The Faculty of Theology in Lugano celebrates 30 years

The ambition, thirty years ago, was to give life to a European academic centre that could contribute to the research and teaching of philosophy and theology in the spirit of the Magisterium of the Church, but also contribute to the renewal of the Swiss Church through the fruitful encounter between faith and contemporary culture. It was from these ideals - recalled by René Roux, current rector of the Faculty of Theology of Lugano, in an interview published by the catt.ch portal - that the Lugano Theological Institute was founded, prompted by the then Bishop of Lugano Eugenio Corecco, which later became the Faculty of Theology of Lugano, affiliated to USI since 2021.

The 30th anniversary of the Faculty of Theology in Lugano is a significant milestone, providing an opportunity to reflect on the road so far. The Faculty of Theology of Lugano is now an internationally recognised institution, especially for the research carried out in the fields of dogmatic, moral and biblical theology, as well as on the inspiration of Corecco himself in canon law. In recent years, the faculty has also invested heavily in the study of philosophy and religious sciences. Looking at the future, an Institute of Pastoral Theology is currently being established.

The 30th anniversary of the Faculty of Theology in Lugano will be underlined by three innovative research events and four more celebrations.

The first innovative research event was held on 30 August: the workshop "The transformations of religious communication: press, cinema, internet" organised by the Religions and Theology Institute (ReTe). The second event is a conference that will be held from 21 to 23 September at the East Campus Lugano and will present the study of the Confraternity phenomenon as a new contemporary laic reality thanks to the comparison of different scholars from all over Europe. The third event will take place on 21 and 22 February 2024, two days of study on the theme of the Face of Christ in theology and art history.

Regarding the celebrations, on 29 and 30 September, there will be a conference on the liturgy entitled '60 years of Sacrosanctum Concilium' dedicated to the anniversary of the document, in cooperation with the liturgical office of the diocese. On 20 October, a conference dedicated to St. Therese of Lisieux, patroness of the Faculty of Theology, entitled "Therese of Lisieux: young woman, seeker of peace and meaning", will be proposed, featuring former Nuncio from 2002 to 2021 Monsignor Francesco Follo, Sister Maria Cristiana Dobner, Prioress of the Carmelite Monastery of Concenedo (Lecco), and Professor Lorenzo Cantoni, Director of the UNESCO Chair at USI. The event is under the patronage of UNESCO and the City of Lugano, and inaugurates the exhibition entitled "Thérèse de Lisieux ou la brûlure d'amour" organised by the "Amis de Thérèse et du Carmel de Lisieux".

On 15 December, there will be an encounter in which three former Ticino students of the Faculty of Theology will discuss the theme of writing and research. Moderated by USI professor Michele Amadò, the conference is entitled "From study to writing: three Ticino authors for one Faculty", and Stella N'Djoku, Laura Quadri and Myriam Lucia Di Marco will be invited. Finally, on 27 April 2024, Father Mauro Lepori's Lectio Magistralis is scheduled, the concluding lecture with a Eucharistic celebration.