ABOUT US & OUR MISSION

The Cardinal Suenens Center honors the life and work of Leon Joseph Cardinal Suenens (1904-1996), Archbishop of Malines Brussels and Primate of Belgium.

The Cardinal Suenens Center exists to serve the vision of the Second Vatican Council especially as its themes intersect with the legacy of Cardinal Suenens. 

Those themes include but are not limited to the Church and co-responsibility of the people of God, ecumenism, interfaith dialogue, and spirituality. 

The Cardinal Suenens Center maintains an intense interest in fostering academic research, study, publication and conversation devoted to the spirit of renewal that illumined the life and work of Cardinal Suenens.

Following our inaugural conference, "Retrieving Charisms for the 21st Century," held at John Carroll University in 1996, the Cardinal Suenens Center has been supported principally through the generosity of Mrs. Margaret F. Grace of New York and has been located at John Carroll University, University Heights, Ohio.

Saint-Rumbold's Cathedral, Mechelen, Belgium

The Cathedral of Mechelen is one of the most impressive churches in Belgium. The famous French architect Vauban described it as the eighth wonder of the world. The cathedral is situated on the side of the Market Square of Mechelen.

The church is named after Saint Rumbold, an Irish missionary who christianized the area of Mechelen. He built a monastery in the area and died later a martyr.

Mechelen is the residence of the cardinal-archbishop of Brussels.