Prof. Dr. theol. Klara-Antonia Csiszar

Prof. Dr. theol.

Klara-Antonia Csiszar

Professor of Pastoral Theology, Vice-Chancellor, Dean of the Faculty of Theology
Vice-Chancellor

T: +43 732 78 42 93 4186
F: +43 732 78 42 93 4155
E:

Gebäude: Neubau, 1. Stock, Raum 150

The consultation hours of Univ.-Prof.in Dr Klara Csiszar are offered by appointment.

Personal details

  • Born 1981 in Satu Mare (Romania)
  • Nationalities: Austrian, Romanian, Hungarian
  • Language skills: Hungarian (mother tongue), German (C2), Romanian (Romanian C2), English (B2), Italian (A1) French (A1).

Current functions

  • Professor of Pastoral Theology at the KU Linz (since 2019).
  • Vice Rector for Teaching and Research at the KU Linz (since 2023, re-elected in December 2024, three-year term of office).
  • Dean of the Faculty of Theology at the KU Linz (since September 2023, term of office until August 2026).
  • Head of the Department of Synodality at the Faculty of Theology of the KU Linz (since 2024)
  • Member of the Doctoral School of Religion, Culture, Society of Roman Catholic Theology at the Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca (since 2018)
  • Theological Consultant  to Cardinal Dr. Ladislav Nemet SVD, Archbishop of Belgrade (since 2018 as Bishop of Zrenjanin, since 2022 as Archbishop of Belgrade, since 2025 as Cardinal).
  • Member of the Theological Commission of the Austrian Bishops' Conference (since 2024)
  • Deputy Chairwoman of the Pastoral Forum in Vienna (since 2020)
  • Member of the Austrian National Synodal Team (since 2023)
  • Member of the Pro Oriente working committee, Linz section (since 2021)
  • Member of the Diocesan Pastoral Council of the Diocese of Linz (since 2019)

Previous professional experience and functions

  • Theological expert at the 16th Ordinary General Assembly of the World Synod of Bishops (appointed by Pope Francis, participation in the 2023 and 2024 sessions in Rome)
  • 2023 Member of the Drafting Committee of the first European Continental Ecclesial Assembly in Prague.
  • Theological Advisor to the Diocesan Synod in Zrenjanin, Serbia (2017-2021).
  • Lecturer Professor of Pastoral Theology at the Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca (2018-2022)
  • Member of the expert group "World Economy and Social Ethics" of Commission X of the German Bishops' Conference (2019-2020)
  • Interim Chair of Missiology and Intercultural Dialogue at the PTH Sankt Georgen, Frankfurt (2017-2019)
  • Research assistant (post doc) at the Institute for World Church and Mission, Philosophisch-Theologische Hochschule Sankt Georgen, Frankfurt am Main (2014-2019)
  • Lecturer at universities in Germany and Romania: at the PTH Sankt Georgen in Frankfurt), as well as at the Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca (2011-2017).
  • Head of the Diocesan Youth Office of the Diocese of Satu Mare in Romania (2005-2010)
  • Referent, then Head of the Diocesan Pastoral Office of the Diocese of Satu Mare in Romania (2005-2010)
  • Religious education teacher at the Hám János Catholic High School in Satu Mare, Romania (2006-2010).
  • Member of the Pastoral Council of the Diocese of Satu Mare in Romania (2005-2010)
  • Voting member of the Diocesan Synod of the Diocese of Satu Mare in Romania (2001-2004)

Training and academic qualifications 

  • 2020-2022: Training in Existential Analysis and Logopedagogy/Logotherapy at the Viktor Frankl Centre Vienna (5 theory semesters, 750 hours)
  • 2015: Habilitation (venia legendi) in pastoral theology at the Faculty of Catholic Theology at the University of Vienna with the thesis: Neuer Wein in neuen Schläuchen. Kirchliche Entwicklung nach dem Kommunismus in Ost(Mittel)Europa am Beispiel der Diözese Satu Mare (Rumänien). Pastoraltheologische Analyse für eine situationsgerechte Dasein-Pastoral. [New Wine in New Wineskins. Church Development after Communism in Eastern (Central) Europe Using the Example of the Diocese of Satu Mare (Romania). A Pastoral-Theological Analysis for Contextually Pastoral (Dasein-Pastoral)].
  • 2010-2014: Habilitation (Post-Doctoral) research in pastoral theology at the University of Vienna by Prof DDr Paul M. Zulehner.
  • 2009: Doctorate in Church History at the Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania with the thesis: A jezsuiták jelenléte és működése a Szatmári Egyházmegyében a 19. és a 20. században [The presence and activity of the Jesuits in the Diocese of Satu Mare in the 19th and 20th centuries]
  • 2006-2009: Doctoral studies in Church History at the Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania (2014 nostrification of the University of Vienna as Dr. theol)
  • 2005-2006: Master's programme in Pastoral Psychology at the Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
  • 2002-2003: DAAD scholarship at the University of Konstanz, Germany, specialising in Modern German Literature.
  • 2000-2005: Studies in Roman Catholic Theology and German Studies at the Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Other active and terminated memberships

  • Since 2025: Editorial board member of the pastoral theological journal "Egyházfórum" (Church Forum), Pécs, Hungary
  • Since 2015: Member of the working group of German-speaking pastoral theologians
  • Since 2013: Member of the network of Central and Eastern European pastoral theologians (PostNetzwerk)
  • Since 2008: Founding member of the International Scientific Association for Logotherapy and Existential Analysis (Cluj-Napoca, Romania)
  • Since 2006: Member of CIM, International Association of Pastoral Counsellors (since 2008: Board Member, since 2013: Vice President, since 2019: Honorary Member)
  • 2020-2024 Editorial board member of the Theologisch-Praktische Quartalschrift, Linz.
  • 2016-2019: Member of the German-Romanian Society, Berlin
  • 2013-2020: Editorial board member of the pastoral theological journal "Egyházfórum" (Church Forum), Pécs, Hungary
  • 2012-2015: Member of Echoes Academia, forum for young academics in Eastern (Central) Europe
  • 2005-2010: Member of the Pastoral Council of the Diocese of Satu Mare (Head of the Commission for Youth Pastoral Care)
  • 2001-2004: Member of the Satu Mare Diocesan Synod (Commission for Youth Pastoral Care)

Scholarships and mobilities

  • WS 2000/01-SoSe 2004 Scholarship of the University Babes-Bolyai Cluj-Napoca (Romania)
  • WS 2004/05-SoSe 2005 Excellence Scholarship of the University Babes-Bolyai Cluj-Napoca (Romania)
  • WS 2002/2003 DAAD German Studies Scholarship (University of Konstanz/Germany)
  • 2007 Scholarship from the  Faludi Ferenc Academy Budapest (Hungary)
  • 2009 Renovabis Scholarship (UBB Cluj Napoca/Romania)
  • 2010-2014 Habilitation scholarship from the Pastoral Forum and Renovabis (University of Vienna)
  • 2015 Erasmus+ mobility (UBB Cluj Napoca/Romania)
  • 2016 Erasmus+ mobility (UBB Cluj Napoca/Romania)
  • Start-up mobility of the Doctoral School of Religion, Culture and Society of the Roman Catholic Faculty of Theology at UBB Cluj, Romania:
    • 2023 Nairobi, Kenya (Tangaza University and Catholic University of Eastern Africa)
    • 2023 Manila, Philippines (Ateneo de Manila University, University of Santo Tomas, Institute for Consecrated Life in Asia, Divine Word Institute of Mission Studies)
    • 2024 Buenos Aires, Argentina (Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina Santa María de los Buenos Aires)
    • 2024 Santiago de Chile, Chile (Universidad Católica Silva Henríquez)
  • 2024 Erasmus+ Mobility (Eszterházy Károly Katolikus Egyetem, Eger/Hungary)
  • 2024 Erasmus+ mobility (Boston College, Boston/USA)
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