Dr. Ágoston Ferenc died on October 14, 2023 after a short illness. As a priest and pastoral theologian from Romania, he was a good friend and supporter of the Pastoral Forum and also participated in its publishing activities, such as Aufbruch. He received his doctorate from the University of Würzburg, Germany, and studied in Rome and Hungary. His life was characterized by love for God and people, which was also expressed in the priest's motto: "He who loves God loves God" (1 John 4:21).
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In July 2023 began Dr. Iryna Fenno her habilitation with a support from the Pastorales Forum. Her topic is "The Churches Facing the Challenge of the Russian-Ukrainian War: Orthodox and Catholic Social Doctrines and Practices."
In April 2023 Mag. Olha Uhryn defended her dissertation (Im Dienst von Kircheneinheit und Reform. Wirken und Werk des Andreas de Escobar, ca. 1366/67-1448) and recieved her PhD title. We congratulate Olha very much on completing her studies!
Foto: Uni Wien
In March 2023 Mag. Mateja Šapina Svirac defended her dissertation (Dreidimensionale Integration: Pastoraltheologische Reflexionen zur Kroatisch-katholischen Mission in Wien) and recieved her PhD title. We congratulate Mateja very much on completing her studies!
For the winter semester 2023/24, the Pastorales Forum proposes new doctoral and postdoctoral scholarships!
Five scholarships will be awarded to applicants from post-communist countries who qualify for a study at the University of Vienna or the Catholic Private University in Linz. The three-year scholarship can begin in October 2023. The successful applicants are required to live in Austria (Vienna or Linz) for the duration of their study. The monthly payment is €1,100.
In June 2022 Dr. Csaba Szabó from University of Szeged in Hungary started his postgraduate research (Habilitation) with Pastorales Forum. His theme is "Metahistories of antiquity and the Romanian Orthodox Church," all updates in this research can be followed here.
The scholars keep meeting regularly every month to exchange their research and academic experience. Due to the pandemic most of the sessions in 2021 and 2022 took place online. For the past few semesters the group has been reading and discussing the Universal Christ by Richard Rohr.
Mag. Guram Lursmanashvili from Georgia started in October 2021 as a new scholar of Pastorales Forum. His dissertation theme is "Joseph Stalin and Orthodox Church of Georgia". We wish him good luck in his research!
The Pastorales Forum mourns with the community of Franciscan Sisters in Split, Croatia. Sr. Dr. Stela Mijic died on February 27, 2021, presumably of Covid-19. During her study in Vienna Stela lived with sisters in Friesgasse, where she was known for her kindness. She did her doctorate in 2010 on the subject of "The pastoral-liturgical development illustrated using the example of the mass".
Dr. Peter Kvaternik died on November 19, 2020 after a long illness. He studied in Vienna 1995-1997 and wrote his dissertation: "A life without prestige, freedom and power. Influences of communism on the pastoral activity of the church in the Archdiocese of Ljubljana". He received his doctorate in 2000, taught at the Faculty in Ljubljana and was a head of the pastoral ministry for many years.
It is with great dismay that we announce that our former fellow, priest Dr. Artur Filipiak died on November 2, 2020 at the age of 45 due to Covid-19 disease. Artur Filipiak was a director of the Catechetical Office of the Archdiocese of Poznan and lecturer at the Adam Mickiewicz University Faculty of Theology.
On 24th May 2019 our former scholarship holder, Dr. Szymon Stulkowski, was appointed by Pope Francis as Titular Bishop of Tabalta and Auxiliary Bishop of Poznan. It is a great joy for the Pastorales Forum and we wish Bishop Stulkowski God´s blessing in his new ministry!