IPS alum (MASJ ’08) and current PhD candidate, James Masteler, is featured on the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies blog in a, “Profile of Stewardship.” Please click here: http://goo.gl/YH0G2l to read the post.
James was also recently featured on the North Park University website in an article called, “The Significance of Science, Profiles in Lives of Service.” You can read that article here: http://goo.gl/wNSVu4.
IPS Students & Classmates!
We would like to give you an update on a new development at IPS. It came to light in recent months that it would be helpful to have student representatives to share our perspectives with IPS faculty and staff. To that end, Matt Lieser & Bonnie Phelps (MAPC program) approached Brian Schmisek to explore possibilities. Brian is completely open and enthusiastic about our involvement and suggested we meet with the Student Engagement Committee. The Student Engagement Committee (SEC) is comprised of Fr. Stephen Krupa, Dr. Peter Jones, and new Student Coordinator, Koonal Patel. The following is a synopsis of the outcome of our meeting on April 2nd.
In the past the SEC has organized IPS parties and department events. The SEC will now include student representatives and will likely include one additional faculty member to help assist in better communication between students, faculty and staff as well as improvements on standard operating procedures in the IPS department. Matt Lieser and Bonnie Phelps will serve as the MAPC representatives and we would like to add 2 representatives from each of the other five programs in IPS. As the committee evolves, methods may be implemented to democratically elect reps, but for the time being, we would like to invite volunteers from each program to contact us. Student reps will have a dual responsibility to bring a consensus of perspectives, concerns, and opinions from their cohorts to committee meetings as well as communicate with their classmates on developments in committee meetings.
Another initiative to improve communications at IPS is to generate a newsletter to assure that students receive regular updates on developments at IPS. This newsletter format will include links to pertinent information, answers to questions and concerns, and a place for students to contribute suggestions. We have already suggested that IPS T-Shirts and logo materials be developed. This suggestion was met very enthusiastically, so stay tuned for developments in that area.
We encourage you to discuss this development among members of your cohort and choose 2 representatives to join the committee. Please contact Bonnie Phelps or Matt Lieser by email if you want to be one of the two student representatives to the Student Engagement Committee, or if you have any concerns or questions. We would like to have reps in place prior to the end of the Spring term so that we can be fully organized and operational by Fall 2014. We are eager to share the new and exciting changes at IPS and hopeful to find others interested in maximizing the potential of IPS. Please volunteer to represent your department and assist us in elevating the IPS programs to a higher standard.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Have a Blessed & Happy Spring!
Matt: mlieser@luc.edu
Bonnie: bphelps@luc.edu
Koonal: kpate11@luc.edu
In Quest of the Jewish Mary written by Sr. Mary Christine Athans, BVM, current IPS adjunct faculty, has been announced as a finalist in the Association of Catholic Publishers’ “Excellence in Publishing Awards.”
Congratulations, Christine!
For more information, click here: http://www.catholicpublishers.org/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Megan Troppito
Communication Specialist
312.915.6324
mtroppito@luc.edu
Loyola’s Institute of Pastoral Studies Launches Lenten Twitter Campaign
Online Retreat Will Provide Reflection and Prayer Each Day of Lent
CHICAGO, March 5, 2014 — Loyola University Chicago’s Institute of Pastoral Studies is launching a new Twitter campaign this Lenten season. The Institute’s Twitter account will share a note of reflection or prayer each day from March 5 (Ash Wednesday) through April 20 (Easter Sunday).
The campaign will provide followers with a mini retreat each day of Lent. The content will include simple ways to give back, challenges to abstain from something for the day, and ideas on how to quiet our daily lives and reflect. The goal is to inspire followers to make Lent a more personal, daily reflective journey.
“The hope is that our followers will use these tweets as an access point for Lenten reflection,” said Brian Schmisek, PhD, director and associate professor of Loyola’s Institute of Pastoral Studies. “There are many opportunities to reflect during Lent, but we are providing a unique and easy way for our Twitter community to take a step back in today’s fast-paced environment.”
In addition to the Twitter campaign, the Loyola community will be joining Jesuits around the US for “Moved to Greater Love,” a nine-week, online series of Lenten/Easter daily reflections, focusing on four specific graces: Gratitude, Spiritual Freedom, Vision, and Joy. To learn more about “Moved to Greater Love,” visit LUC.edu/mission.
To receive the Lenten tweets, please follow @LoyolaIPS on Twitter, or follow the #IPSTweetRetreat hashtag. For more information about Loyola’s Institute of Pastoral Studies, visit LUC.edu/ips.
About Loyola University Chicago
Founded in 1870, Loyola University Chicago is one of the nation’s largest Jesuit, Catholic universities, with nearly 16,000 students. Nearly 10,000 undergraduates hailing from all 50 states and 82 countries call Loyola home. The University has four campuses: three in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy, as well as course locations in Beijing, China; Saigon-Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Vernon Hills, Illinois (Cuneo Mansion and Gardens); and a Retreat and Ecology Campus in Woodstock, Illinois. The University features 10 schools and colleges, including the Quinlan School of Business, Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, Stritch School of Medicine, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Communication, School of Continuing and Professional Studies, School of Education, School of Law, School of Social Work, and Graduate School. Consistently ranked a top national university by U.S. News & World Report, Loyola is also among a select group of universities recognized for community service and engagement by prestigious national organizations like the Carnegie Foundation and the Corporation for National and Community Service. To learn more about Loyola, visit LUC.edu, “like” us at Facebook.com/LoyolaChicago, or follow us on Twitter via @LoyolaChicago or @LoyolaNewsroom.
– Loyola –
The Honorable Miguel Diaz, former U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See (2009 to 2012), and Dr. Marian Diaz have accepted faculty appointments at Loyola University Chicago. Marian will be an Assistant Professor of Pastoral Studies at the Institute of Pastoral Studies. Miguel will hold the John Courtney Murray University Chair in Public Service and will be a Professor of Systematic Theology, teaching courses available to IPS students. Both bring extensive international and national experience in a variety of areas including public theology, ministerial experience, social justice, and catholic social teaching that will be a tremendous benefit to Loyola University Chicago and IPS students in particular.
Dick Wesley, a mainstay of the IPS summer program spanning three decades, died on February 9th. His courses at IPS, among them, ‘Redemptive Intimacy” and “Morality and its Beyond” reflected his rootedness in and commitment to the voice and vision of Vatican II. Dick, with good humor and depth of insight, combined his prophetic edge with pastoral sensitivity both in his courses and in his many publications. He and his late wife, Ethel were long time members of St. Gertrude Parish in Edgewater, and in recent years resided in the Adorata Villa retirement community in Wheeling, Illinois.
To my dearest child, the immigrant:
I am Tenochtitlan, land of the Aztecs, your motherland. Gone are the days when we were the dominant culture. We have been conquered by a stranger, who tore down our beliefs and placed a cross in our hands. Our worship forever changed; our language replaced with their language. My dearest child, you are no longer just an Aztec. Now you are the product of a painful war between us and them. I wish we had joined other tribes from our land and fought against them. But the reality is that now we are a different culture. You were once called an Aztec, now you are called a Mexican. Do not be ashamed, instead remember me, your motherland.
Remember me as you travel to another land. You leave me because I can no longer feed your hunger, quench your thirst and protect you from the modern day conquistadors. These modern day conquistadors are wealthy just like the first conquistadors. They use their wealth to build monuments of power at the cost of people like you. It saddens me that you must leave me, but I understand that you have a family to provide for. I hope that as you travel and settle in the other motherland that you teach your children about me. Teach them about your motherland.
It is likely that this new land will not richly mention our history or their current involvement with your motherland. You must teach them about us, the Aztecs, the Mexicans, and even all of us Latin Americans. Now that you are in this new land, treasure it just at its original natives did at one point in history. Prior to being forced out of their lands, just like you, they were conquered by a stranger. They were taken out of their own homes and made slaves. They were perceived to incompetent, though you and I know that given our cultural and historical similarities, they were much more incompetent. This new land that you are going to is beautifully chaotic. It possess a complicated history marked by slavery, oppression, and injustices.
I must warn you of the sufferings you will encounter in this new land. You may find yourself working in the fields or meat packing factories for long hours only to receive a minuscule paycheck and harassment as a tip. At times you will be haunted like animals, to be packed in a bus and shipped back to “where you came from”. Do not let what happened in Postville Iowa, 2008, frighten you. Yes, it was an outrageous I.C.E. raid. Be wary my child, this new land is not always welcoming. So as you wipe the sweat of your face and feel your back ache remember that I will always be your motherland loving you from afar. The new land is rich because of people like you and others cultures who share our tragic history of oppression.
I hope that in this new land you follow the urgency of Martin Luther King Jr. and join hands with your new African-American brothers and sisters. They too were conquered, though unlike you their ancestors were forced into this land. Eat with them, share your stories and have discussions. Embrace the Hotinoshonni’s vision of coexistence. My dearest child, join hands with every color of skin and stop these conquistadors from stealing innocent cultures. Echoing Alice Walker, do not believe them when they tell you this is not your land. It is your land. I leave you with a gift, it is a simple lens. This lens is made up of compassion, empathy, and marvelous creativity. Use it wisely and pass it down only as a gift. This way it will be free for everyone to use. So march on my dearest child, I Tenochtitlan, your mother land will always love you.
Sincerely,
Your motherland, Tenochtitlan.
Disclaimer:
Inspired by Dr. King’s letter and Welch, I decided to write a letter to a migrant worker from the perspective of Tenochtitlan. Tenochtitlan is modern day Mexico City. This city was founded by the Aztecs. Legend has it that the Aztecs build the city after seeing an eagle holding a snake by its peak while resting on a cactus. This was a sign from their god to build their kingdom. To make the long story short, the Spaniards conquered the Aztecs and other tribes. Spain ruled over Mexico for a long time and it was not until September 16th 1810 that Mexico gain its independence. Thus with this date in mind, I reflected on my personal cultural history while incorporating some of the struggles migrant workers face. Such as the raid in Postville, Iowa. This a small town with a large amount of Latin American immigrants. ICE basically showed up at a meat packing factory and deported a significant amount people. For more info on this raid: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/15/magazine/postville-iowa-is-up-for-grabs.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Dr. Bob Ludwig sends along his reflections on Fr. Pat Brennan:
Fr. Patrick Brennan, RIP: Over the weekend, Pat Brennan drew his last breath and passed over into the mystery of communion with God. Patrick created some wonderful books on evangelization and mission as the focus of the post-Vatican II Church. His sensitivity to the suffering of others, especially psycho-spiritual suffering, led him to develop a focus on forgiveness, mercy, and compassion. He wanted the alienated to find new access to the gospel, and he wanted parishes to be centers of hospitality and celebration of good news. His work in the Archdiocese–and around the country–was ambitious and expected the Church to embody its faith in creative new ways. Thank God that he lived to see Pope Francis begin a reform and renewal that is long since needed. In the world of ideas and rhetoric, of influences direct and indirect, of hundreth monkeys–perhaps Patrick hastened the day for one such as Francis to lead the Church. At any rate, his passing is sad, but his presence was such a gift. His prophetic urgings for an adult Church that embraces the gospel at the level of experience and commitment will endure and feed our collective hope. Peace be to you, dear friend. –Robert Ludwig
The wake and funeral arrangements for Fr. Pat Brennan have been announced, and we wanted to share them with you.
Wake
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
3:00-9:00pm
St. Julie Billiart Church
7399 West 159th Street
Tinley Park, Illinois 60477
Funeral Mass
Thursday, December 5, 2013
11:00am
St. Julie Billiart Church
Main Celebrant: Monsignor Kenneth Velo
Often times Fr. Pat referred to our beautiful Cross of New Life and preached about our shared belief in life, death and resurrection through Jesus. It is fitting that we gather together again under this cross to remember Fr. Pat and honor his contributions to our community.
We would like all to join us for a special Memorial Mass.
Memorial Mass of the Resurrection
Saturday, December 7, 2013
12:30pm
Holy Family Catholic Community
2515 Palatine Road
Inverness, IL 60067
Special Hospitality to follow at Holy Family.
Many of you have asked how you can support the legacy of Fr. Pat. The Fr. Pat Brennan “Ignite the Laity” fund has been established and contributions will be accepted in lieu of flowers. For more information, contact IPS professor emeritus, Dr. Peter Gilmour at (773) 732-4868.
Do we find fulfillment in careers or callings? While careers pay the bills, our calling invites us into a deeper relationship with God. However, the millennial generation seem to associate the word “calling” to “church work.” If ministry is the fruit of discipleship, we must change the language to invite many into the fulfillment that comes with living out their calling, no matter what profession or major. We know that Jesus changes the language for parables and utilizes symbolism in order to invite and appeal to the masses. While there is mystery in symbolism, upon reflection we see invitation.
Jesus never said “Follow me, I will make you ministers of churches”. In the calling forth of the disciples to be “fishers of men, ” these fishermen were busy doing their job after experiencing Jesus, but weren’t all that ready to follow him too closely. So Jesus came to them, using the language of a fisherman, and forever changing their lives. Fisherman don’t go catching, they go fishing because sometimes they actually catch something, but not always. The water changes, the bait changes, methods have to change based on where we are, fishing is never that easy.
The same quandary still remains, how can the church “catch” the millennial generation? We need to know the bait, be patient, not expecting them to jump in the boat, but pointing them in the right direction. We need to be encouraging each student that they are called and chosen to live out their Baptismal call no matter what major they choose, no matter what job they get. Do they know that they have a call to the sacred….FROM the Sacred? God is always inviting, we are the ones that look away. As people are searching and searching and searching outside, who is going to tell them that what they are looking for can only be found within? God is not something to be reached for, it is something to acknowledge at our deepest core. We must not only acknowledge that but give them the language to realize that.
The definition of profession must be changed to mean a profession of our faith, our beliefs, a profession of who we are, not something we say at Mass. Students must profess their faith with their vocation and embrace their gifts which lead to calling as they leave behind careers, jobs and professions that have no fulfillment but pay the bills. Catholics need to change the map, refocus the lens and fish around until we find something that catches on. Why is our mission as a Catholic university any different than our mission as church? To invite, unite, excite, and ignite the flame that is in each of us. We know that the language is changing but the territory is also changing, Routes are changing, roads are changing, speed limits are changing and we can’t use a map from 1975 to get from Chicago to Florida, therefore we need to update the map that is ministry to avoid being lost.
We need to build bridges from experiences to beliefs, from careers to callings, from professions to professions of ourselves, from doing to being. Then we can connect the humanity in our daily lives, to the divine that is ever present, ever in motion and ever calling us His chosen ones, inviting us, over and over, and over again into the Mystery that is God. Let us continue to be open and discuss this conversation as we constantly update the map and language on an ever changing territory that is Church.
Peter Jones, PhD, joined IPS this semester as a member of the full-time faculty. Here are some questions to get to know Peter a little better!
What is your research/academic focus (or foci)?
My teaching focus has been all things systematic and practical theology while the intersection of theology, ethics, and economics has always been of special interest to me, and was the topic of my dissertation. I have been led by research in these areas to dive more deeply into theological anthropology along with cultural studies and social theory.
What appeals to you about IPS?
There are two main things that draw me to IPS. First, the range of student interests in conjunction with their diverse backgrounds is supremely appealing to me as an instructor. I sincerely enjoy learning so many things about our course topics as these kinds of groups discuss them. Second, the Catholic and specifically Ignatian impulse that suffuses the institutional identity of Loyola is refreshing.
Which classes are you teaching this semester?
Introduction to Theology and Ministry
The Church and its Mission
Cubs or Sox?
Being from Texas, this is an easy choice because my hometown Rangers don’t always get along with the Sox. I’m going with the Cubbies on this one, though I should perhaps admit that in a moment of weakness I did give some of my money to the fellow who cursed the team at the World Series all those decades ago (in exchange for one his delicious Cheezborgers of course).
To learn more about Peter, check out his CV. PeterJonesCV