Meet the President

Welcome to Catholic Theological Union!

Welcome to our website! I hope you will find here the information you need about the unique opportunities and wonderful people of CTU.

CTU was founded in 1968, inspired by the Second Vatican Council that opened the Church to the modern world. Begun with the merger of three religious order schools of theology it has grown to become the largest Roman Catholic school of theology and ministry in North America. CTU prepares the priesthood candidates of some 25 religious communities and provides theological education and pastoral training for lay women and men.

We have been blessed with an internationally acclaimed faculty, a superb theological library, and a new state-of-the-art Academic and Conference Center. Even more importantly we are a community of faith and learning that brings together women and men, religious and lay, from across the United States and around the globe. Our students explore with wise mentors the beauty and richness of our Catholic heritage and prepare for a life of service to the Church and the wider world. A charter member of the Association of Chicago Theological Schools, CTU students have open access to hundreds of courses across various Christian denominations. Our unique programs in Jewish and Islamic studies also provide opportunities for interreligious dialogue and understanding, a vital need in our fractured world.

We are located in the world-class city of Chicago, within 15 minutes of downtown and in the exciting Hyde Park lakefront area, now made famous by our neighbor, U.S. President Barack Obama. We are adjacent to the University of Chicago, one of the premier learning centers in the world, with whom we have close and cordial relations.

Please explore our website and, even better, contact us and arrange a visit. We are eager to have you join us!

Fr. Donald Senior, C.P.
President