Catholic Theological Union Celebrates 50 Years with Mass and Building Dedication
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT: Kellene Urbaniak, kurbaniak@ctu.edu, 773.371.5416
April 29, 2019 – Chicago, Illinois. On May 5, 2019, Catholic Theological Union, one of the country’s leading schools of theology, will hold a special 50th Anniversary Celebration Mass at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, with Cardinal Blase J. Cupich presiding. Immediately following the Mass, the academic center on the CTU campus will be dedicated as “The James and Catherine Denny Center at Catholic Theological Union.”
Jim and Cate Denny, along with their daughter, the late Catherine Denny Bowyer, have served CTU’s mission to prepare effective leaders for the Church with decades of philanthropic support and vision.
During a CTU sponsored visit to Jerusalem in 1999, the Dennys recognized how important the relationship of Christians and Muslims would be for the future of humanity. They helped establish an Islamic studies program at CTU which today is a significant influence in the work of interreligious peace and justice making. For many years, the Dennys have guided and participated in the life of the school, chairing the school’s signature annual Blessed are the Peacemakers Trustee Dinner on various occasions, and Jim serving as a longtime Trustee. Their late daughter Kate, in whose memory the building will be named, served on the advisory board of the Peacebuilders Initiative at CTU, a leadership program for Catholic high school students.
Prior to the Mass, at 2:45 p.m., a performance by organist and current CTU student David J. Anderson, will feature works by J.S. Bach, Bridge, Bélier, Grigny, and Matthias. Both the concert and the Mass are open to the public.
