Cecilia González-Andrieu

Professor of Theological Studies | Loyola Marymount University

Los Angeles, CA, UNITED STATES

Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts

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Biography

Theologian Cecilia González-Andrieu returned to Loyola Marymount University after completing the doctorate at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley. She was first to combine systematic theology with religion and the arts under the the late Alex García-Rivera.

González -Andrieu is a leading scholar of theological aesthetics, which she proposes as a way to bring communities together, respect and celebrate otherness, and lift the theological insights of those who know and express themselves from the peripheries.

As a budding scholar González-Andrieu was named one of the most promising theologians of the next generation by "America Magazine. "Today, she is one of "America"'s contributing writers, penning a number of significant essays on political theology, Latinx theologies, women's issues and theological aesthetics. Her book "Bridge to Wonder: Art as a Gospel of Beauty" received international acclaim for its ability "to link art’s power to move beyond the discursive, cognitive and propositional to a theology grounded in an experience that opens the imagination and moves one to encounter ‘God in all things'” (The Pneuma Review).

Other publications include co-editor of "Teaching Global Theologies: Power and Praxis", and contributor to "Go Into the Streets: The Welcoming Church of Pope Francis," along wit key articles for "The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and the Arts" and "The Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States." Other contributions include the "Journal of Catholic Education" issue on “Latinos/as, education and the Church." Her address for the Catholic Theological Society of America "Wounded Grace and the Disquieting Invitation of the Real," represents her emphasis on God's vision revealed in the most vulnerable. Her current work investigates the theological aesthetics of artist John August Swanson, with a first contribution in "Religion and Contemporary Art:A Curious Accord" from Routledge.

González -Andrieu teaches in LMU’s Department of Theological Studies, co-chairs the LMU Latino Theology and Ministry Initiative, is an active supporter of the Ignatian Solidarity Network, an advisor for the Discerning Deacons Project. An alumna of the Hispanic Theological Initiative, serves on the board of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the US, and co-founder of LMU’s initiatives with undocumented students. Awards include GTU Alumna of the Year and the O’Hara Graff Award from the Catholic Theological Society of America.

Education (3)

Graduate Theological Union, Art & Religion & Systematic Theology: Ph.D., Post-Graduate Studies

Loyola Marymount University: M.A., Graduate Studies, Theology

Loyola Marymount University : B.A., Undergraduate Studies, Double Major: Film and Spanish

Areas of Expertise (12)

Women in the Church

Immigrant Rights

Christian Theology

Political Theology

Pope Francis

Theological Aesthetics

Latina/o/x theologies

Equity in Education

Artist John August Swanson

Playwright/poet Federico García Lorca

Art & Religion

Ecology and Laudato Si

Accomplishments (4)

Virgilio Elizondo Award 2024 (professional)

2024-06-08

The Virgilio Elizondo Award is awarded to an individual “for distinguished achievement in theology, in keeping with the mission of the Academy.”

Ann O'Hara Graff Memorial Award 2023 (professional)

2023-06-08

Awarded by the Women's Consultation in Constructive Theology of the Catholic Theological Society of America. Each year the Women’s Consultation in Constructive Theology awards a member of the CTSA whose accomplishments include the various types of woman-defined scholarship, and liberating action on behalf of women in the church and/or the broader community.

Alumna of the Year 2020, Graduate Theological Union (professional)

2020-08-07

“I am proud to honor Dr. González-Andrieu as Alumna of the Year,” said Dr. Uriah Kim, President of the GTU. “As a leader in her field, a rigorous thinker, and a tireless activist and advocate, she truly embodies the best of the GTU community.”

Selected as a "Visionary" by the Foundation for Spirituality and the Arts (professional)

2023-11-06

https://fsa.art/visionaries/ "Visionaries are innovative figures representing a diverse range of perspectives whose work has been instrumental in generating insights and fostering dialogue in the arena of spirituality and the arts. Through these exchanges and networks, FSA aspires to nurture a growing community of artists, scholars and others who are pathfinders in the field."

Affiliations (5)

Catholic Theological Society of America
Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States
Hispanic Theological Initaitive
Ignatian Solidarity Network
Discerning Deacons

Links (6)

Languages (2)

Español
English

Media Appearances (12)

Religion and Foreign Policy Webinar: The Pope and International Relations

Council on Foreign Relations online

2024-12-17

"We’re delighted to have Peter Casarella and Cecilia González-Andrieu here with us to discuss the geopolitical and cultural influence and leadership of the pope, as well as the role of the Catholic Church in international relations."

Some Christians want to make amends for the church's treatment of Indigenous people

National Public Radio radio

2023-10-05

Some Christians want to make amends for the church's treatment of native and Indigenous people. A growing number of denominations have voted to repudiate a doctrine that led to violent colonization. NPR religion correspondent Jason DeRose reports on how that's playing out at local congregations.

Assembly of US Catholic priests discusses calls for women's ordination

National Catholic Reporter online

2023-06-19

Article reporting on González-Andrieu's keynote presentation and participation in the Annual Assembly of the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests.

González-Andrieu honored for scholarship, mentoring undocumented students

National Catholic Reporter online

2023-06-09

Story about the presentation of the O'Hara Graff Memorial Award by the Catholic Theological Society of America to González-Andrieu.

Church and state: a look at President Trump's first meeting with Pope Francis

KPCC 89.3 radio

2017-05-24

Interview with A Martínez on 89.3 KPCC's Take Two

How can theology speak to the immigration debate?

America Magazine podcast radio

2017-03-02

On this week's podcast, hosts Kerry Weber and Tim Reidy tackle immigration, speaking to Cecilia González-Andrieu—a professor of theology at Loyola Marymount University in California—about both her personal experience as a Cuban refugee and her theological expertise on the subject.

Immigration action looms large for Catholics this Lenten season

KPCC 89.3 radio

2017-03-01

Interview with A Martínez on 89.3 KPCC's Take Two

Joy to the World, Hark! The stories behind our favorite Christmas Carols

America Media online

2022-12-22

For our last episode of the season, we’re blasting “Joy to the World” a carol that for many is synonymous with Christmas, but which has almost nothing to do with the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. The prolific hymn writer, Isaac Watts, first penned “Joy to the World” after Psalm 98, which reflects the joy that followed Jewish deliverance from exile. But as a carol, it anticipates the second coming of Christ. As for the iconic tune, that is set by American music director, Lowell Mason, who borrows the melody from the regal masterpiece of George Frederick Handel’s “Messiah.” Colin Britt returns to the podcast to explain this carol’s musical journey, and Dr. Cecilia González-Andrieu helps us interpret its meaning through the lens of theological aesthetics and eco-theology. Cecilia’s book: Bridge to Wonder: Art as a Gospel of Beauty

And Jesus Wept - Fifth Sunday of Lent 2023

Ignatian Solidarity Network online

2023-03-27

Podcast episode for the series Finding God in the Chaos.

Church and State: A Look at President Trump's First Meeting with Pope Francis

LAist (NPR) radio

2017-05-24

The pope has been openly critical of the Republican leaders on his immigration policies. How do local Catholic faithful who fall on different sides of this political divide resolve their views? Host A Martinez gets a sense of their reaction from Cecilia González-Andrieu, she teaches theology at Loyola Marymount University.

For Hispanic theologians in the US, synodality means journeying en conjunto

National Catholic Reporter online

2024-06-25

"The process of discerning our commitment, accompanying la realidad, imagining ways to transform it, and then acting with courage, has to always be pointed toward the reign of God," argued Cecilia González-Andrieu, president-elect of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States and professor of Loyola Marymount University.

You don't have to celebrate Christmas to experience the spiritual benefits of Advent

Los Angeles Times online

2024-11-30

Religious practitioners say the spiritual practice of Advent can counteract the materialism of the Christmas season — whether or not you believe in God. An ancient tradition still honored in some churches, the practice predates chocolate-filled Advent calendars by more than 1,000 years.

Event Appearances (2)

I'm Done Being Polite! Truth Telling In Education

2022 Zahm Lecture University of Portland

2022-09-14

How to Engage with a World that Needs You

The 41st Annual Summer Conference University of Portland

2023-07-26

Sample Talks (1)

#MIneToo: Why Robust Women's Voices are Indispensable to the Church

https://youtu.be/uPeKEZ_n3-4?si=LW96jbsTTJo81CKQ

Research Focus (1)

Pope Francis

Professor Gonzalez-Andrieu publishes on Pope Francis and especially his lifting up of the religious sensibilities of the poor. She teaches a course on Ecological Theology centered on Pope Francis’s leadership on climate change. She can comment on three key themes of Pope Francis' pontificate: care of the environment and climate change, taking care of refugees and migrants and the need to attend to the wisdom of the religious imagination and practices of the poor.

Articles (6)

The Catholic Church has the potential to change the world. Are we squandering it?

America Magazine

Cecilia González-Andrieu

2023-08-17

This essay explores the difficult questions of why be church? and why be church now? And suggests ways to imagine ourselves as part of a cosmic story.

For women, the synodal process is a road map to an inclusive church

U.S. Catholic

Cecilia González-Andrieu

2024-03-26

This essay uses the metaphor of the kind of iinformation and collaboration that make a GPS get us form one place to another to explore the course correction the Catholic Church needs to make to get to the Reign of God, which requires the full participation and dignity of women. The synod process is such a tool to get the Church on the right road forward.

Prophetic theological work can be dangerous business

America Magazine

2017-02-22

There is no shortage of stories of theological thinkers gone much too early. In recent history, several come to mind immediately: Óscar Romero, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Thomas Merton, Simone Weil, Ignacio Ellacuría, S.J., and Martin Luther King Jr...

To love the United States does not mean to love it blindly

America Magazine

2017-01-31

I had never tasted anything so delicious, though in hindsight, the meal was quite ordinary. There was a small piece of cake, a carton of milk and a sandwich. The cardboard box in which the meal came was white and had a large, red cross on the lid. The memory is such a key to my childhood that for years I kept the box neatly preserved in my closet.

After November: Catholics respond to the unexpected election of Donald J. Trump

America Magazine

2016-11-21

In the early hours of Wednesday, Nov. 9, Donald J. Trump was elected the 45th president of the United States. Despite polls throughout the campaign showing Catholics breaking for his opponent, Hillary Clinton, come election night, a majority of Catholics—52 percent—voted for Mr. Trump. Here are some Catholic reactions to the Republican candidate's upset victory.

How to Respond when Despair Knocks On Our Door?

The Southern Cross

Cecilia González-Andrieu

2024-07-06

When a visit to an amusement park triggers a painful memory, the experiences of refugees come to the fore.