On Saturday, October 12, 2019, a ceremony took place to inaugurate the 116th academic year of the Pontifical Theological Faculty of St. Bonaventure (Seraphicum) in Rome.
The day officially got underway with the celebration of Mass in the San Bonaventura chapel. The presider was the Most Reverend Gianrico RUZZA, Auxiliary Bishop of Rome for the southern sector. During his homily, Bishop RUZZA underlined how, in this Faculty, “new language is being studied and prepared that responds to our time and to Pope Francis’ Evangelii Gaudium.”
After the Mass, the academic part of the program began. The Faculty President, Friar Đinh Anh Nhuệ NGUYỄN, gave a broad overview on the life of the Faculty in which he spoke about the revision of the Faculty’s Statutes for the Faculty’s renewal in the light of Pope Francis’ Veritatis Gaudium; the transfer of the Faculty’s academic facilities to the ‘Welcome Wing’ of the building. Friar Đinh also spoke about the collaboration with the Pontifical University Antonianum towards the creation of the Franciscan University and the increase in formation opportunities, which is allowing for a broader approach to theological subjects.
Next, there was a presentation on the subject of “Woman-Mission-Church”, with a report given by Professor Nuria CALDUCH-BENAGES. She is a professor of Biblical Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University, and a member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission as well as the Commission for the Study of the Women’s Diaconate, established by Pope Francis.
The professor gave an extensive and articulate “reflection of a biblical scholar” on various topics including women working in the field of biblical scholarship, the feminist approach to the Bible, and how “The Church must listen to women, allowing them express themselves as protagonists”.
Among those present at the event were the Vice-Chancellor of the Pontifical University Antonianum, Friar Agustín HERNÁNDEZ OFM; the OFM Secretary General for Formation, Friar Cesare VAIANI, OFM; and the General Procurator of the Order, Friar Maurizio DI PAOLO, OFM Conv., who represented the Minister General, Friar Carlos TROVARELLI, in his capacity as the Grand Chancellor.
Elisabetta LO IACONO, Head of the Seraphicum Press Office
