Welcome Dr. Hansol Goo, Ph.D.

Collegeville, MN, August 23, 2023 – Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary (SOT/Sem) announced today that it has expanded its faculty by appointing Hansol Goo, Ph.D. as an Assistant Professor of Liturgical Theology. Dr. Goo will teach both in the Department of Theology at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University and the School of Theology and Seminary. She will also direct the Godfrey Diekmann Center.

Shawn Colberg, Dean of the SOT/Sem said, “We are thrilled for Hansol to join the School of Theology and Faculty. She brings tremendous gifts and background not only for work with our students but also for continuing Saint John's legacy in the liturgical movement. Her background in immigrant experiences of prayer and worship as well as global Catholicism position the school well to engage the evolving experiences of Christians in an increasingly intercultural and diverse church.”

Dr. Goo earned a Ph.D. in Theology with a specialization in Liturgical Studies at the University of Notre Dame, a Baccalaureate and a Licentiate in History and Cultural Heritage of the Church from the Pontifical Gregorian University, and a B.F.A. from Columbus College of Art and Design. Her Ph.D. dissertation was entitled God of Movement: Anamnesis and Migrant Sacramentality for Korean American Catholics.

Hansol contributes outstanding credentials to the School of Theology and the University. In addition to expertise in Liturgy, she brings unique perspectives on global Christianity, theology of migration, sacred art and architecture, and sacramental theology. She also brings strong interests in Catholic worship and practice including the ways in which diversity and inclusion impact these central tenets of Christian life. Her recent article, “Worship Space and Immigrant Memory: Korean Parishes in Los Angeles and New Jersey,” explores a sacramental functionality of memory for Korean American Catholics and the significance of worship space for immigrant communities in the US. While earning her Ph.D., Hansol contributed two book chapters published in Italian, one to Pope Art: Tra Religione, Estetica, e Spiritualità and another to L’Arte dei Suoni Dipinti.

“I am thrilled to join the School and Department of Theology at College of Saint Benedict and St. John’s University," said Dr. Goo. "CSB+SJU has a rich tradition of liturgical scholarship that played a major role in shaping how we understand worship in North America and beyond. As a liturgical scholar, I could not imagine a better place for teaching and researching on all matters related to the liturgical life of the Church. I look forward to being part of that tradition and pushing forward the conversation on liturgy and worship in today’s contemporary context.”