Virgilio Elizondo
Encyclopedia
Virgilio Elizondo is a Mexican American
, Roman Catholic priest who divides his time between his parish in San Antonio, Texas
, and teaching at the University of Notre Dame
in South Bend, Indiana
. He is a major theologian in liberation theology
and Hispanic theology. He has been named by Time Magazine as one of our most innovative spiritual leaders. He is well known for his book, Galilean Journey: The Mexican-American Promise, which examines the similarities between Jesus
' Galilean
background and the mestizo
experience. He was designated as the co-recipient of the 2007 Community of Christ International Peace Award
along with Dolores Huerta
. In 1997, he was awarded the Laetare Medal, the University of Notre Dame's highest honor.
/a and the process of mestizaje, which he defines as a mixing of two or more groups of people, biologically, culturally, and/or religiously. He is most interested in the position of Mexican-Americans, whom he regards as the product of a double process of mestizaje, the first being the biological, cultural, and religious mixing that created the Mexican people and the second being the primarily cultural mixing between Mexicans and Anglos in the U.S. Southwest. This second mixing occurred originally through U.S. expansion and conquest of formerly Mexican territory and has continued through Mexican immigration to the U.S. Elizondo believes that the position of the mestizo/a puts him/her in a unique position as both insider and outsider. From this unique position, the mestizo/a has the potential to help bring about a new, united humanity. Elizondo writes, "With each new mestizaje, some racio-cultural frontiers that divide humankind are razed and a new unity is formed." Elizondo is also interested in the Virgin of Guadalupe as symbol of the Mexican people and therefore as a product of the process of mestizaje.
, a Diploma in Pastoral
Catechetics from the East Asian Pastoral Institute, his M.A.
from Ateneo University, and his S.T.D. and Ph.D.
, from the Institut Catholique de Paris
in 1978.
Mexican American
Mexican Americans are Americans of Mexican descent. As of July 2009, Mexican Americans make up 10.3% of the United States' population with over 31,689,000 Americans listed as of Mexican ancestry. Mexican Americans comprise 66% of all Hispanics and Latinos in the United States...
, Roman Catholic priest who divides his time between his parish in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
, and teaching at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
. He is a major theologian in liberation theology
Liberation theology
Liberation theology is a Christian movement in political theology which interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ in terms of a liberation from unjust economic, political, or social conditions...
and Hispanic theology. He has been named by Time Magazine as one of our most innovative spiritual leaders. He is well known for his book, Galilean Journey: The Mexican-American Promise, which examines the similarities between Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
' Galilean
Galilean
Generically, a Galilean is an inhabitant of Galilee. Galileans were also the members of a fanatical sect , followers of Judas of Galilee, who fiercely resented the taxation of the Romans, and whose violence contributed to induce the latter to vow the extermination of the whole race...
background and the mestizo
Mestizo
Mestizo is a term traditionally used in Latin America, Philippines and Spain for people of mixed European and Native American heritage or descent...
experience. He was designated as the co-recipient of the 2007 Community of Christ International Peace Award
Community of Christ International Peace Award
The Community of Christ International Peace Award was established to honor and bring attention to the work of peacemaking and peacemakers in the world...
along with Dolores Huerta
Dolores Huerta
Dolores C. Huerta is the co-founder and First Vice President Emeritus of the United Farm Workers of America, AFL-CIO , and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.-Early life:...
. In 1997, he was awarded the Laetare Medal, the University of Notre Dame's highest honor.
Theology
Much of Elizondo's theology focuses on the theological significance of the mestizoMestizo
Mestizo is a term traditionally used in Latin America, Philippines and Spain for people of mixed European and Native American heritage or descent...
/a and the process of mestizaje, which he defines as a mixing of two or more groups of people, biologically, culturally, and/or religiously. He is most interested in the position of Mexican-Americans, whom he regards as the product of a double process of mestizaje, the first being the biological, cultural, and religious mixing that created the Mexican people and the second being the primarily cultural mixing between Mexicans and Anglos in the U.S. Southwest. This second mixing occurred originally through U.S. expansion and conquest of formerly Mexican territory and has continued through Mexican immigration to the U.S. Elizondo believes that the position of the mestizo/a puts him/her in a unique position as both insider and outsider. From this unique position, the mestizo/a has the potential to help bring about a new, united humanity. Elizondo writes, "With each new mestizaje, some racio-cultural frontiers that divide humankind are razed and a new unity is formed." Elizondo is also interested in the Virgin of Guadalupe as symbol of the Mexican people and therefore as a product of the process of mestizaje.
Books Published
English-language works by Elizondo include the following:- Galilean Journey: The Mexican-American Promise
- Christianity and Culture: An Introduction to Pastoral Theology and Ministry for the Bicultural Community
- Guadalupe: Mother of the New Creation
- The Future is Mestizo: Life Where Cultures Meet
- God of Incredible Surprises
- Beyond Borders: Writings of Virgilio Elizondo and Friends (with Gustavo GutierrezGustavo GutiérrezGustavo Gutiérrez Merino, O.P., is a Peruvian theologian and Dominican priest regarded as the founder of Liberation Theology...
and Timothy Matovina) - San Fernando Cathedral: Soul of the City (with Timothy M. Matovina)
- Mestizo Worship: A Pastoral Approach to Liturgical Ministry (with Timothy M. Matovina)
- Mestizo Democracy: The Politics of Crossing Borders (with John Francis Burke)
- Our Lady of Guadalupe: Faith and Empowerment among Mexican-American Women (with Jeanette Rodriguez)
- Way of the Cross: The Passion of Christ in the Americas (with John Drury)
Education
He received his B.S. degree from St. Mary's UniversitySt. Mary's University, Texas
St. Mary's University is a Catholic and Marianist liberal arts institution located on northwest of downtown San Antonio, Texas, United States. St. Mary’s is a nationally recognized master’s level school ranked among the top colleges in the west for best value and academic reputation by U.S. News...
, a Diploma in Pastoral
Pastoral care
Pastoral care is the ministry of care and counseling provided by pastors, chaplains and other religious leaders to members of their church or congregation, or to persons of all faiths and none within institutional settings. This can range anywhere from home visitation to formal counseling provided...
Catechetics from the East Asian Pastoral Institute, his M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from Ateneo University, and his S.T.D. and Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
, from the Institut Catholique de Paris
Institut Catholique de Paris
The Institut Catholique de Paris, or the Catholic University of Paris, is a private university located in Paris, France. The institute was founded in 1875, under the name Université Catholique de Paris, by Maurice Le Sage d'Hauteroche d'Hulst....
in 1978.