Category : IPS

Chicken Nuggets and Family Values

“You are what you eat.” At least that’s what both my mother and the healthy eating campaigns of my childhood constantly reminded me. As an adult consumer, I hope that my choices on what I buy and what I eat, reflect not only my likes but also an informed conscience. Recently appointed Graduate Program Director of the Master of Social Justice Community Development degree, Melissa Browning, PhD, recently wrote an insightful piece on choices and consequences and the need to be true to oneself. To read the whole post, see this link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/melissa-browning-phd/chicken-nuggets-and-family-values_b_1684627.html

Thanks Melissa, for helping us realize the need to reflect on our choices.

7-24-2012 | Comments Off

IPS welcomes new director, Brian Schmisek, PhD

: Brian Schmisek, PhD

This week, the Institute of Pastoral Studies welcomes Brian Schmisek, PhD, as our new director!

Coming to us from the University of Dallas, Dr. Schmisek served as the dean and associate professor in the UD School of Ministry, he succeeds Robert Ludwig, PhD, who will return to the faculty at the end of this academic year after nearly eight years leading IPS.

Dr. Schmisek said he is, “looking forward to building upon the positive legacy that IPS has established through almost 50 years of pioneering professional ministry education.”

Dr. Schmisek brings his entrepreneurial, strategic, and fundraising skills to the leadership of IPS. He hopes to develop new academic initiatives; engage faculty, students, and alumni; and to continue his predecessor’s good work of building strong relationships across a wide network of constituencies.

Along with his wife Marnie, their four children John, Clare, Peter, and Helen, and their dog Kirby, Dr. Schmisek will be residing in the northwest suburbs.

Welcome, Dr. Schmisek, we are so delighted to have you here!

7-03-2012 | Comments Off

Dr. Robert Ludwig ends his tenure as IPS Director

Bob and Kathy Ludwig — Kathy and Bob Ludwig

Greetings and good wishes in this exceptionally warm summer!

Effective today, I will be stepping down from my role as Director of IPS.

My decision to step down after two terms and eight years is based on a pretty good sense of myself. I’ve loved being director of IPS. I had high expectations coming in, and the opportunities have exceeded my hopes and expectations. I’ve loved serving in this capacity. Nonetheless, the chronological clock ticks. I turned 68 a few weeks ago, and I have been running something (at Loyola New Orleans, DePaul, and now IPS) for thirty years. That’s a long time to be on-call 24/7/365 and basically the place where the buck stops. I don’t have the drive or the energy that I had eight years ago, and I really want to return to full-time teaching and do some important writing projects.

I want to continue to provide advice and counsel to IPS as needed or desired, but I’m delighted that Dr. Brian Schmisek will be joining the IPS community as director beginning next week. Brian comes to us from the University of Dallas and is uniquely prepared to confidently lead IPS into a thriving future.

My health is good (thank God), and I have no plans to abandon Chicago and Loyola at present. Down the road, Kathy and I may decide that it’s time for me to retire completely—but that time is not now. I thank you again for your work with IPS and want to continue to connect with many of you as we go forward.

With every good wish,

Robert Ludwig, Director

6-29-2012 | Comments Off

IPS Center for Parish Leadership and Mission Approved!

Loyola University Chicago President Fr. Michael J. Garanzini, SJ has approved a proposal to develop a new Institute of Pastoral Studies (IPS) Center for Parish Leadership and Mission. The Center will begin operating sometime during 2013, and will be the first of its kind in the United States. It will be dedicated to organizing and relating research on the leadership of vital parish communities to services of consultation and education. The Center will maintain a strong partnership relationship with the Archdiocese of Chicago. The Center’s design is a product of learning from INSPIRE, a nine-year Lilly Endowment, Inc., Sustaining Pastoral Excellence project at Loyola and the Archdiocese. INSPIRE’s Lead Team–comprised of Institute of Pastoral Studies faculty and Archdiocesan Directors–will develop the Center to sponsor research on parish vitality and mission, identify pastoral leadership education programs, and offer consultation services to Catholic pastors, their staffs, and parishioner leaders. The Center aspires to serve parish life the U.S. and internationally.

6-08-2012 | Comments Off

Founders’ Dinner Turns 11

Loyola’s Founders’ Dinner, which benefits the University’s Presidential Scholarship Fund, continues to be one of the major highlights of the year for members of the University community. Attendees will enjoy a cocktail reception in the Richard J. Klarchek Information Commons, dinner in the Joseph J. Gentile Arena, and a special chorus of Loyola students, staff, and alumni, who will perform with a live orchestra.

This year’s celebration happens on Saturday, June 2, at the University’s Lake Shore Campus. The event, will recognize 14 award recipients as part of the celebration.

This year’s award recipients include Dr. Kumiko Watanuki (BA ’84, MA ’87)—Coffey Award, Leonard P. Slotkowski Jr.(JFRC ’65–’66, BA ’69, MEd ’72)—Felice Award, and William Sherry—Dux Mirabilis.

Additionally, Loyola’s schools and colleges also honor an alumnus(a) with the Damen Award. This year’s winners include:

College of Arts & Sciences – Colonel (IL) J. N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired) (BA ’79)
School of Business Administration – Mary A. Tolan (BBA ’82)
School of Communication – Judith C. Rice (BA ’81)
School of Continuing & Professional Studies – Thaddeus J. Wong (BBA ’96)
School of Education – Mary A. Hicks (MEd ’99)
The Graduate School – Woodrow W. Clark II (MA ’76)
School of Law – Susan S. Sher (JD ’74)
Stritch School of Medicine – Dr. Patrick J. Stiff (MD ’75)
Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing – Dr. Carolyn Hope Smeltzer (MSN ’77, EdD ’83)
Institute of Pastoral Studies – Joseph Paprocki (BA ’81, MPS ’85)
School of Social Work – Barbara J. Menard(MSW ’94)

For ticket information and more on the awards, please visit LUC.edu/founders or call 800.256.9652.

5-31-2012 | Comments Off

Loyola Spring Block Party

Put on your party hats and join in as Loyola celebrates with the annual Spring Block Party.

The WTC Spring Block Party will be held on Wednesday, April 25th, from 11 am-2pm. There will be food from different vendors, a photo booth, a climbing wall, live band karaoke and PRIZES! There will be something for everyone and fun by the bucket-load. Sponsored by Water Tower Campus Life.

4-17-2012 | Comments Off

Women’s Leadership Reception

(L-R) Jackie Marquez, M.Div., LPAC, Chaplain in Campus Ministry; junior Patricia Graham, major in International Studies and minor in Peace Studies; and Jacqueline Anderson, PhD, LSCW, Adjunct Faculty in the School of Social Work; were all honored at the Women’s Leadership Reception at WTC on Thursday, March 29. Also honored, but not pictured, was Daviree Velazquez, Assistant Resident Director in Residence Life and Graduate Student in Higher Education Administration. The event was part of Women’s History Month, and honored student, faculty and staff women leaders at Loyola.

4-05-2012 | Comments Off

Silent Night Holy Night

On behalf of all of us here at IPS, faculty and staff, we extend our most heartfelt wishes for a holy, blessed Christmas, and Hanukkah. As we move through these days of remembrance, may we be blessed with gifts of peace, happiness and joy. May these days of wonder provide you time for reflection as well as giving you time to spend with family and friends. We look forward to welcoming you back in January. May your New Year be bright and full of happiness.

12-15-2011 | Comments Off

Comfort Galore

On Monday evening, November 14th, former IPS research professor Brett Hoover, addressed a gathering of friends and colleagues as he discussed his latest book, Comfort – An Atlas for the Body and Soul. Brett helped his audience explore the nuances that surround the word “comfort.” Through engaging stories and thoughtful considerations, Brett offered those present insights and reflections on our need for comfort. I left the presentation reflecting not only on my need for comfort but with new insights on how I can offer comfort to others. All there that night agreed, our time spent with Brett was quite “comfortable” indeed.

11-16-2011 | Comments Off

Advent Retreat Day

As the days shorten and the nights lengthen, we enter into this season of watching, waiting, and expectant longing. Pushing past the voices of discouragement, we listen intently for that still, small voice of God. Through story, poetry, prayer, evocative images and reflective music, these two gifted preachers of the Word will guide us in a day of spiritual practice – seeing through the darkness into the light of hope.

Retreat directors: Fr. John Cusick, director of the Office of Young Adult Ministry for the Archdiocese of Chicago and Fr. Michael Sparough, S.J., the founder of Charis Ministries and a retreat director at the Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House.

The retreat will be on Saturday, December 3, 2011, from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM in Regents Hall, 16th floor of Lewis Towers. For fee information and registration see: http://alumni.luc.edu/site/Calendar?id=109724&view=Detail Check-In will begin at 9:00 Event will be held Lunch will be on your own.

11-10-2011 | Comments Off