Introduction to the Catholic Theological Union
The Catholic Theological Union in Hyde Park is expecting an influx of applications thanks to one very famous alumnus. Robert Francis Prevost, who was raised in suburban Dolton and graduated from the school in 1982, was elected pope of the Catholic Church on Thursday. “We could not contain our excitement,” said Ferdinand Okorie, the school’s vice president and academic dean.
About the School
The school, known as CTU, has 215 students, and its 2,500 religious alumni have served in ministries in more than 60 countries. It was founded in 1968, shortly after the Second Vatican Council, or Vatican II, a meeting of church leaders that revamped the church’s doctrine and practices to better align with the modern world. The council introduced a commitment to ecumenism, or promoting unity among Christian denominations.
Founding Principles
Leaders at the school say Vatican II laid the groundwork for the outlook on education at the school during its founding. Since its inception, the union has promoted collaboration and dialogue among different faiths and Christian denominations.
A Global Perspective
At the school, men pursuing the priesthood or church leadership study alongside laypeople, and the campus is often filled with lively discussions, Okorie said. In the school’s teachings, the goal is to apply the gospel to diverse situations, communities and faiths, he said. “The children of God are in different places in different situations of life,” he said. “Some of them are migrants, some of them are minorities, some of them are in a place of comfort, and some are in places of challenges and suffering.”
Peggy Plastina, who graduated with a master’s of arts in pastoral studies in 2005, said the school brought students from different backgrounds together and they learned how their education could be applied across various cultures. “It does draw students from all over the world, literally, who can come for this education,” Plastina said. “So that was fascinating to sit in a classroom with people from Africa, South America, European countries.”
Mission and Programs
The school’s mission is to prepare students to be leaders for the church, “ready to witness to Christ’s good news of justice, love, and peace,” according to its website. The union brings together schools from three Catholic institutes, making it the only “union” model theological school, the website says. Okorie said students are educated in a way that makes them “attentive to the signs of the times” and learn how to apply their religious lessons to current events.
Interfaith and Intercultural Courses
The school offers interfaith and intercultural courses, as well as programs like the Catholic-Jewish Studies Program and Catholic-Muslim Studies Program. These prepare students to bridge the gap between different faiths and learn from each other, Okorie said. Plastina took classes on topics such as feminist theology and inculturation in the church, or applying the gospel to various cultures.
Location and History
The choice to locate the school in Hyde Park, at 5416 S. Cornell Ave., was deliberate, as it allows students to study in a diverse area where other seminaries and theological schools thrive, including the University of Chicago Divinity School and McCormick Theological Seminary, Okorie and Reid said. “CTU made the decision to locate right here in the midst of the city on the South Side, here in Hyde Park and to be very close to the needy neighborhoods around us and learn how to be good ministers for the church and the world in that context,” Reid said.
Conclusion
Since Prevost was announced as the next pope, CTU has been flooded with interview requests and questions about the incoming pope. In coming days, weeks and months, Okorie said he expected a new class of students to be energized by the news the pope attended school there. “People will want to go to the same school as Pope Leo XIV,” he said.
FAQs
Q: When was the Catholic Theological Union founded?
A: The Catholic Theological Union was founded in 1968.
Q: Where is the Catholic Theological Union located?
A: The Catholic Theological Union is located in Hyde Park, at 5416 S. Cornell Ave.
Q: What is the mission of the Catholic Theological Union?
A: The school’s mission is to prepare students to be leaders for the church, “ready to witness to Christ’s good news of justice, love, and peace.”
Q: What programs does the Catholic Theological Union offer?
A: The school offers interfaith and intercultural courses, as well as programs like the Catholic-Jewish Studies Program and Catholic-Muslim Studies Program.
Q: Who is the president of the Catholic Theological Union?
A: Sister Barbara Reid is the president of the Catholic Theological Union.
