Category : IPS

Graduating Student Feature: Meet Anna

While at IPS, Anna Dudek has taken advantage of some of the great things IPS has to offer to enhance education. Anna has learned a lot during her studies and shared with us some experiences, accomplishments and wisdom. We know you will succeed in your goal of helping young people “see the presence of God in their own lives.”

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Hometown: I was born in Poland and for the past 10 years I have been living in Chicago.

What did your studies focus on at IPS?
In the Institute of Pastoral Studies (IPS), my studies focused on Master of Arts in Religious Education. I strongly believe that taking classes on campus gave me opportunities to have social interaction and instructor feedback available in traditional classrooms. Discussions and teamwork are a couple of benefits of learning through this format. Two years ago, it was a privilege to go to John Felice Rome Center as a part of Loyola’s 1st summer study abroad. Loyola’s campus is wonderful and I couldn’t miss the opportunity to go there last year as well. I highly recommend the John Felice Rome Center for a study abroad experience in Rome.

What has been your biggest accomplishment while at IPS?
“Contextual Education,” one of the courses offered at IPS, gave me the opportunity to initiate Advisory Board for Office for the New Evangelization in Archdiocese of Chicago. The Advisory Board exists to advise, assist, support and advocate activities designed to carry out the mission offered to parishes and those in their care (school, catechist, youth, young adults’ families and etc.).

What was your favorite class and why?
I cannot say which class was my favorite because IPS has good professors and each of the classes impacted my life. Christian Doctrine & Its History with Professor Peter Jones helped shape my understanding of Christian Theology from the first century to the present day, with special attention to Christology, the doctrine of the person and work of Jesus Christ. Thus, Foundations of Christian Spirituality with Fr. Steve Krupa S.J. gave a beautiful overview with special attention to current issues in the field of spirituality and Christian spirituality in our time. Yet, I can clearly identify with the class of New Testament in Rome. I can certainly say I had a most pleasurable time with our group of great friends and outstanding teachers: Professor Brian Schmisek, Professor Heidi Ann Russell and Fr. Steve Krupa S.J. I am very happy that I could take the course of the New Testament on the site where St. Peter was martyred and became the first Pope. As I look at my pilgrimage in Rome I discover that I could participate in the history of the Church. The frescoes that decorate the walls and the ceiling of Basilica present full reconstitution to the community of the Church. It’s amazing that I could visit the places where early Christians gave their lives for their faith. Morning Mass in the basement of St. Peter Basilica was an enormous spiritual experience for me.

Do you have any advice for future students?
Do not be afraid and take advantage of what IPS offers you. Loyola University prestige has the potential to be an excellent education. The IPS has excellent faculty and very good resources. My dream was to study abroad and IPS gave me this opportunity.

As a recent graduate, in what way will you go forth to “change the world?”
I think that many young Catholics experience Christ every day through Mass, prayer and in the community where they grow up. Albert Nolan in his book Jesus before Christianity points out that:

“Faith, like a mustard seed, is an apparently small and insignificant thing that can achieve impossibly great things.”

I feel excited that I can work with the young people. I want to support the young people and to help them discover deeper meanings of their faith. Together I hope they find the happiness of being Disciples of Christ. I believe many young people are looking for a real experience of God. They would like a religion that helps them know life with its joys and sufferings. Young people need to recognize the story of Jesus and the gospel message. Nolan also points out:

“The only power that can heal and save the world, the only power that can do the impossible, is the power of faith.”

As an Evangelization Associate in the office for the New Evangelization, I want to teach young people that “Everything is possible for God” (Mk 10:27).

We must open ourselves to authentic communication with God and take a serious look at the liturgy and the Bible. God always wants us to say something to others. I believe that my charisma will help to build a warm and evangelistic atmosphere that involves people in parish ministry.

Today, young people speak new languages and they have to experience the practical reality of building a faith community:

“Pray for one another (James 5:16);
Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:24b-25);
Bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2);
Spur one another toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24).”

I want to help them to see the presence of God in their own lives. Like my parents who helped me see God in my life, I want to empower young people to participate fully in the celebration of the sacramental life of the Catholic Church. In the book The Difference God Makes: A Catholic Vision of Faith, Community, and Culture, Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I. clearly points out:

“Creating a culture that provides a more evangelically authentic environment for daily life in the United States is less a program with clergy defined stages than a movement of gradual growth. Cultural change is slow, but it can be steady if our purpose is clear and our nerves are strong. Evangelizers need a broad vision and strength for the long haul.”

 

Connect with Anna via Facebook.

 

Join the conversation by following @BrianSchmisek on Twitter and @LoyolaIPS on Instagram! Also, network with the Loyola Chicago IPS community on LinkedIn.


Graduating Student Feature: Meet David

David Gibbons will be completing his four year journey with IPS in just a couple weeks when he graduates with his MA in Pastoral Counseling. Like many of our students, it was a challenge for David to balance life, work and education, but he did it and did it successfully!

“Just take it one day at a time – it will not last forever and every day is a wonderful opportunity for learning and growth. Make the most of the community of peers and the wisdom of the professors,” advised David.

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Hometown:
I am originally from Portsmouth, UK and have been living for the past 7 years in Barrington Hills, IL.

What did your studies focus on at IPS?
I have been taking the MA in Pastoral Counseling since 2011, taking all classes on campus except one – The Counseling and Care of Men, which I took online.

What do you want to be doing upon graduation?
I will continue as Rector of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Barrington Hills and work part time as a counselor at a Counseling Center in the Northwest suburbs.

What has been your biggest accomplishment while at IPS?
Taking another step on the path to integration!  Plenty of work to do, but the great gift that IPS offers: its classroom experiences, friendships, learnings, and opportunities to put the class learning into practice has helped make a significant shift in my personal growth journey.

Were there any challenges you had to overcome during your time here?
Juggling full time work, family, classes, internship and commuting has been a significant challenge.

What was your favorite class and why? 
Pastoral Psychodynamic Assessment and Intervention because it provided a rich framework for plotting a client’s current situation as well as needs and some strategies and plans toward healing and wholeness.

Do you have any advice for future students? 
Just take it one day at a time – it will not last forever and every day is a wonderful opportunity for learning and growth. Make the most of the community of peers and the wisdom of the professors.

As a recent graduate, in what way will you go forth to “change the world?”
Hopefully – I’d like to be part of the emergence of spiritual growth and integration into our society to influence and even heal our culture.

 

Join the conversation by following @BrianSchmisek on Twitter and @LoyolaIPS on Instagram! Also, network with the Loyola Chicago IPS community on LinkedIn.


Graduating Student Feature: Meet Elizabeth

Elizabeth Reardon is ready to accept her Master’s degree in May and commit fully to work in her archdiocese. Elizabeth tells us about her challenges, achievements and motivations. She also has some great advice for students just beginning their journey.

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Pictured above with Fr. Krupa at the Alpha Sigma Nu Awards Ceremony

 

Hometown: Though originally born in the South, I have lived in Plymouth, MA for the past 19 years.

What did your studies focus on at IPS? 
As a student at Loyola’s Institute of Pastoral Studies, the focus of my Master’s studies has been Religious Education. While primarily an online student, I have been fortunate to visit Loyola’s campus and travel to Rome as part of Loyola’s 1st summer study abroad.

What do you want to be doing upon graduation? 
Presently, I am working towards Pastoral Associate certification with a board review anticipated sometime in late May and a course in canon law forthcoming. Thus, I have begun looking for a position within the Archdiocese of Boston as a pastoral associate or faith formation coordinator. Having served in lay ministry in various capacities for many years, this is definitely where my heart is being led to follow. Likewise, with the shortage of priests and the rapid movement of parishes into a collaborative status, there is a great need for a growing number of “workers in the vineyard”.

What has been your biggest accomplishment while at IPS?
The greatest accomplishment or honor given while at IPS would have to be my acceptance into Alpha Sigma Nu, the National Jesuit Honor Society. Words cannot express the truly humbling experience of being selected for inclusion into Alpha Sigma Nu with such an amazing group of students dedicated to both academic excellence and service. Spanning ethnicities, and continents they embody God’s incredible diversity and gifts of the Spirit, witnessing God at work in their lives today. Through them, I both experience community and recognize the consequences of my faith to work for peace and justice yet also hope and trust in the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. How blessed I am to have been given such an amazing “family” in Christ! For those professors, priests, theologians, friends and colleagues who have shown support and love, but challenged and inspired me to reach deeper and go further in my faith – Thank you!

Were there any challenges you had to overcome during your time here? 
Yes, in returning back to college later in life there is the new struggle of balancing family, prior commitments and coursework. I found that whenever possible that I would work ahead to allow for unforeseen events that arise, and for much needed time with my family. While there were overlaps in my attention, I fully sought to make the time given to each activity worthwhile.

What was your favorite class and why?
There is no way I can choose just one class as my favorite, yet I can clearly identify the classes that have helped shape my pastoral perspective for the future. Liturgy and Christian Sacraments with Heidi Russell in Rome, has been an essential foundation for understanding what it really means to live a life fully in the sacraments. Exemplifying what it is to embrace a life of communion, this further empowers a life of discipleship and mission. Thus, Church and Mission with Peter Jones gave a beautiful glimpse of the mission that continually beckons us as a Church to walk with others on a path of mercy, reconciliation and renewal. In doing so, we are called to reexamine our lived discipleship through our faithfulness to Christian ethics and social justice (Christian Moral Theology and Ethics with Therese Lysaught). This calls for an authentic witness of our faith to the often troubling circumstances of the world around us.

Do you have any advice for future students?
When the going gets tough, pray and if you feel alone in the struggle, reach out to other students. They are going through the journey with you and IPS is an incredible community of faith. Also, I went my first year without a spiritual director and this is an invaluable gift. Not only for your personal spiritual development, but this time will help you better discern where God is leading you to be.

As a recent graduate, in what way will you go forth to “change the world?”
I believe that just as our faith is not static, but a living and vibrant encounter, so should our pedagogical attitude be. Through the interaction of reflection, engagement, and practice there is much work to be done in bridging the gap between liturgy and their lived expression in the life of the community. This final step is for me where I currently find myself wanting to contribute more in the world around me. For, how can one live a sacramental life and not feel compelled to seek also its expression in addressing the challenges of poverty, human dignity, and liberation?

**Connect with Elizabeth:
Blog – Theologyisaverb.com
Facebook & Google+ – Elizabeth Reardon
Twitter, Instagram & Pinterest –  @theologyisaverb

 

Join the conversation by following @BrianSchmisek on Twitter and @LoyolaIPS on Instagram! Also, network with the Loyola Chicago IPS community on LinkedIn.


Graduating Student Feature: Meet Pearl

May 2015 graduation is quickly approaching! In honor of our wonderful graduates, IPS will begin to feature graduating students on the blog.

To kick off this series, we would like to first feature IPS Graduate Assistant Pearl Chiang. She has been so helpful and has brought so much joy to the office, we are going to miss having her here!

Read about her future plans below and find out what we already know… that she is an amazing person with a bright future ahead of her!

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Hometown: Troy, Michigan

Degree: Pastoral Counseling

What do you want to be doing upon graduation?
Working in a private practice, preferably a Christian Counseling practice, with emphasis on family therapy and holistic methods of therapy. My end goal is to start my own practice with a couple friends who are in the field.

I currently have a couple interviews lined up, so hoping for the best!

What has been your biggest accomplishment while at IPS?
Becoming more aware of who I am, what my needs are and what my limits are.

Were there any challenges you had to overcome during your time here?
I was diagnosed with stage 3 Breast Cancer at the beginning of last year and by the grace of God was able to stay the course and finish my studies. I am now in remission and appreciate the support of IPS and my cohort in the hardest and most transformative year of my life.

What was your favorite class and why?
It’s a tie for Psychopathology and Assessment & Intervention with Michael Bland. These classes are the most relevant and I refer to my notes from those classes almost every day in my internship setting.

Do you have any advice for future students?
Take advantage of every opportunity to get to know your classmates because 3 years goes by in the blink of an eye. Also, go out to coffee with your professors. They are extremely wise and you can gain a wealth of knowledge by racking their brains.

As a recent graduate, in what way will you go forth to “change the world?”
When I’ve been asked that question before in other contexts, it was very easy to give a carbon copy answer and say, “I want to help people and these are the ways…” Now having been through IPS MAPC program, my outlook has changed. I still want to change the world by helping people and the way that I feel that I have been called to do that is to provide counseling. It also means meeting people where they are and supporting them in that, without imposing your own agenda.

 

Join the conversation by following @BrianSchmisek on Twitter and @LoyolaIPS on Instagram! Also, network with the Loyola Chicago IPS community on LinkedIn.


IPS Celebrates Six Retiring Faculty Members

As this year comes to an end, IPS must say goodbye to six incredible faculty members. It has been an honor to have each of them as members of the IPS and greater Loyola community. They have been mentors for our students, enriched the lives of everyone at IPS and continue to be leaders in the community. You will always be a part of IPS.
Thank you.

140820_WTC_Summer02Please read what our IPS retirees would like to share:

Stephen Krupa, S.J.
“The IPS years have been very special for me. I will miss most my IPS Faculty and Staff colleagues and, of course, the students. I am grateful for all that my students and colleagues taught me over the years, and I hope that I contributed to the moving forward of the gospel and mission of Jesus by what I taught while at the Institute.”

Mary Christine Athans, BVM, Ph.D.
“As a Loyola alum from my undergraduate days, it has been wonderful to be teaching at IPS since I returned to Chicago in 2002. The enthusiasm, remarkable background and diversity of the students as well as my marvelous colleagues at IPS made my first ‘retirement’ a joy. Thank you for becoming a special part of my life!”

Dr. James Whitehead
Dr. Evelyn Whitehead
“Over forty years the Institute of Pastoral Studies has been for us a community of colleagues and friends, a fruitful setting for our ministry, and our spiritual home. We are most grateful!”

Dr. Gerard Egan
Dr. Jeanette Egan
“We would like to thank Fr. Garanzini for his tenure as President. The improvements we have witnessed in the years we taught here at Loyola (Gerry 40, Jeanette 29) have been amazing. Thank you Fr. Garanzini.

Next, we would like to thank all the IPS directors, faculty and staff from Fr. Jerry O’Leary to the present. THANK YOU ALL. We especially like to thank Paul Giblin for his help in experimenting with a variety of ways in teaching the counseling skills courses, but also in suggesting ways to develop the core of these courses, which we have team taught since IPS offered a MA in Pastoral Counseling. THANK YOU PAUL.

Lastly, and most importantly, we wish to thank our students, male and female, lay and religious, young and not so young, from over a dozen countries around the world. You have been wonderful, helping us in every instance to form communities of trust which are essential for our mode of teaching. You have enriched our lives. We have learned, grown and had some good times together. THANK YOU to each and everyone of you.

We will miss the IPS community.”

flagsPlease join us on April 10th for a retirement celebration as we say farewell to these six wonderful IPS faculty members. We will celebrate and honor their achievements, remarkable careers and devoted service in their communities.

 

Join the conversation by following @BrianSchmisek on Twitter and @LoyolaIPS on Instagram! Also, network with the Loyola Chicago IPS community on LinkedIn.


Holy Week and the Death Penalty

The article, “400+ Catholic and evangelical leaders want to kill the death penalty” from The Washington Post, talks about the recent letter from Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza that supports the abolishment of the death penalty in the US. The letter was signed by hundreds of Catholic and evangelical leaders, including professors from IPS. 

 

“As Christians preparing for the holy days of Christ’s suffering and death on the cross, we speak out with renewed urgency against the death penalty. Torture and execution is always a profound evil, made even more abhorrent when sanctioned by the government in the name of justice when other means of protecting society are available. All who reverence the sanctity of human life, created in the image of God, must never remain silent when firing squads, lethal injections, electric chairs and other instruments of death are viewed as morally acceptable.

We urge governors, prosecutors, judges and anyone entrusted with power to do all that they can to end a practice that diminishes our humanity and contributes to a culture of violence and retribution without restoration. We especially ask public officials who are Christian to join us in the solidarity of prayer this week as we meditate on the wounds of injustice that sicken our society. In many ways, capital punishment is the rotten fruit of a culture that is sown with the seeds of poverty, inequality, racism and indifference to life. We silence our hearts in prayer for those killed and families who mourn their loss. We can never know your pain and anger. Let us work together for healing, restorative justice and a system that punishes criminals without bringing more darkness and death into our world. As Pope Francis has reminded us, capital punishment is “cruel, inhumane and degrading” and “does not bring justice to the victims, but only foments revenge.”

It remains a shameful reality that the United States is one of the few developed nations in the world that still executes its citizens. Last week, the governor of Utah signed a bill that will bring back firing squads. Missouri recently executed a prisoner with severe brain damage. In Georgia, hundreds of clergy and other faith leaders have asked the state to commute the death sentence of Kelly Gissendaner, a Christian and student of theology, to life without parole. Several botched executions in recent years have pulled back the veil on this inhumane and ineffective practice. We are heartened by polling that shows Americans are increasingly opposed to the death penalty. Now is a critical time. The U.S. Supreme Court recently announced it would take up an appeal by a Florida death-row inmate challenging the state’s capital sentencing procedure, which permits inmates to be executed even when the jury is not unanimous. In April, The Supreme Court will hear a case that will decide the constitutionality of lethal injection protocols in Oklahoma.

In this sacred season of suffering, death and new life, we pray that our simple Christian witness is received with open hearts.”

In faith,

Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza (Ret.) Former President
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Houston, TX

 

Join the conversation by following @BrianSchmisek on Twitter and @LoyolaIPS on Instagram! Also, network with the Loyola Chicago IPS community on LinkedIn.


Holy Week: Death and Resurrection – The Call to Transformation

Since we had such a positive response from her last guess post, which discussed active nonviolence, we would like to feature another essay by IPS student Charissa Qiu. She wrote a reflection on the Eucharist and the call to transformation. With the final week of Lent just beginning, let us reflect about why we made certain sacrifices during this season and what it means for us as we approach the celebration of Easter.

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Holy Week: Death and Resurrection – The Call to Transformation

As we enter into Holy Week, we prepare to commemorate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. During this period of Lent, we may have found various ways to prepare ourselves, through various practices of prayer, penance, almsgiving, and self-denial. Each year, we hear of many people who abstain from sweets, or from watching television, and the question we would like to put out to everyone is – what is the purpose of, and the intention behind your abstinence? How does that tie into the commemoration of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection? What does this period of Lent and the celebration of Easter mean to us, as partakers in the Eucharist?

Jesus loved to speak in parables, as parables had the ability to draw the listeners in by their relatability, and then flip the story on its head with a conclusion that was unexpected, to help the listeners to overcome their ‘blindness” and “deafness” – the hardness of heart, and misunderstanding of what the meaning of the Kingdom of God. In the same way, as we partake in the Eucharist, we are called to a similar transformation – into a conversion of heart and mind that is in line with the character and passion of God. Our celebration of the Eucharist is meant to be celebrated alongside our baptism into the participation of the mission of Christ, a celebration of transformation – an ongoing process of death and resurrection.

Transformation is never comfortable. The human ego prefers stability and comfort, where there is certainty and familiarity. Transformation calls us to the opposite – it calls us to embrace discomfort, challenge and uncertainty. This is what we say “Amen” to when we receive Holy Communion, and this is what we are called to especially during this period of Lent. We come to the Eucharistic table hungry – hungry for a new world that knows compassion and works for justice. Hunger reminds us of our human dependency on each other. Let us use our physical hunger as a point of reflection – when we are hungry, we may go to a restaurant, or to the grocery store to fill that hunger. Without the chefs, the workers in the store, the truck drivers, and the farmers, we would not be able to fill that hunger. This is a simplistic and tangible example of our human dependency – having the financial means to purchase the food is not enough to fill that hunger – we need each other. That same hunger and mutual dependency needs to be channeled into a hunger for justice in the world, not just for ourselves, but for everyone. Just as Jesus is our sustenance, we need to be sustenance for each other.

The bread and the wine that we consume as nourishment goes through the process of being crushed, destroyed, and is then transformed, a symbol of the death and resurrection we are called to partake in our consumption. To be in right relationship and full communion with each other and God, we need to go through a process of transformation in how we perceive and treat each other. For true transformation to happen, there needs to first be a breaking down, before there can be a building up. We have grown up in a world that segregates and oppresses, and we have undoubtedly been influenced by the values and perceptions of the world. We are called to die, slowly and surely, to these attitudes and beliefs that create disharmony and violence in our world, and rise to interactions and engagement with each other that promotes peace and unity. In our world of individualism where we are taught that wealth and status are determinants of success, we need to die to our ego’s need to control, and to be recognized and praised, and rise to humility, the embracing of mystery and grace, where we work for the collective, and recognize there is no such thing as “private sin,” because we are all interconnected. For true transformation to happen, we need to practice letting go and letting God, just as Jesus said in Luke 23:46, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”

 

Join the conversation by following @BrianSchmisek on Twitter and @LoyolaIPS on Instagram! Also, network with the Loyola Chicago IPS community on LinkedIn.


Faculty Profile: Michael Canaris

We are happy to announce that Dr. Michael Canaris has joined our faculty and will begin teaching classes this upcoming fall semester!

Canaris already has some great ideas and a lot of knowledge to offer our students. Moreover, he is eager to not only instruct them, but also to learn from them.

“I’m excited to teach not only the Church and Mission class, but related topics like hermeneutics, ecumenism, the theology of immigration, and the interpretation of Vatican II. I’ve also had wonderful experiences with a Theology of Hell class I designed (using Dante, Sartre, C.S. Lewis, Rahner/von Balthasar, etc.) and am currently trying to develop one on the Theology of Bergoglio/Francis, which will obviously include elements of his Ignatian spirituality. I’m hoping these may interest both administration and students at Loyola down the line. The pope’s recent call for theologians, and not just bishops, to have the ‘smell of their sheep’ has really resonated with me as I take up this position.”

Canaris is a valuable resource for IPS and we encourage students to reach out to him with any questions, help or just to say welcome to IPS.

Read his Q&A below to get to know more about Canaris and his different teachings, life lessons and some interesting facts you would not expect.

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How did you feel when you were offered the position at IPS?
I spent fifteen years on Jesuit campuses, both as a student and teaching, and then the last few abroad in the UK and Rome, at universities which were not in that network. And while I love those international experiences and have developed some amazing friends, colleagues, and expanded horizons through them, my first instinct when I was offered the position was one of homecoming. That may sound strange, as I’m from the East Coast originally and have only visited Chicago without ever living there, but there was this overwhelming sense of returning to my roots and somehow being welcomed home by members of my Ignatian/AJCU family once again that went much deeper than just being back on American soil.

What are you looking forward to the most about teaching at IPS, and what are you looking forward to accomplishing while at IPS?
More than anything I’m excited about interacting with the students. Of course, the research facilities and institutional support for scholarship at a place like Loyola are unrivaled. But IPS offers such a unique environment for theologians and experts in various disciplines, where we as faculty members can help with formation of those who will be on the frontlines of the encounter between the church and the contemporary world. I honestly believe it’s a place where the faculty likely learn as much from the life experiences of our students as we can teach them. I’ve always been committed to viewing pedagogy as a sort of “co-traveling” toward wisdom and holistic learning. Loyola IPS seems a truly remarkable place for this type of exchange to take place.

What challenges do you foresee and how will you prepare for them? 
I have some experience teaching non-traditional students at various stops, both in America and at the Pontifical Beda College for second-career seminarians in Rome. I’m excited to broaden my perspectives teaching such a wide range of students as constitute the IPS, not only in terms of religious and denominational backgrounds, but especially those who for the most part differ markedly from 18-22 year-old traditional undergrads. There will undoubtedly be some challenges involved in planning successful classes and discussions in this new setting, but ones I feel confident, prepared and excited to find innovative techniques through which to foster transformational learning.

What can students expect when taking your classes, and what do you hope that they take away from your teachings?
Three themes from my own Jesuit education form the pillars of my approach to teaching: cura personalis, eloquentia perfecta, and seeking to become together “men and women for others.” Briefly for this setting: the first means my students will always be my main priority and I will always be accessible to them to help them grow holistically – whether it be intellectually, spiritually, socially, etc. The second demonstrates my conviction that it’s important not only to wrestle with the “big” questions in life about meaning, value, purpose, vocation, what it means to live a successful life, and the like, but also to develop skill sets for being able to articulate this beneficial wrestling clearly and convincingly to the church, academy and world. The last emphasizes the idea that neither theology/mission, nor any of the gifts we are given, are ultimately for our own advancement, but rather to serve our brothers and sisters in the human race, and the divine or transcendent however we come to name that reality in our lives.

Do you have a mentor or an experience in your life that helped shape who you are today? 
Whenever I stop to reflect on this, it honestly floors me how blessed I have been with almost mind-boggling mentors in the steps along my academic and spiritual journey. A question like this is difficult to answer without sounding like you are name-dropping! But, I’m also delighted to give credit where it is due. Brad Hinze, Paul Lakeland, Rick Ryscavage, and Beth Johnson have all been so supportive of my work and influential in my intellectual development. And Paul Murray at Durham University and I remain very close, in a friendship that transcends merely professional or academic interests at this point. However, my time spent studying under Francis A. Sullivan and then working for Avery Cardinal Dulles for five years, including not only assisting the latter with research and publishing, but also providing palliative care for him in his last days when he was suffering tremendously from post-polio syndrome, were probably the most formative experiences for me as a theologian.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time outside of the classroom?
I love all things Italian: culture, food, art, etc. I have been lucky to spend a lot of time there, as well as on the Spanish island of Mallorca, where I often visit in the summer months with friends who are at this point like family. I studied sports-journalism for a few years before theology, so I still love sports and am excited to adopt everything about life in Chicago – short of betraying my Eagles and Phillies.

Any fun facts about yourself or interesting story you wish to share?
My father was a federal agent who led the protection details for cabinet members and on many presidential trips across seven administrations. My mother was a teacher and substance abuse coordinator for a school district. My students always seem interested in that. I also have a very close friend who is a writer and producer for the TV show “Scandal.”

 

Join the conversation by following @BrianSchmisek on Twitter and @LoyolaIPS on Instagram! Also, network with the Loyola Chicago IPS community on LinkedIn.


Student Feature: Meet Doreen

Loyola IPS student, Doreen Kelly joins us from a small town in Michigan, but is already achieving big things. Read more about her below and see how IPS is helping her on her journey to “go forth and change the world.”

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Hometown: Originally from Holton, Michigan, a tiny town 20 miles northeast of Muskegon.

Previous education: Aquinas College, Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts, 1984

A favorite of yours?
I enjoy reading. Favorite authors include: Jodi Picoult, Amy Tan, Elizabeth Berg, Maeve Binchy, Gail Tsukiama, Lisa See.

A bible verse that has significance to you?
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for woe, plans to give you a future full of hope.” This has been a favorite verse since I was an undergrad and searching for direction. I was able to write an exegetical paper on it for IPS 417; it was an amazing experience to delve into the background of this oracle delivered by Jeremiah to the exiles.

What were you doing before beginning your IPS journey?
I work as a Teacher Assistant in 7th grade special education, assisting students with learning needs in their regular education science and social studies classes. I’ve also been involved in several ministries in my parish, most recently our Christ Renews His Parish ministry as a team leader and in support of teams actively in formation. I am also a Eucharistic Minister.

What made you decide to come to Loyola IPS?
For most of my life, I have found great fulfillment and a sense of purpose through volunteering in ministries in whatever parish I have been a part of. In these last few years, I have felt a call to leadership in ministries and at the same time a need for more knowledge and exploration of different aspects of our faith which would strengthen my leadership potential. I chose Loyola because I feel drawn by the Jesuit mission of service and because I experienced a great sense of welcome, enthusiasm and deep dedication of the staff and faculty of IPS to preparing people to not only lead extraordinary lives but preparing ministers to serve God’s people in extraordinary ways.

What degree plan are you in? I am in the MAPS program.

What are you most looking forward to accomplishing during your time here at Loyola IPS and how does that relate to your future goals?
I am looking forward to gaining real knowledge and self-awareness that will help direct my path to working in ministry full time.

Do you have a favorite class or one you look forward to taking?
So far, I have only taken Literature of Ancient Israel and Christian Origins, and I have really enjoyed them both.

In what way will you go forth to “change the world?”
I am a true believer in the mission of St. Ignatius to find God in all things. I pray that as I continue to be formed by my Loyola education, my ability to look first through the eyes of Jesus at situations and people I encounter will grow stronger and stronger. Ignatius changed the world through serving others. There’s no greater calling.

Are you currently working on any interesting project(s)?
I am writing an exegetical paper on part of the “The Road to Emmaus” story from the Gospel of Luke. I have always loved this post-resurrection account of the two disciples encountering Jesus on their journey. I am excited to delve into what the biblical text meant “when the ink was wet” as Fr. Madden says.

 

Join the conversation by following @BrianSchmisek on Twitter and @LoyolaIPS on Instagram! Also, network with the Loyola Chicago IPS community on LinkedIn.


Faculty Profile: Timone Davis

Timone Davis began teaching at IPS in Fall 2014 as an adjunct professor. In the short amount of time she has been here, she has brought exceptional and transformative learning experiences to our students. With that said, join us in congratulating her on becoming a full time faculty member beginning Fall 2015.

Headshot timone

Timone has been very busy with several small projects and looks forward to being “less scattered” with her full time role at IPS. “I will be able to put more energy in one place and therefore, have a greater impact on the lives of ministers in training,” commented Timone.

She has been with the Augustus Tolton Pastoral Ministry Program at Catholic Theological Union since 1996. She began there as a student and then transitioned to being the Formation Director. Her role there will come to an end this May, but she owes a lot of her growth in spirituality to her time there. “I learned how to devote myself to helping other people come to an awareness of God in their own lives,” she said.

Timone wants to bring a similar experience to her students. In her classes (descriptions below) she said, “students can expect to dig deep for a level of honesty that is not always explored in classes. I will ask to make themselves vulnerable and be challenged not just by the material, but also in the call to witness to the gospel.”

For Timone, the most challenging part of being a teacher is being adequately prepared. “I always want to make sure I am giving my students enough information as possible in order for them to move ahead in whatever they are being called to do.”

Fortunately, she also finds her job very rewarding. Timone says she loves the “aha” moments when students “get it.” She strives for those moment where students are able to take what they are learning in the classroom and apply it outside the classroom. She understands the importance of students not just repeating back information, but rather being able to connect what they are learning to experiences in their own lives.

Outside of her professional life, Timone enjoys watching murder mysteries and cop shows. She also listens to audio books and reads books both electronically and in hard copy. Like most of us at IPS, she also loves good food.

You can connect with Timone on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. You can also hear her speak at The Racial Divide in the United States event on March 11.

 

Fall 2015 class descriptions:

Black Spirituality and Pastoral Care
This course will introduce students to Black Spirituality in the United States, from slavery to the present, in a Christian context. The course will be attentive to the culture of black life so as to get a better understanding of Black Spirituality’s rootedness in scripture, prayer, community and justice. Students will explore how Black Spirituality can be a lens through which they view pastoral care for persons on the margins while enhancing their own spirituality. This course will include scholarship on such themes as African-American ways of being, preaching, storytelling, dance, art, mentoring and self care.

Women in the Church: Bound Freedom
Often seen as the backbone of many churches, this course will explore how women are both free to explore and hold various roles/positions in the Christian Church while simultaneously beset with patriarchy and exclusion. Students will explore the rise of women in the Church and the constant struggle to be seen as an equal. This course will be attentive to Mujerista, Womanist, Asian and Feminist perspectives in the Protestant and Roman Catholic Church of the United States that continue to shape the landscape of women in ministry.

 

Join the conversation by following @BrianSchmisek on Twitter and @LoyolaIPS on Instagram! Also, network with the Loyola Chicago IPS community on LinkedIn.