SHU bestows honorary Doctor of Theology degree on Italian Cardinal
Nov 30, 2006
Another step towards achieving spiritual unity and understanding was taken by the university when it bestowed an honorary Doctor of Theology degree upon His Eminence, Cardinal Tomas Spidlik, S.J., at a special convocation at the Italian Parliament in Rome, Italy on Nov. 7. Also in his honor, the new Cardinal Spidlik Center for Ecumenical Understanding was established.
(The Spectrum, 11/30/06) Spidlik, who was created a Cardinal by Pope John Paul II on Oct. 21 of 2003, is one of the greatest experts in the spirituality of Eastern Christianity today.
He is a Jesuit priest and scholar who has spent more than 50 years pursuing dialogue and greater union between the Western and Eastern "branches" of Christianity. Spidlik is affiliated with Rome's Centro Aletti, a center for study and research attached to the mission of the Society of Jesus at the Vatican's Pontifical Oriental Institute.
"The outstanding contributions of Cardinal Spidlik to Roman Catholic and Eastern Christian dialogue are an inspiration to all of us who seek greater unity among Christians," Sacred Heart University President Anthony J. Cernera in a press release who attended the event along with other faculty members.
A small group of Trustees and friends also made the trip. This small group of guests from SHU also participated in a mini-pilgrimage to Rome and important sites to both Eastern and Western Christianity.
The university's new center was also named in his honor. The new Cardinal Spidlik Center for Ecumenical Understanding is dedicated to promoting greater religious understanding and cooperation through dialogue, research, education, publications and artistic collaboration among the Western and Eastern Churches.
In the same way that SHU's Center for Christian Jewish Understanding promotes dialogue and understanding among Christian and Jews, the new Cardinal Spidlik Center for Ecumenical Understanding will promote greater understanding among Western and Eastern Christians.
"The new Cardinal Spidlik Center for Ecumenical Understanding will build on these efforts and help to advance the mission of the University by creating opportunities for dialogue in the common search for truth," stated Funda Alp, Director of Communications.
Sacred Heart University was founded over 40 years ago at the dawn of the Second Vatican Council, which ushered in a hopeful new era of dialogue, understanding and reconciliation among Christians.
Spidlik's background includes many achievements. In June of 1955, he defended his doctoral dissertation at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. That year began his university career as a professor of Patristic and Eastern Spiritual Theology at various universities in Rome as well as around the world. He has also been the spiritual director of the Pontifical Nepomuceno Seminary for 38 years and his Sunday homilies in the Czech language have been translated and published in various languages including Polish, Romanian and Italian.
SHU bestows honorary Doctor of Theology degree on Italian Cardinal