Catholic Theological Union Presents Honorary Degrees to Sr. Katarina Schuth, OSF, Msgr. Arturo Bañuelas, at its 2018 Graduation
Contact: Zach Czaia, zczaia@ctu.edu; 773.371.5416
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2018
CHICAGO – Catholic Theological Union (CTU) will present an honorary doctorate in theology to Sr. Katarina Schuth, OSF, and an honorary doctorate in ministry to Msgr. Arturo Bañuelas at its 50th commencement ceremony on May 24. Honorary degrees are conferred annually by the faculty and Board of Trustees upon individuals whose contributions to the fields of scholarship and service reflect the values to which Catholic Theological Union is committed.
Sr. Katarina Schuth, OSF, has been an educator for 40 years — 27 of those at the University of St. Thomas where she taught classes in Pastoral Ministry, World Religion, and American Religion. She is a world-renowned authority on theological education, as well as religious formation and preparation of Church leaders for ministry — areas in which she has done extensive research. She has presented her findings on a wide variety of formation topics at every seminary in the United States, as well as to English-speaking rectors and seminary faculty in Europe and India. CTU has benefited greatly from her leadership as well: Sr. Katarina served on its board of trustees from 1999-2010, and she is a charter member of the Bernardin Center Advisory Board and Cardinal Joseph Bernardin’s Catholic Common Ground Initiative.
Msgr. Bañuelas is a priest of the Diocese of El Paso, Texas, and serves as pastor of St. Mark Parish there. Since his ordination in 1976, his ministry focus has been on border culture and border justice issues. CTU honors Msgr. Bañuelas for his work on these issues and for his advocacy on behalf of migrants and refugees, border culture, and border justice issues. In addition, CTU salutes Msgr. Bañuelas’ legacy as an educator and theologian. In 1988, he founded the Tepeyac Institute, one of the largest centers in the nation training lay people for parish ministry and leadership in the Church. Msgr. Bañuelas’ theology and ministry, expressed both through his work with the Tepeyac Institute as well as in his leadership of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States (ACHTUS)— resonate deeply with CTU, whose Hispanic Theology and Ministry Program has served students locally, nationally, and internationally for more than 35 years.
The commencement ceremony will take place May 24, 2018, at 3 p.m., at K.A.M. Isaiah Israel Congregation in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. More than 80 graduates representing 21 countries will receive certificates or master’s level degrees in the areas of Intercultural Studies and Ministry; Justice Ministry; Liturgical Ministry; Pastoral Studies; and Theology. CTU will also confer Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees.
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About Catholic Theological Union: CTU is a Roman Catholic graduate school of theology and ministry. Its mission is to prepare effective leaders for the Church, ready to witness to Christ’s good news of justice, love, and peace. CTU’s 4,000 lay and vowed religious graduates are serving in 60 countries worldwide.
