This week, the National Catholic Reporter published an article highlighting an ever-increasing call from long-time racial justice advocates for the Catholic Church to do more to address the evils of racism, as recently evidenced in the violence that erupted in Charlottesville, VA earlier this month. One of the voices mentioned is of our very own IPS Assistant Professor Dr. timone davis.
Dr. davis says, “I don’t think we as a church are out front enough on this issue, leading the charge…I’ve read a couple things [Catholic leaders] have said. But at this point, we’ve had enough talk. When do we do what they’ve already written about?”
Thank you, Dr. davis, for exemplifying IPS’s vision to educate and form leaders in ministry who can adapt to the rapidly changing religious and social landscapes of the 21st century.
As Catholic dioceses in northern England experience a much greater need for lay leaders, the Institute of Pastoral Studies is partnering with several dioceses—led by the Archdiocese of Liverpool—to offer education to meet the demand. The Certificate in Pastoral Ministry program will consist of 10 six-week modules delivered in an online format utilizing faculty from IPS and England.
The certificate is a non-degree, non-credit program offered over two years that equips lay ministers, teachers, deacons, and parish leaders with up-to-date knowledge, skills, and education for contemporary pastoral ministry. Upon completion of the 10 modules, students will be awarded a Certificate in Pastoral Ministry by IPS.
The first course, “What is Pastoral Ministry?,” will be offered by IPS professors Peter Jones and Michael Canaris starting February 2018. Students will explore what being called to pastoral ministry in the church means today.
8-03-2017|Comments Off on IPS Presents England’s New Certificate in Pastoral Ministry: A Customized Professional Development Program
The Institute of Pastoral Studies is proud to feature our very own Professor and Dean Brian Schmisek for his newly released co-authored book Living Liturgy published by Liturgical Press to assist pastoral teams; priests, deacons and liturgical ministers in planning and preparing for Sunday liturgy.
“The 2018 edition provides completely new content by a fresh team of expert authors. What you get is practical, sound, and inspiring preparation for your parish ministry.”
The ancillary Living Liturgy books for Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion – an easy-to-use resource for those visiting the sick and homebound; for Music Ministers – an excellent support for your parish music ministry; and the Sunday Missal are also available, and are used by hundreds of parishes throughout the United States.
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The Institute for Pastoral Studies is excited to welcome Dr. Deborah Watson on-board and introduce her to our community. Dr. Watson will begin her time as a Clinical Instructor with the Pastoral Counseling program this Fall 2017. Graduate Assistant, Ramona Gant, asked Dr. Watson a series of questions and here are some of her responses. We hope this Q & A session will give you a preview of what you can look forward to from Dr. Watson.
What graduate seminars would you like to teach?
My favorite courses to teach are family systems theory (comparable to IPS Family Therapy & Personal Transformation) and individual theories (comparable to IPS Models of Pastoral Counseling). Having a theoretical framework to organize all the information one gathers is necessary and associated with positive outcomes. Additionally, I find building that theoretical framework quite fun. I also enjoy working with practicum students, as it is the culmination of years of study and a time to apply what they have learned—an exciting part of the educational journey to be on with students as they begin to put into practice all that they have been preparing for.
What is your next major project, after you finish your work on your current one?
That is a great question. I was scheduled to leave for Bhutan on August 16 to continue my work there. Now, I am on my way to teach at Loyola and cannot be more excited to see what my next project will be.
What was your graduate program like, and do you feel it was effective in training students for jobs?
I had an awesome graduate program. It was a comprehensive and rigorous program. We had exposure to many ideas and resources. We had a diverse faculty body, particularly in regards to theories, experiences, and passions. This diversity gave students a wide range of teaching styles and exposure to different areas of interest and resources that enhanced student learning, preparedness, and adaptability. Preparing students for a multitude of job opportunities (e.g. advocacy, wellness, community work, clinical work, education etc.).
How did you prepare for the job market?
I have always stayed engaged with the communities I am involved with. Over the years that includes local churches, schools, and social service agencies. These connections keep me current with social and political happenings and the needs of the people or students I work with. Having personal and professional networks and being involved with people and projects not only bring purpose and meaning to my life but simultaneously keeps me current with information, skills, technology, networking, and trends (although I must add there is always room for improvement). As I was working on my doctorate in education, I always strived to expand my worldview or perspectives, to learn not only about others but myself (I believe a necessary ingredient in the helping professions). I have stayed an active member of the American Counseling Association (ACA), the National Board of Certified Counselors International (NBCC-I), the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES), and the Illinois Counseling Association (ICA). I recently attended a conference hosted by the Association for Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling (ASERVIC) in Richmond, Virginia, where I connected with colleagues that spent time in Bhutan working on the same project that I was working on (helping to build a mental health counseling infrastructure).
What do you do for fun?
I love to travel, listen to music, and play games. My greatest pleasure comes from spending time with family and friends. I also enjoy taking walks and going on bike rides (in the great outdoors).
8-01-2017|Comments Off on IPS Introduces New Clinical Instructor Dr. Deborah Watson
