Miraculous Events: Science tests Faith

Wednesday 15th to Sunday 26th June, 2022

Evidence from miraculous events that have occurred around the world will be explored and discussed by medical experts during an exhibition taking place in Hobart from 15 to 26 June.

As an initiative of the Archdiocese of Hobart, the exhibition titled ‘Miraculous Events: Science Tests Faith,’ will consist of interactive and documentary styled presentations of more than 20 miracles, including eyewitness testimonies and findings from scientific investigations. The miracles will include inexplicable healings from deafness, blindness, cancer, paralysis, and even death.

Exhibits of miracles from around the world will be on display at the Waterside Pavilion in Hobart which will be open to the public every day throughout the exhibition from 10am to 4.30pm.

Presentations will also be given by a variety of speakers including a panel of medical experts who will explore the scientific evidence for miraculous healings.

Live Presentations


Finding God in the Universe – Aspects of the universe that have baffled scientists and that point to the existence of God

Speaker: Dr. John Flader (BA (Harvard), DCL (Navarre), Author of Dying to Live: Reflections on Life After Death.  Originally from the USA, Dr. Flader has been in Australia since 1968, working with students at the University of New South Wales, the University of Tasmania, RMIT University, and various schools in Sydney.

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Dr. Flader doesn’t shy away from the big questions like the existence of God or the meaning of life. In this presentation, Dr. Flader will explore some of the answers provided by scientists about these questions.

In his recent book, Dying to Live, Dr. Flader deals with the reality that we all face: death. But what happens after that is the big question. Many don’t believe in life after death, or they wonder if “there just might be something on the other side.” It leads the reader gently and logically along a path of enquiry into this vital question, arguing from reason and experience. We can all have our opinions, but what awaits us after death does not depend on what we think is going to happen. There is reality out there. And, as his book shows, the reality is eminently positive and it fills us with hope.

When: Thursday 16th June, 7:00pm
Where: Guilford Young College Performing Arts Centre, 133 Patrick St, West Hobart


Dinner & Conversation: Medicine, Healing & Miracles

Our Panelists conduct a conversation around Medicine, Healing and Miracles: 
This panel will discuss the common questions of patients faced with a terminal or serious illness, the importance of medicine, community, family and faith in navigating a pathway to healing, as well as the possibility of miracles or the unexplained healings that really can occur.

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Dr. Elizabeth Bates (MD, MPH, DipCH, FRACGP), a US-trained medical doctor with an additional degree in public health (maternal and child health), currently practicing as a General Practitioner in Hobart.

Dr. Rachel Bradley (MBBS FRACGP), General Practitioner for 18 years, and 11 years working exclusively in skin cancer medicine.

Dr. Brigid McKenna (MBBS, MBioeth, GradCert ULT, FHEA), Lecturer in ethics and professionalism at the Tasmanian School of Medicine, where she brings her experience in medicine and study of ethics, to the medical education of early years medical students and the wider goal of advancing ethical and compassionate healthcare.

Mr. Tony Bradley (MNursing), Nurse Practitioner with 35 years’ experience in nursing, mainly in emergency. Currently working in the community doing hospital in the home.

When: Friday 17th June, 6.30-8.30pm
Where: Australian Italian Club of Hobart, 77 Federal St, North Hobart 


Eucharistic Miracles (Two Presentations)

Dr. Umberto Villa (BS MBBS), will present the results of scientific research into recent Eucharistic miracles from Tixtla, Mexico, Buenos Aires, Argentina, and more. This amazing scientific evidence supports the age-old Christian belief about the Last Supper.

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Speaker: Dr. Umberto Villa (BS MBBS), is a medical practitioner specialising in Emergency Medicine in Darwin. He grew up in Italy, studied biochemistry at the University of Saint Louis, USA, then medicine at the University of Sydney. Dr. Villa has been practising as a hospital doctor for the last five years in Sydney and Broken Hill before settling in Darwin three years ago.

Presentation & Dinner with Dr. Umberto Villa:

When: Saturday 18th June, 7.00-8.30pm
Where: Australian Italian Club of Hobart, 77 Federal St, North Hobart 

Presentation Only with Dr. Umberto Villa:

When: Sunday 19th June, 3.30-4.30pm
Where: St. Mary’s Cathedral, Hobart


Christianity’s Contribution to Western Civilisation (Christopher Dawson Centre)

Mr. Greg Sheridan is Foreign Affairs Editor at The Australian Newspaper. He is one of the nation’s most influential national security commentators, who is active across television and radio, and also writes extensively on culture and religion. He has written eight books, mostly on Asia and international relations. A previous book, God is Good for You, was also a best seller. When We Were Young and Foolish was an entertaining memoir of culture, politics and journalism. As foreign editor, he specialises in Asia and America. He has interviewed Presidents and Prime Ministers around the world.

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In this presentation, hosted by the Christopher Dawson Centre, Mr. Sheridan, will explain how the Judeo-Christian tradition has created and underpinned the moral and legal fabric of Western civilisation for more than 2000 years, yet now we’ve reached a point in both Australia and many parts of the West where Christianity has become a minority faith rather than the mainstream belief. It’s a situation that’s fraught both for Christians and our wider society, where the moral certainties that were the foundation of our institutions and laws are no longer held by the majority. Mr. Sheridan encourages both believers and non-believers to take a fresh look at the contribution Christianity has made to Western Civilisation and questions us as to whether our civilisation can stand without it.

Speaker: Mr. Greg Sheridan, Foreign Affairs Editor, The Australian Newspaper, and Author of Christians: The Urgent Case for Jesus in Our World, as well as God Is Good for You: A Defence of Christianity in Troubled Times.

Dinner & Talk with Mr. Greg Sheridan

When: Monday 20th June, 6.00-8.30pm (6pm food order; 6.15pm talk; 7pm meal and Q&A)
Where: Maypole Hotel, 191 New Town Rd, New Town


Urgent Case for Jesus in Our World: The Historical Jesus and his Friends

In this presentation, Mr. Sheridan, as in his recent book, will make the case for the historical reliability of the New Testament and will explore the lives of early Christians and contemporary Christians.

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Mr. Sheridan’s most recent book, Christians, The Urgent Case for Jesus in Our World, became a best seller weeks after publication. He is one of the nation’s most influential national security commentators, who is active across television and radio, and also writes extensively on culture and religion. He has written eight books, mostly on Asia and international relations. A previous book, God is Good for You, was also a best seller. When We Were Young and Foolish was an entertaining memoir of culture, politics and journalism. As foreign editor, he specialises in Asia and America. He has interviewed Presidents and Prime Ministers around the world.

In this presentation, Mr. Sheridan, as in his recent book, will make the case for the historical reliability of the New Testament and will explore the lives of early Christians and contemporary Christians.

When: Tuesday 21st June, 6.00-7.30pm
Where: Australian Italian Club of Hobart, 77 Federal St, North Hobart 


Miracles by the Numbers: Scientific Evidence for the Possibility of Miracles

Dr. Richard Kerr and Mr. Sam Clear will present a wide-ranging discussion on miracles, from the Enlightenment philosopher, David Hume’s denial of the possibility of miracles, the English statistician, Thomas Bayes’ theory allowing for the possibility of miracles, the evidence for God from the expanding universe theory in modern physics, and the much studied, Shroud of Turin, in which science provide evidence of the miraculous.

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Speakers: Dr. Richard Kerr (Ph.D. (Quantitative Genetics)): Scientist who studies the inheritance of traits that are economically important in forestry; working closely with industry; an honorary position at the University of Tasmania.

Mr. Sam Clear BEng (Mech): Public Speaker, Adventurer, Published Author (‘walk4one – Paving a Path to Unity’), and Documentary and School Resource Producer (‘The Road to Adolfo’ and ‘Source & Summit’)

When: Wednesday 22nd June, 6.00-8.00pm
Where: Shambles Brewery, 222 Elizabeth St, Hobart