Birmingham students hard at work
CTU is the largest Roman Catholic school of theology and ministry in North America.
Supporting Catholic Education in Birmingham, AL, since 1938
The Passionists have been helping to financially support three schools in economically challenged areas in the city of Birmingham, Alabama, for decades – St. Mary’s Elementary School, Holy Family Elementary School, and Holy Family High School, historically Birmingham’s oldest Catholic high school. Holy Family High School was recently brought under the umbrella of the prestigious Cristo Rey nationwide network of schools. It has been renamed Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School (HFCRHS).
The first Passionists came to Tuxedo Junction in the Ensley area in 1938 to serve the African-American community at a time when many other Catholic organizations did not extend their reach to this community. The Passionists are acknowledged in Birmingham’s Civil Rights Institute for their founding of Holy Family Hospital which provided equal access to health care services in the 1940’s to African-Americans.
The Passionists have remained in the Ensley-Fairfield community since that time, today continuing to staff Holy Family and St. Mary’s parishes. Passionist priest, Fr. Alex Steinmiller, CP, is the first president of the new Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School.
For more information on HFCRHS, visit: http://www.hfcrhs.com/
Chicago’s Catholic Theological Union (CTU)
In 1968, inspired by the spirit of Vatican II, three men’s orders, the Franciscans, Passionists and Servites, decided to unite their respective theology schools. To reflect this innovative union of people, resources and purpose, they called their new school Catholic Theological Union. In time, more religious communities joined the Union, and today there are 25 members. Catholic Theological Union, or CTU, has become the largest Roman Catholic school of theology and ministry in North America.
CTU’s president of 15 years is Passionist priest Fr. Donald Senior, CP, is a world-renowned Biblical scholar who cares deeply about the challenges and the possibilities that lie before us in the Church.
“As a Passionist thinking about the future there is a fundamental hope, despite some of the struggles in the world and the church,” Fr. Don said. “The Passionist reflection on the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection encourages us to look to the future with hope—out of death comes new life, out of darkness emerges times of light.”
There are more and more young men and women studying at CTU, who, according to Fr. Don, are as idealistic and virtuous as ever. “These are really good people who are bright and can do anything they choose. And they are looking for a life of service
“There is a perception that we as a human family are struggling now, especially with events like the war in Iraq, September 11th, and the devastating natural disasters, he noted. “A lot of students don’t know what they want to do, but they know they want to dig deep and explore their faith heritage and give value to their work. The Church needs to be in touch with young people.”
For more information on CTU, visit: http://www.ctu.edu/
