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Our Mission Statement
The International Theological
Institute (ITI) rests
on four pillars.
The first pillar is the founding
intention of Pope John Paul II. The ITI was founded for the study
of Catholic theology as a unified whole within which particular
attention is devoted to the theme of marriage and the family.
A solid theological formation is needed for Catholic leaders,
lay and clergy, to achieve critical judgment in our culture and
the capacity to contribute to the new evangelization, which is
especially needed in the area of marriage and the family.
The second pillar of the ITI,
also part of John Paul II’s founding vision, is its international
character, its bridge function between East and West. About 50%
of the students come from Central and Eastern Europe (the majority
of them are Greek Catholic), others come from Western Europe
and the Americas. This international character allows a genuine
experience of the universal Church, which must “breathe
with both lungs” (John Paul II) East and West.
The third pillar of the ITI is
its pedagogy, which consists in studying the original writings
of the great Masters of Theology, in addition to Sacred Scripture,
esp. the Fathers and the Doctors of the Church. Contact with
original texts develops an eye for quality, especially in theology.
The great masters lead faculty and students most directly to
the realities discussed in theology, above all God himself. This
pedagogy also develops the virtues of active reading, attentive
discussion and penetrating understanding.
The fourth pillar of the ITI is
a rich Catholic community that lives and prays together in the
same place and its close vicinity. The example of the Christian
family life lived by many among the faculty and students offers
the most persuasive and practically helpful evidence of the beauty
and practicability of that life. It also encourages the formation
of religious and priestly vocations and their blossoming.
It is the simultaneous presence of these
four pillars that constitutes the strength of the ITI. |
Download the Mission Statement:
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