The Good Shepherd: Priesthood Today in the Footsteps of the Saintly Hierarchs of the Ruthenian Greek-Catholic Church

August 3rd, 2011 by Web Master

Center of Eastern Christian Studies Summer School  From June 20th to July 4th of this year the ITI Centre of Eastern Christian Studies (ECS) in Austria organized a summer school with the theme, The Good Shepherd: Priesthood today in the footsteps of the saintly hierarchs of the Ruthenian Greek-Catholic Church. Clergy and seminarians from the Byzantine Catholic Eparchies of Phoenix and Parma in the USA flew over to participate in the program. The summer school …Read More

Portiuncula Indulgence

August 2nd, 2011 by Web Master

Today is Aug 2nd – time for the Portiuncula Indulgence! The Indulgence : “The Portiuncula indulgence is the first plenary indulgence that was ever granted in the Church. There were indeed indulgences at all times, but they were only partial, and only a partial remission of the temporal punishments could be obtained by them. But, as already remarked, he who gains the Portiuncula indulgence is freed from all temporal punishments and becomes as pure as after …Read More

The Significance of the Miracles of the Loaves

July 26th, 2011 by Web Master

Our students come from all over the world…and they then go out to serve all over the world.  Here is a recent sermon from ITI graduate Fr. Thomas Bolin: The Significance of the Miracles of the Loaves by Rev. Thomas Bolin, O.S.B. Subprior , Monastery of San Benedetto, Norcia, Italy     In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus performs a miracle, and thus provides food for a large crowd of about 4,000 people, with seven loaves of bread …Read More

Otto von Habsburg

July 18th, 2011 by Web Master

Archduke Otto of Austria was laid to rest on Saturday, July 16, 2011.  It was amazing to be there for the funeral, and in the procession – to see a whole empire passing by.   Read Wikipedia for his history and a great description of the funeral ceremony.  Fr. Edmund also has a great description of the meaning of his life and events.  The entombment ceremony is amazing.  What are these titles?  Nothing before God.  Hearing Otto …Read More

Knocking Down Walls

July 13th, 2011 by Web Master

Summer is here, but despite the fact that school is out, there is still plenty to do.  Right now the Phoenix Institute is holding a summer course on campus.  The Russian Kino renovation has inspired further renovations and walls are currently being knocked down to begin the first phase of the new Byzantine chapel in the Schloss.  Everyone is giving a hand.  While knocking down some of the walls between the vaulted ceilings and archways, …Read More

New ITI Promo Movie

June 28th, 2011 by Web Master

Click here to enjoy the new ITI promo film.  While on the ITI You Tube page – enjoy the other films!

Need a Smile?

June 21st, 2011 by Web Master

When I need a smile I go to the youtube page of ITI graduate Fr. Johannes Schwarz and watch one of his ad spoofs.  He has a real gift. Here is my favorite 

Graduation 2011

June 15th, 2011 by Web Master

Despite all forecasts and worries about rain, the weather provided a perfect sunny background for the festivities of the day.  Bishop Peter Rusnak, Eparch of Bratislava celebrated Divine Liturgy, the Byzantine Rite Mass, to begin the day.  Christoph Cardinal Schönborn presented the Masters, Licentiate and Doctoral degrees to the thirteen happy graduates.  Fr. Juraj Terek was presented with a special honor as well – the Golden Priest’s Cross – for his wonderful selfless service in his demanding job at the …Read More

Russian Kino

June 9th, 2011 by Web Master

With a little elbow grease and lots of man-hours, a section of the schloss at the ITI has been transformed in a little over six weeks.  It used to be a grainery, then when the Russians inhabited the schloss, they transformed the room into a cinema.  Then it was left deserted and when the ITI moved here, this is what we found.  We all saw the room had good bones, but during the move it became …Read More

Thesis Defenses

June 3rd, 2011 by Web Master

This week was the intense and exciting week of thesis defenses.  The Lectio Corams begin next week.  Now, we all knew the Licentiate students SAID they were writing…but this week showed us all WHAT they had been writing, and how well they knew their stuff.  Each student gave a short summary of their thesis …and then the three Professor readers had a chance to tear the thesis to shreds (at least, I am sure that is what …Read More