This presentation will overview the mostly unreconciled histories of slavery and segregation in U.S. women’s religious life as well as some notable attempts to make reparation for the enduring sin of anti-Black racism and exclusion within Catholic boundaries. Participants will also individually and collectively imagine what Catholic reparation for slavery and segregation should look like […]
From September 30 – October 15, 2023, CTU President, Sr. Barbara Reid, OP, will lead the group on a tour of holy places in Greece and Turkey, such as Thessaloniki, Corinth, Ephesus, Cappadocia, and Istanbul. We hope you can join us. The cost of the 14 night 15-day land portion is $6,100 with $1,300 single supplement. Download the Greece […]
Where is the Center of World Christianity Today? The Five Frontiers of Mission and Theology This lecture contests some of the settled claims about the shifting center of Christianity from the West to the Global South, particularly that Africa is the new center of Christianity. The lecturer engages some of the new methodologies for […]
A Movie Screening Presented by the Bernardin Center in partnership with Pathways@CTU Wonderfully Made: LGBTQ+R(eligion) To fight for greater LGBTQ+ acceptance while overlooking or ignoring religion is to miss the root of the problem. Wonderfully Made: LGBTQ+R(eligion) is storytelling with a purpose at its finest, featuring interviews with leading advocates of LGBTQ+ Catholics, exploring the […]
Probing our Ecumenical Journey with a Pan African, Women of Faith, Multigenerational Lens The lecture will honour and probe the ancient and modern leadership of Pan African Women of Faith in the Christian movement of unity, justice, and mission in a forthcoming book by the lecturer. The lecture will focus on a multi-generational framework […]
You are beloved by God, exactly as you are. Join us online and in-person at Catholic Theological Union for a liturgy honoring the sacredness of the LGBTQ+ community. October 25, 2023 | 6:30 pm Catholic Theological Union 5416 South Cornell Avenue, Chicago Room 210 Sponsored by the Pathways@CTU living-learning community. Learn more about the Pathways […]
2023 Fall Shapiro Lecture ■ The Shapiro Lecture will be offered Virtually ■ Lecture will begin at 2:00 pm CT. ■ Please register below to receive the meeting link
Please join us for an interreligious conversation with Dr. Zahra Ayubi, PhD and Sr. Barbara Reid, OP. Zahra Ayubi, PhD is Associate Professor of Religion at Dartmouth College. She specializes in women and gender in premodern and contemporary Islamic ethics and has published on gendered concepts of ethics, justice, and religious authority, and on Muslim […]
CTU will celebrate the Romero Scholars Program on Saturday evening, November 4, 2023. Please join us for a festive celebration which will include a fabulous Latin dinner and music. 5:30 pm Reception 6:30 pm Dinner & Program 8:00 pm Dancing For more than […]
The Franciscan vision of the economy, which had a remarkable development during the 13th-15th centuries, remains relevant today. This fact was recently recognized by Pope Francis when he convened a world meeting of young economists in Assisi, entitled “The economy of Francesco,” (online: Nov. 19-21, 2020) to promote a more fraternal economic system, more attentive […]
SR. BARBARA REID, OP President of Catholic Theological Union invites you to attend a Sunday afternoon experience Honoring the Legacy of Sheila McLaughlin: Finding Peace and Justice in Contemporary Liturgical Ministry Sheila McLaughlin directed the Bernardin Center at CTU from 2001-2017. During her tenure, she encouraged interfaith dialogue and formed young adults in […]
Synod Debrief Conversation From October 4-29, delegates from around the world gathered in Rome for concluding conversations in the Synod on Synodality. This historic gathering posed a number of questions communicated by the global Catholic Church throughout the compiled synodal documents: How are women represented and empowered in church leadership? How can the Church be […]
A Memorial Liturgy of Word remembering Cardinal Joseph Bernardin This week marks one year since the passing of our beloved President Emeritus Donald Senior, CP. It also marks the 27th anniversary of the passing of Cardinal Joseph Bernardin. Join us online for a memorial liturgy to commemorate these profoundly important leaders. This is Virtual Event. Registration […]
Join the Tolton Program to celebrate Black Catholic History Month and the release of GIA’s new book The Fire This Time. November 15 | 5:00pm -7:00pm CT Catholic Theological Union 5416 S. Cornell Ave, Chicago IL, 60615 This event will be online and in-person. Registration is required.
ABOUT THIS BOOK This book is a collection of essays that contribute to the debate on the contextual interpretation of scripture from an African context. The book engages biblical narratives from the lived experiences of Africans, insisting that meaning is attained only when people bring their daily experiences into their reading of scripture. The contributors […]
Catholic Theological Union, Lutheran School of Theology and McCormick Theological Seminary are hosting an ecumenical prayer service on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 4pm in room 210BC. What better way and very appropriate since all three schools now reside under one roof that we come together to reflect on the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and our own "inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny."
Sibling Rivals: How the Idea of Chosenness Unites and Divides Jews and Christians The idea that God specially chose the people of Israel is central to the theology of the Hebrew Bible yet is among the most maligned and misunderstood biblical concepts. This talk aims to introduce major aspects of the Hebrew Bible’s election […]
The Schreiter Institute at Catholic Theological Union Presents: A Staged Reading of “St. Miles”; A New Play on Black Sainthood by Jarrett King. St. Miles is a fictional narrative that playwright Jarrett King summarizes in this way: "What are protests if not a form of prayer? St. Miles is a fictional narrative that playwright Jarrett […]
Raising Asian Voices in Interreligious Dialogue" is a program to reminds us of the importance of promoting inclusivity and diversity in interreligious dialogue and studies. The panelists will discuss the necessity to embrace different perspectives and cultures to engage in meaningful dialogue that fosters understanding and respect.
The contributions of the women to the mission and growth of the Church are understated. If Not for the Women, engages the role of women in the Salvation story of the Christian movement supported by scripture and historical narratives. The cultural context of the role of Black women in the evangelization mission of Kingdom building […]
Register to join us for the 2024 World Mission Institute “Kairos for Creation, Kairos for Mission: Hope for our Common Home”. This event will be held both in person and virtually on February 29th, 2024 at 6:00 pm CST. EVENT SYNOPSIS Climate change presents humanity with a kairos moment, a critical moment in time when God is […]
Join us for a festive afternoon celebrating the Tolton Pastoral Ministry Program at CTU.
From grains to galaxies, “through him all things were made.” Join us for an exploration and celebration of the real presence of Christ’s Paschal Mystery that sounds and resounds throughout humanity and the entire cosmos.
Sister Chioma Ahanihu, Director of the Center for the Study of Consecrated Life, will join Sister Julia Walsh in conversation to discuss themes in Sister Julia Walsh's forthcoming spiritual memoir, For Love of the Broken Body. Possible topics include discernment and adjustment to religious life, integration into community life, the evangelical counsels, and the complexities of publicly committing […]
Contributing Authors Ferdinand Ikenna Okorie, CMF, is Vice President and Academic Dean, and Assistant Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago. He is the author of Favor and Gratitude: Reading Galatians in its Greco-Roman Context (Lexington Books, 2020), and co-editor of Bible, Interpretation and Context: Reading Meaning from an African […]
It's complicated! Network analysis and Jewish-Christian relationships in the Babylonian Talmud. This talk will introduce a new set of methodological tools for understanding the connections between Jews and Christians in late antiquity. Together with a zoologist, Prof. Yossi Yovel, Bar-Asher Siegal will use network analysis, commonly used in sciences, to generate models of inter-religious […]
"Moving Along the Arc: Women and Men Religious as Agents of Reconciliation and Transformative Action Towards a More Racially Just Church and World" Together with The National Black Sisters’ Conference (NBSC), the Center for the Study of Consecrated Life (CSCL) at CTU continues the conversation about the role of consecrated religious women and men play […]
This panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Sasha Goldstein-Sabbah of University of Groningen, will feature experts on the Jewish communities of Iran, Yemen, and Morocco. After providing an overview of the history of Jewish life in the Middle East, Dr. Goldstein-Sabbah will facilitate a fascinating discussion that will explore the distinctive aspects of these ancient Jewish […]
The global Church is entering into a culmination of a unique synodal process meant to renew global Catholicism and create a "listening Church". The presenters and attendees at this symposium will explore together how this synodal process can help bring about Pope Francis' image of the Church as an authentic "field hospital" that tends to the wounds of creation in global and local contexts. This unique gathering will convene scholars, theologians, artists, and practitioners in a public conversation about the challenges and possibilities for renewing the Catholic Church into a Field Hospital, through the Synodal process, that authentically attends to the healing of trauma and moral injury in God's creation.
Amanda C. Osheim, Ph.D. studies the church with a particular focus on the Holy Spirit and discernment. She is Endowed Professor of the Breitbach Catholic Thinkers and Leaders Program and Professor of Practical Theology at Loras College in Dubuque, IA. Dr. Osheim studied at University of St. Thomas and the St. Paul Seminary School of […]
Longtime CTU faculty member Stephen B. Bevans, SVD has written an important new book drawing Pope Francis's call to missionary discipleship into dialogue with ecclesiology—how we understand what the Church is. Join us in this synodal season to hear Professor Bevans talk about his book as we celebrate his new missionary ecclesiology with responses from […]
SCOTUS DAY EVENT Beyond Ite vos: Celebrating 800 years of Francis's Stigmata At the death of St. Francis, Br. Elias announces the miracle of the wounds of Christ (stigmata) revealed on the body of Francis of Assisi. This miracle is further revealed by writers and artists, who attempt to capture the moment of the Stigmata. […]
Longtime DePaul University president Dennis Holtschneider, CM has joined Catholic Theological Union as the Cardinal Joseph Bernardin Fellow for Catholic Leadership. Join us on September 25 at Noon for his installation as the Bernardin Fellow with a public lecture he will offer--"Leading a Catholic Organization with and for LGBTQ+ Populations." Prof. M. Therese Lysaught (Loyola-Chicago) […]
Annual lecture to be held on October 8, 2024 in CTU 210 B&C The Pyramid Beneath a Church: Causing Muted Signs to Speak in Inculturation Standing at the historic center of Cholula, Mexico, is a Spanish medieval Catholic church built over a decidedly larger ancient Aztec pyramid, memorializing the latter’s conquest under the power of the […]
An interreligious conversation with two important Palestinian voices, Dr. Rima Salah and Dr. Eman Abdelhadi, on the past, present, and future of women’s empowerment, peacebuilding, and the pursuit of justice and dignity in the Holy Land. Co-Sponsored by: With the Support Of: Rima Salah, PhD is Palestinian Catholic and served as a Member of the […]
Speaker: The Revd Dr Casely Baiden Essamuah, Secretary, Global Christian Forum About The Paul Wattson Lecture Series This yearly lecture, sponsored by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement and Catholic Theological Union along with the Association of Theological Schools (ACTS), honors the founder of the Friars, Fr. Paul Wattson, and focuses on ecumenical and interreligious […]
"Perspectives on Leadership from a Woman Leader" Following Mass, join us for a lecture by Sr. Donna Markham, OP, PhD, CTU Fellow in Catholic Leadership Toward Global Healing. As the first woman President and CEO of Catholic Charities USA, Sr. Donna led nine years of transformative growth, expanding services to over 15 million vulnerable people. […]
What Bible, Whose Bible: Studying the Scripture of Others “The” Bible does not exist. Different religious communities have different Bibles, with different books, in different orders, and different languages—and this matters. How can we be fully sensitive to these when we study the scriptures of others? By reflecting on The Jewish Annotated New Testament and […]
November 9, 2024 CTU will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Romero Scholars Program on Saturday evening, November 9, 2024. Please join us for a festive celebration which will include a fabulous Latin dinner and music. 5:30 pm Reception 6:30 pm Dinner & Program […]
Speakers: Anna Levin Rosen, Anna Levin Rosen serves as the Rabbi and Executive Director at UChicago Hillel. Having served UChicago Hillel for 14 years, Anna’s work is part of the fabric of the University. With a passion for Jewish life and social justice, Anna has served as a guest educator for a spectrum of organizations […]
Dear Friends, You have now heard that our President, Barbara Reid, OP, will be passing the torch as president and will turn her focus again to biblical scholarship as a CTU faculty member at the end of this academic year. A search committee to find her replacement as president has been formed, with representatives drawn […]
Register to join this year’s celebration of the life of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. continues as a reminder that “trouble don’t last always.” In a speech, Dr. King stressed the need for continuous action despite the challenges when he said: “If you can’t fly, then run. If you can’t run, then walk. […]
Following Mass, join us for the 2025 Dr. Barry Rankin Lecture on God´s Creation by Dawn M. Nothwehr, OSF, Ph.D., The Erica and Harry John Family Professor Emerita of Catholic Theological Ethics at CTU. Mass 3pm - 4pm Lecture 4pm - 5pm Reception 5pm - 6pm Presider: Very Rev. Anthony Pizzo, O.S.A., Prior Provincial for […]
Join us in celebrating the book Evolving Methodologies in the Study of Spirituality (Leuven: Peeters, 2023), edited by Rossano Zas Friz De Col, SJ and Gilberto Cavazos-González, OFM. This book, a collection of talks in either Italian or English at an international gathering of scholars and students of Theology, is a significant contribution to Spiritual […]
Winter Shapiro Lecture Synopsis: Do Jews and Christians Love the Same Way? For centuries, Christian anti-Judaic prejudice insisted that whereas Christianity is about love, Judaism is about ... something else, like law, or justice, or obedience. Rabbi Shai Held's new book argues that Judaism, no less than Christianity, is a religion of love. And yet Judaism […]
As the Center celebrates its 10th year we invite you to a book launch. The Center for the Study of Consecrated Life which celebrates its 10th year was founded to support research and publications regarding contemporary issues in religious life today. CSCL sponsors programs and events that bring together men and women religious from around the world […]
A study Tourgrimage is part tour, part pilgrimage and part of a course. In that spirit, we will visit several of the shrines dedicated to the memory of the original members of the three orders of the Franciscan family.
The lecture will be presented by Dr. C. Vanessa White, OFS, Associate Professor of Spirituality and Ministry, Director of the Certificate in Black Theology and Ministry GONNA MOVE WHEN THE SPIRIT SAY MOVE: The Spiritual Lives and the Witness of Black Catholic Holy Men and Women, is an inspiring Black History Month gathering honoring the […]
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS Celene Ibrahim, PhD Religious Studies and Philosophy / Spiritual Life Team, Groton SchoolDr. Celene Ibrahim is a multidisciplinary scholar specializing in Islamic intellectual history, gender studies, and ethics. She is best known for the monograph Women and Gender in the Qur'an (Oxford University Press, 2020), which won the Association of Middle East […]
Join us for Harambee, Catholic Theological Union’s annual fundraising event dedicated to supporting the Augustus Tolton Pastoral Ministry Program. “Harambee,” a Swahili word meaning “Let us pull together,” beautifully reflects the spirit of unity, collaboration, and shared purpose that underpins this special evening.
The Tolton Program is a transformative initiative that empowers Lay Black Catholic men and women to serve their communities through ministry. This program provides academic, personal, spiritual, and professional preparation to meet the unique needs of Black Catholics, whether in predominantly Black Catholic spaces or other communities.
Join us for the Hesburgh Renewal Program, a curriculum-centered, community-based, holistic program that fosters both personal and professional renewal and provides continuing formation. This Continuing Education program is crafted for those who have served the Church in ministry, but is open to anyone looking for a theological update. The program components include scripture, theology, liturgy, […]
The enduring wounds from violence can be destructive to the entirety of the human person, especially when borne in isolation and in forced silence. This book offers a theology of communication for participating in God’s saving work of healing wounds, building community, and facilitating social transformation through an analogy of the wound. Rooted in Jesus' […]
Please join us for a talk about the importance of interreligious studies and dialogue issues.
What if grace is more than a doctrine—it’s a way of teaching and living? This lecture explores the clash between the “pedagogies of empire,” which teach control and exclusion, and the “pedagogy of grace,” which opens space for dignity, dialogue, and transformation. Drawing from Paulo Freire and Christian theology, the lecture shows how grace becomes […]
Ranana L. Dine Ph.D. "Surely Bury: Jewish and Catholic Law, Responding to Suicide, and the Work of Catholic-Jewish Studies" When it comes to tricky questions of ethics and law, Jewish and Catholic traditions at times converge, and at times develop distinct approaches. In the history of Jewish and Catholic responses to suicide both patterns emerge. […]
November 8, 2025 CTU will celebrate the 31st anniversary of the Romero Scholars Program on Saturday evening, November 8, 2025. Please join us for a festive celebration which will include a fabulous Latin dinner and music. By Sponsoring a table at this year's Corazon de Romero event, you're not only supporting our Romero Scholars, but […]
HONORING THE “SEVEN” AFRICAN AMERICANS ON THE ROAD TO SAINTHOOD “Prayer, Justice, and Peace” CATHOLIC THEOLOGICAL UNION SPONSORED BY THE AUGUSTUS TOLTON MINISTRY PROGRAM AND CTU’S LITURGICAL TEAM AND LITURGICAL ASSEMBLIES
Estate gifts are a powerful way to protect your loved ones and create a lasting legacy here at CTU. Whether you’ve already created your estate, are interested in learning how to setup an estate gift, or have other questions – please join us for a call on November 13th, from 12pm - 1pm. An estate […]
Italy 2025: A Jubilee Trip of Hope & Creation *** REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED *** The estimated cost for the ten day trip is $6,500 with a $1,500 single supplement. This price includes: – all lodging (based on double occupancy—all in 5-star deluxe hotels or best available level) – half-board (breakfast and dinner) – all land […]
Join us in celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the Center for the Study of Consecrated Life (CSCL). This is a milestone marking a decade of deep reflection, research, and renewal in the understanding and practice of consecrated life. This special celebration will include a conference that gathers scholars, religious, and pastoral leaders to explore the evolving landscape of consecrated life […]
Register to attend the 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration on Thursday, January 15 at 4:30 p.m. The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Catholic Theological Union, and McCormick Theological Seminary, are excited to announce this year’s ecumenical gathering, which continues to remind us that “God is still in control.” As seminaries move forward through turbulent times, we are […]
Rabbi Ariel Evan Mayse Ph.D. Rewilding the Tree of Life: Jewish Law and Theology in the Time of Climate Change. This lecture will explore how deep engagement with Jewish law and theology may help us respond to the rapidly mounting threats of global climate change and ecological degradation. Grappling with the full range of Jewish […]
Join us for a landmark event at CTU on Sunday, February 22. We are honored to unveil a new bust of Pope Leo XIV, crafted by world-renowned artist Tim Schmalz. This sculpture is one of only two in existence; its counterpart resides in Peru, where the Pope served for many years as Bishop. Don’t miss […]
Praying With Our Feet: Encountering God in the Margins This Tolton Lecture will be an inspiring Black History Month gathering in which Dr. Augustine, drawing from his book Praying with Our Feet, will lead us on a transformative journey rooted in faith, action, and the undeniable call to justice. A reception and book signing will […]
Join us for Harambee, Catholic Theological Union’s annual fundraising event dedicated to supporting the Augustus Tolton Pastoral Ministry Program. “Harambee,” a Swahili word meaning “Let us pull together,” beautifully reflects the spirit of unity, collaboration, and shared purpose that underpins this special evening.
The Tolton Program is a transformative initiative that empowers Lay Black Catholic men and women to serve their communities through ministry. This program provides academic, personal, spiritual, and professional preparation to meet the unique needs of Black Catholics, whether in predominantly Black Catholic spaces or other communities.
The Role of Faith in Times of Crisis Panelists: Kathryn Lohre, Chief of Staff, St. Olaf College Karen Ross, PhD, Director of the Pathways Program, Catholic Theological Union Tariq El Amin, Resident Imam, Masjid al-Taqwa, Chicago
2026 Spring Shapiro Lecture | Mara H. Benjamin, Ph. D. Dominion, Stewardship and Other Ways of Being Earthling Many contemporary religious communities have increasingly prioritized climate action as a calling and a responsibility. Yet the classical teachings of Western traditions on the created world can hinder undertaking the climate action we need now. This lecture […]
Hosted by the Pathways@CTU living-learning community, this event will bring together Chicago-area immigration justice advocates and faith-based groups for a collaborative round-table discussion on addressing the current crisis facing immigrants in our country. The goal of this event is to educate, offer space for reflection, and facilitate practical brainstorming and action planning for congregations and […]
What is Synodality, and what does it mean for me? My community? My parish? The Bernardin Center at Catholic Theological Union invites you to learn more about Synodality, experience a synodal conversation, and discover how this call to participation in the Church’s mission invites everyone to a new relationship their faith and one another. Ellen […]
