Augustine’s “Confessions” and “City of God”; the former which narrates his remarkable transformation from a restless and questioning young man in North Africa to a Christian convert, bishop, and influential theologian who shaped Western Christianity. A central focus of the discussion was Augustine’s contemplation of our finitude and the profound impact of his mother, Monica, and others on his conversion and journey as a Christian thinker.
Parents engaged in meaningful conversations about the challenges of guiding young individuals and thinking through the nature of political commitments alongside Christian faith.
Speaker: Dr. David Albertson
Dr. Albertson is Associate Professor of Religion and Philosophy at USC, where he teaches the history of Christianity and philosophy of religion. An award-winning teacher and author, Albertson has written five books, including most recently The Geometry of Christian Contemplation (Oxford, 2025) on ancient Christian mysticism. He is the founding director of the Nova Forum for Catholic Thought at USC. David and his wife Annie have three children, the oldest of which is a Junior at Pacifica.
