San Clemente’s Two Millenia: The Living Church Uncovered by Excavation and Discovery
Thursday, November 13, 2025
6:15 pm EST - 8:30 pm EST
Catholic Information Center
1501 K Street NW
Washington,
DC
20005
United States
Description
The CIC is delighted to welcome Fr. Paul Lawlor, OP, Rector of the Basilica of San Clemente, on Thursday, November 13 to share it’s story from the past 2,000 years. Fr. Lawlor’s presentation—which will be offered both in-person and through a livestream—will take place at 7:00 PM EST, and he will offer Mass to kick off the evening at 6:15 PM.
Nestled two blocks from the Colosseum, the Basilica San Clemente is one of the rare sites where, thanks to 150 years of excavations, one can descend through two millennia of Roman and Christian history, down to the sidewalks of first century Rome. Its priceless frescoes, sacred relics and underground archaeological complex make the Basilica one of the world’s great spiritual and historical treasures. In San Clemente people can rediscover the story of the Christian community, the story of the Church. Its beauty and mystery have touched lives for generations and its new restoration can continue to evangelize generations to come.
Fr. Lawlor will share the unlikely path that led him to archaeology and what he’s learned while uncovering the Basilica’s rich layers of history. He will also show the early progress of an ambitious project dedicated to San Clemente’s restoration, which is increasingly attracting the involvement of American Catholics interested in preserving the artistic patrimony of the Church.
November 13th Schedule:
- 6:00 PM: Doors open; Registrant check-in begins
- 6:15 PM: Mass
- 7:00 PM: Fr. Paul Lawlor’s presentation “San Clemente’s Two Millenia” – (this portion will be offered both in-person and virtually via a livestream)
- 8:00 PM: Enjoy a light Happy (Half) Hour
- 8:30 PM: Evening concludes
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About the Speaker
Fr. Paul Lawlor, O.P., is an Irish priest and archaeologist who is one of the foremost living experts on Basilica San Clemente in Rome. Having participated in its excavations, Fr. Lawlor’s work contributed to the discovery of the 6th-century sacristy and baptistry of the Lower Basilica, which profoundly reshaped scholarly understanding of early Christian liturgy and church architecture. Today, as Rector, he oversees an ambitious program of restoration and conservation that continues to reveal the Basilica’s layered history—from the ancient Roman domus and Mithraeum to the medieval frescoes.
