Christina Zaker has served at CTU since 2014.  She is Assistant Professor of Pastoral Ministry, Director of Field Education, Director of the Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies Program and Director of the Master of Arts in the Ministry Program.

Her past work in campus ministry, as the Executive Director of Amate House for the Archdiocese of Chicago, and in parish ministry lend to her ability to journey with students in their field education experiences.

Her recent book, Surprised by God: Teaching Reflection through the Parables, develops parable as a lens for theological reflection. Family Spirituality is the cornerstone of her research in spirituality, primarily exploring how the spirituality of a family unit adjusts through life. In addition to her book, she has written numerous articles and book chapters and is a frequent speaker and retreat director. Christina is a member of the Association for Theological Field Educators and the National Association of Lay Ministers. She is married to Christopher Zaker and they have four children.

Session Resources:

• The Righteousness of God, and the Faithfulness of Believers in Romans and Galatians [PDF]

Fr. Ferdinand Okorie CMF, is a member of the Claretian Missionaries. He received his M.Div. and an MA in Theology with a concentration in Biblical Languages and Literature from Catholic Theological Union, Chicago. Then, he obtained a Ph.D. in New Testament and Early Christianity at Loyola University Chicago. He is Vice President and Academic Dean and Associate Professor of New Testament Studies. His research interests include the Greco-Roman context of Early Christianity, the relationship between Paul’s letters and the Pastorals, the formation of Christian identity and the intersection between religion and culture.

Our presenter on October 8, 2026, will be Fr. David Monaco, CP. He has given us a preview of his presentation, Redefining the Messiah: From Human Expectations to God’s Plan.

The Book of Isaiah, sometimes called the “Fifth Gospel,” is frequently quoted in the New Testament and has deeply shaped Christian understanding of the Messiah. Isaiah gives us the familiar and beautiful image of the Messiah as the “Wonder-Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

But Isaiah also presents a very different image: the Suffering Servant.

Fr. David will explore the messianic expectations of Jesus’ time and, especially, how Jesus understood his own mission through the lens of Isaiah.

What happens when Jesus does not fit the expectations people have of the Messiah?

This leads us to some important questions:

• What does the Suffering Servant tell us about Jesus, his Passion, and the meaning of his suffering and death?
• And what might this vision of Jesus mean for us as members of the Passionist Family today?

Fr. David G. Monaco, CP, Professor in the Scripture Department at St. Joseph’s Seminary and College in Yonkers, NY. He is a native of Yonkers, professed his first vows as a Passionist in 1985 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1990. He holds an M.Div. with a Specialization in Word and Worship from Catholic Theological Union at Chicago (1989), an S.S.L. in Biblical Studies from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome (1999), and a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from the University of Chicago (2011). He taught for five years at Dominican University in River Forest, IL while working on his dissertation, and seven years at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, OH. He is the author of a number of articles and the monograph. David has been appointed as a Scripture consultant to the XIII Round of the ELCA-USCCB National Catholic-Lutheran Dialogue.

Fr. Robin Ryan, CP, is a Passionist priest of St. Paul of the Cross Province. He was born in Richmond, Virginia, and joined the Passionist Community, professing Passionist vows in 1980. Robin was ordained in 1984. He serves as full Professor of Systematic Theology at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and Director of the Master of Arts in Theology program. He earned a MDiv and a MA degrees at Catholic Theological Union and his Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Robin’s theological interests include the thought of Karl Rahner and Edward Schillebeeckx, the theology of redemption, the mystery of suffering, and contemporary ecclesiological themes and issues. He is the author or editor of several books, including God and the Mystery of Human Suffering. Robin is a popular speaker at retreats, workshops and conferences throughout the country.

Steven P. Millies is Professor of Public Theology and Director of The Bernardin Center at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He earned his B.A. from Loyola University Chicago and his M.A. and Ph.D., from The Catholic University of America. His scholarship explores the Catholic church’s relationship to politics in a perspective that embraces history, theology, law, ethics, sociology, philosophy, and political theory. He was associate professor of political science at the University of South Carolina Aiken. His book, Joseph Bernardin: Seeking Common Ground (Liturgical Press, 2016), won first place in the biography category for the Catholic Press Association’s 2017 Book Awards.

September 11, 2025

“Emptying and Exaltation in Paul’s Letter to the Philippians”

The Letter to the Philippians is filled with Paul’s loving support and challenge that the community might be of one spirit and one soul, seeing in both Paul and in Christ examples of humility and strength through suffering. In this presentation, we will see that this is especially evident in Philippians Chapter 2, where Paul describes the kenosis (emptying) of Christ and his ultimate exaltation.

Biography

A Dominican Sister of Sinsinawa, Laurie Brink (Ph.D. University of Chicago) is Professor of New Testament Studies. She teaches courses in the Gospels, Acts, NT Letters, and Early Christian literature. She has authored several books and articles including the Reader’s Guide to Pauline Literature for the Anselm Academic Catholic Study Bible (2014).

Resources

• Laurie Brink presentation [2.3 MB PDF]
• Laurie Brink, Paul’s Letter to the Philippians , 3-CD series for Learn25, March, 2009. 
• Carolyn Osiek, Philippians and Philemon. Abingdon Commentary Series. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2000.

Reflection Questions

• What stood out to you most from the this  presentation/why?
• How does this presentation connect with your own experience/perspective?
• What questions or challenges does the presentation raise for you moving forward?

October 9, 2025

“As a Muslim, What do Mary and Jesus Mean for Me”

Biography

Syed Atif Rizwan grew up in New Jersey and completed his undergraduate studies at Rutgers University, where he majored in Economics and minored in Chemistry. After graduation, he spent 8 years in the financial services industry, during which time he worked in New Jersey,

New York, and Los Angeles. In 2009, he matriculated in Claremont Graduate School’s Master’s in Islamic Studies program and in 2011 he enrolled in the Islamic studies doctoral program at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Syed joined the CTU faculty in 2018 as Assistant Prof. of Islamic and Interreligious Studies and became director of the Catholic-Muslim Studies Program in 2020. His research interests include history of Islamic law; hadith studies; medieval and post-modern theories of punishment; and  interreligious dialogue and studies.

Resources

• Younus Y. Mirza, The Islamic Mary: Maryam Through the Centuries (Fortress Press, 2025)
• Rita George-Tvrtković, Christians, Muslims, and Mary: A History (Paulist 2018)

Reflection Questions

• What stood out to you most from the this  presentation/why?
• How does this presentation connect with your own experience/perspective?
• What questions or challenges does the presentation raise for you moving forward?

November 13, 2025 

Baptismal Missionary Discipleship: A Theology of Lay People in the Church

The Letter to the Philippians is filled with Paul’s loving support and challenge that the community might be of one spirit and one soul, seeing in both Paul and in Christ examples of humility and strength through suffering. In this presentation, we will see that this is especially evident in Philippians Chapter 2, where Paul describes the kenosis (emptying) of Christ and his ultimate exaltation.

Biography

Stephen Bevans is a priest in the missionary congregation of the Society of the Divine Word. He is the Louis J. Luzbetak, SVD Professor of Mission and Culture, Emeritus, at Catholic Theological Union. Steve has lectured and taught all over the world, and has written or edited 21 books, the latest of which is Community of Missionary Disciples: The Continuing Creation of the Church (Orbis, 2024).

Reflection Questions

• What stood out to you most from the this  presentation/why?
• How does this presentation connect with your own experience/perspective?
• What questions or challenges does the presentation raise for you moving forward?

Resources

• Stephen Bevans presentation [11 MB PPT]

January 8, 2026

Help People Walk through the Tomb to the Resurrection

The Order of Christian Funerals gives us a wealth of services and prayers around death, and the three main rituals are profound ways to honor the life of the deceased, recognize the death, and begin the grief process in a supportive atmosphere. But then what? In too many parishes, families, and communities, we walk people to the tomb but then we essentially leave them there. Living the Passionist charism, we proclaim Christ Crucified; how do we also proclaim Christ resurrected from death to new life? How do we support the grieving people we care about, serve, and work with all the way through the tomb to the hope that the Paschal Mystery brings? In this session, learn language, skills, and tips that correct some of the common mistakes we make and offer pathways to comfort and healing, no matter where someone is in their grief process.

Biography

Amy Florian is a nationally recognized speaker and teacher who uses her personal experience, advanced education, and knowledge from over 35 years of parish liturgy, support group, and bereavement ministries for her engaging and dynamic presentations.

Amy holds a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Studies, and she is a Fellow in Thanatology (the highest level of certification in the field of death and grief studies). She was the executive director of Stauros, a non-profit organization founded by the Passionists, for 5 years.

She taught in the graduate ministry department of Loyola University in Chicago for almost 10 years. She founded Corgenius (a company that teaches professionals how to serve people in times of transition and loss), published articles and books, and has a passion for helping people heal, explore their faith, and live fully.

Resources

• For more of my tips and skills, written from primarily a secular perspective: A Friend Indeed: Help Those You Love When They Grieve by Amy Florian. 
• For an easy read written from a Christian perspective by an ordained minister and hospice worker - Faith Doesn't Erase Grief: Embracing the Experience and Finding Hope by Kate J. Meyer
• For the academic research foundation on the ways grief affects the brain and why it takes so long to resolve - The Grieving Brain by Mary Frances O'Connor.

Reflection Questions

• In what ways were you affirmed in your communications with grieving people, and in what ways were you challenged or see the need to change?
• Who is in your personal or professional circle right now who needs your support and companionship?
• What skills, language, or ideas would you add to this presentation from your own experience?

February 12, 2026

Biography

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Fr. Enzo spent his formative years in Italy, where he joined the Passionist Congregation in 1991 and was ordained a priest in 1996. He holds a Licentiate in Moral Theology, a Master's Degree in Human Resources, a Certification in Catholic Bioethics, and a PhD in Healthcare Ethics. His academic and pastoral journey has taken him across the globe, preaching at retreats and conducting workshops in multiple countries. Fluent in six languages, Fr. Enzo is recognized for his ability to engage diverse communities in meaningful theological discourse.

Fr. Enzo has served as an adjunct professor of ethics at CTU, contributing to courses that explore human dignity, Vatican II, and Pope Francis' Integral Ecology. Most recently, he has offered a course on Human Dignity and the Cyberworld, with particular emphasis on the ethical challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence. His work reflects a deep commitment to safeguarding human dignity in the face of rapid technological change.

By combining academic rigor with pastoral sensitivity, Fr. Enzo’s teaching and scholarship align closely with CTU’s mission to prepare effective and compassionate leaders for the Church and the wider world. He was installed as President of CTU on September 28, 2025.

Reflection Questions

• What stood out to you most from the this  presentation/why?
• How does this presentation connect with your own experience/perspective?
• What questions or challenges does the presentation raise for you moving forward?