Retirement is a new vocational moment; it is an invitation to a wisdom transition to engage proactively the leadership challenges of aging, meaningfully. This program has a trident strategy of attending to the personal journey, examining the past to turn experience into wisdom for legacy planning. The program integrates the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius as a tool for discerning vocational choices and decision making. The second prong of the trident strategy embraces a twenty-five-person cohort that will accompany each other on this year-long journey and engage in leadership dialogues about their new or evolving roles while becoming an encore learning community for the long term. The last prong of this trident process is engagement with significant mission driven institutions and ministries of the Society of Jesus.
Through the year, these fellows will involve the institutional leaders in real leadership conversations, listening to the challenges of running mission-driven, nonprofit, values-based organizations within the largest global educational network of universities and high schools. Thus one discovers that this is not a residential university program, but a spirited, Jesuit collaborative program on the move.
This Ignatian Fellows’ three continent journey will begin with a four-day residency hosted by the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola in September, 2019, then continue in November, 2019 with a four day residency hosted by the Jesuit School of Theology and Ministry at Santa Clara University. In January, 2020, the cohort will experience a four day social immersion in Lima, Peru, followed by a March, 2020 four day residency hosted by the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. The cohort will then meet for a four-day residency hosted by the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University and finally a ten day excursion to Spain and concluding in Rome with a leadership conversation with the Jesuit Global Higher Education leadership team and the sharing of insights and observations from their year together. Between sessions there will be assigned reading and opportunities to dialogue using the Ignatian Colleagues Program and platform. Ultimately, this inaugural group of Ignatian Legacy Fellows will become Founders of the Ignatian Society of Fellows, an alumni community that will continue to convene around leadership conversations to foster the work of the Society of Jesus.
Contacts: John Fontana, Co-Director, 847-703-5836, jfontana@luc.edu or Mariann M. Salisbury, Co-Director, 301-807-5369, Msalisbury1@luc.edu
A video tribute honoring Rev. Jimmie Flewellen was presented at the Founders’ Dinner on Saturday, June 8, 2013.
Rev. Jimmie was the first African-American Catholic chaplain for the United States Justice Department, along with being one of the first deacons in the Archdiocese of Chicago. He remained an active member of the IPS community for years, serving as a member of the IPS Advisory Council.
To view the 2013 video tribute to Rev. Jimmie, click here.
This agreement will be in effect for six years, after which time it may be renewed.
Of this recent development, IPS Dean Schmisek says, “This past August when Fr. Sosa [Father General of the Society of Jesus] encouraged Jesuit universities to work together, share resources, and collaborate, we immediately though of our MA in Christian Spirituality and the Diploma in Ignatian Spirituality offered at the Greg. Then last month, the Society named “Discernment and the Spiritual Exercises” as one of its four priorities [universal apostolic preferences] in the coming years. So this agreement comes at an opportune time, especially when so many are looking to the resources of Ignatian Spirituality for the modern world.”
Fr. James Grummer, SJ, the superior of the Pontifical Gregorian University Jesuit Community in Rome and director of the Ignatian Spirituality Center at PGU, adds, “The diploma program we offer at the Gregorian allows students to learn a great deal about Ignatian spirituality in an exceptional atmosphere. Since our teachers and students come from all over the world, they have a unique opportunity to learn with one another. The different experiences and perspectives they bring to class illuminate the breadth and depth of the Ignatian tradition in ways that transform the participants academically, professionally, and personally.”
On April 4th, IPS hosted Racism and The Church: A Community Conversation on ‘Open Wide Our Hearts’ at Regents Hall in Lewis Towers.
April 4, 2019 at Regents Hall
The IPS community gathered to explore further issues of race in our context and to foster a communal reflection and discussion. Panelists discussed the pastoral letter on racism (“Open Wide Our Hearts“) issued by the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in November 2018.
Scheduled speaker Donna Grimes (Assistant Director of African American Affairs, Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church, USCCB) was unable to attend but has graciously recorded a video of her thoughts on the ‘Open Wide Our Hearts’ pastoral letter.
To view Ms. Grimes’s video, please click on this link.
Donna Grimes has also provided the following summary of her thoughts on the November 2018 pastoral letter:
I can’t resist comparing the anticipation in the Catholic community surrounding this Pastoral Letter with the Muller Report. There are countless parallels – rising concerns, an urgent demand for explanations, cries for justice.
The emergency became evident for the bishops with violence in Charlottesville in August 2017. But, around the country, concerns have long been brewing in the Black community…the recorded beating of Rodney King, the killing of Amadou Diallo, the murder of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and so many more Black men. And, not to be forgotten, Black women – Sandra Bland, Rekia Boyd. And the children – Tamir Rice and many victims of drive-by shootings…Too many precious lives stolen. Few perpetrators are convicted and sentenced. Cases dropped. Not guilty verdicts. Few grieving families are comforted. Mainstream America’s response including that of the bishops has been anemic rather than outrage and policy. From the bishops we heard: Stay peaceful, pray, don’t turn your anger toward the police and All Lives Matter.
Why haven’t our church leaders probed and responded to the underlying issues? I believe it’s because with the exception of abortion, they are mainstream America. Without taking anything away from individual bishops – particularly in areas with headline cases who reacted with public statements of compassion and community level action – what I’m saying is that their silence has been maddening! And, there’s no excuse for apparent lack of awareness or understanding of institutional racism. Fr. Bryan Massingale’s book, Racial Justice and the Catholic Church and Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow have been available for a decade.
The key contribution of this Pastoral Letter has been a platform — to open the door to dialog and action; to begin or resume the work of dismantling racism; to engage in difficult conversations together and within our own circles about racism in the neighborhood and in the Church. What we can do is not change the channel. We should address racism together at times, but it’s vital to work on racism within our own groups. In-group conversations will differ for White people and People of Color. For instance, White people could focus on white identity, what it means to be White in America and in the world and learning real American history. People of Color could examine how they internalize racialized messages and concentrate on empowerment strategies. The Pastoral Letter encourages self-reflection for everyone without implying that everyone should reflect in the same way.
I appreciate various critiques I’ve read about the Pastoral Letter Against Racism. Whatever shortcomings are exposed in the text of Open Wide Our Hearts, I have to give credit where it’s due. For instance, despite advice to center on the abuse crisis exclusively at their November 2018 meeting, they decided to keep the letter on their agenda. Then the bishops approved it with a nearly unanimous vote (2 no, 1 abstention). Bottom line (P.4): What they said was, “What is needed, and what we are calling for, is a genuine conversion of heart, a conversion that will compel change, and the reform of our institutions and society.”
Conversion of heart that compels change and reforms our institutions and society is a heavy lift. But, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!
The bishops are correct about what is needed but can we honestly expect them to know how to make it happen? As Dr. Shawnee Daniels-Sykes (Mt. Mary University) pointed out in a recent post about the Pastoral Letter, it’s only been 50 years since racial segregation was “outlawed.” But, this is a young country and we have a much longer history of subjugating Black people, other people of color and poor white people.
The good news is that the ball is in our court now. We could press our own bishops to say more (and do more) to manifest their conviction that Racism is a Life Issue. Ask, what’s the plan for the diocese for dismantling racism? How will dismantling racism be addressed in seminaries? Catholic schools? Parishes? How will this imperative play out in hiring and contracting practices? In the distribution of resources? Ask your pastor to preach on racism, to create space for courageous conversations in the parish. The Pastoral Letter calls on all elements of the Church to take action: individuals, families, institutions and organizations.
Catholic colleges, universities – even pastoral institutes – have tremendous opportunities to study, reflect and act; and most importantly, to form anti-racist actors who are our future lawyers, doctors, educators, policy-makers, parents, clergy, business owners, etc. This means acknowledging the unspoken American value of White Supremacy, a cultural value that is right up there with Freedom and Democracy, recognizing White Privilege, facing White Fragility about race and overcoming these impediments to racial justice.
USCCB staff are finding their way toward implementing the Pastoral Letter Against Racism and assisting Catholic entities to do the same. Offices are being reminded of the bishops’ stated commitment to engage in efforts to resist racism – to reconsider their approaches, resource materials and methods of advancing the Church’s mission via evangelization and catechesis, youth ministry, priestly formation, and liturgy for example. In some cases, it’s as fundamental as pointing out that there are other people in the room and one size does not fit all.
One action that I’m especially excited about is working with Catholic schools to address how the history of Native Americans and African Americans is presented in the curriculum. Another is the listening sessions that the Ad Hoc Committee and staff are arranging in dioceses around the country. A Study Guide is in development. The USCCB website provides numerous resources e.g., K-12 lesson plan suggestions, brief backgrounders and parish aids, with more coming.
I’m encouraged by more bright lights, e.g., the creativity of Youth artist-activists like the spoken word collaborative, Split This Rock, by which a diverse group of teens use poetry and art to explore social justice issues. And, there are the emerging young community organizers who tackle the intersectionality of race with other justice issues.
Speaking of organizers, this reminds me that the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has been going strong for 50 years. Read stories of hope as CCHD funds racial & economic justice empowerment projects.
I’d like to close with this inspiring message sent by a friend:
A door is much smaller than the house
A lock is much smaller, compared to the door
A key is the smallest of all,
but a key can open the entire house
Thus a small, thoughtful solution can solve major problems.
Let’s get started!
Thank you to all the speakers and those who attended for their presence and commitment to ensuring our faith community remains dynamic and inclusive.
At the beginning of the gathering, IPS student Kascha Sanor shared the below prayer to mark the close of the IPS Wall of Prayer initiative:
God, we thank you for this community. The opportunity to grow and learn – with you of you and for you – freely. We recognize that spaces like this are rare these days.
In this season of darkness, we call to mind some of those obstacles that hold us back from our true expression of your image.
We reflect on the barriers of our global society: fear, otherness, materialism, hatred.
We reflect on the pain of divisions within our communities: greed, ignorance, distance.
We reflect on the destructive effects of racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, poverty, isolation.
All of these walls keep us from you.
We know that overcoming what separates us is an act of trust, and we know it will be messy but we know that you are there.
Holy Spirit, we know you are here in this season of advent, darkness, loneliness and waiting. We know that you are here in the chaos of our growing pains and that you transcend our human-made barriers that create this isolation and loneliness.
We have this hope because we are here, together in community. And so together in this community, we pray to welcome the chaos. To not only know and love one another but also “the other”. Because we know that is where we find you.
On November 16, 1989, members of the Salvadoran military brutally murdered six Jesuit priests and two of their friends at the University of Central America in El Salvador. They were targeted because they spoke out against government crime and corruption and were vigorous advocates for the poor. To honor the eight Salvadoran martyrs, Loyola built a memorial on campus in 2010. The structure includes the “Wounded Angel” statue and a wall curving along the sidewalk on the west side of Madonna della Strada Chapel, displaying the names of each of the victims.
November is Ignatian Heritage Month and Loyola University Chicago celebrates its Jesuit heritage with a range of events, including the presentation of the Martyrs Award. The award is presented annually to a faith-based individual or organization that embodies the values of the Salvadoran martyrs, being champions of social justice and serving marginalized communities.
The 2018 Martyrs Award was presented on Nov. 15, 2018 to Sr. Ann Credidio, BVM (the religious order of the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the very same community of Loyola’s own Sister Jean!).
Sr. Ann is from Brooklyn, NY and attended Mundelein College (a women’s university founded by the BVMs in 1929 and integrated in Loyola University Chicago in 1991). She took a few courses at IPS to complete her degree; a connection we treasure. In the late 1980s she was teaching preschool in Guayaquil, Ecuador when she began to develop relationships with people suffering from Hansen’s disease and living in terrible conditions at a nearby run-down hospital. She eventually focused all her energy there and founded Damien House. She took over the Hansen’s wing of the infectious disease center, raised funds, and over time built it into a safe place where those suffering with Hansen’s disease can receive the care that they need and the love that all God’s creatures deserve: Damien House. That wing of the hospital is now deeded to the Damien House Foundation and flourishes under the care of Sr. Annie.
On the day of the award presentation, four IPS students joined Sr. Annie for lunch and a conversation about her work. Not originally planned as a part of her stay in Chicago, she asked specifically to meet students so that she might learn about the work that they are doing and also to discuss challenges, share joys and frustrations, and foster new personal connections. IPS students, Toni Daniels, Julie Lipford, Lee Colombino, and I shared in this meal and conversation with Sr Annie, finding inspiration in her experience, joy, and wisdom.
I provided the introduction for Sr. Annie at the Martyrs Award Presentation, which took place at the Mundelein Center on the Lake Shore Campus at 4pm. I lived in Ecuador for 13 months as a volunteer at Damien House and have come to know Sr. Annie very well. I am happy to share with you the text of my introduction.
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“Hello everyone- My name is Emily Kane and I am a graduate student pursuing my master’s in social justice through the Institute of Pastoral Studies. I am also the graduate assistant for retreats in Campus Ministry right here on the Lake Shore Campus.
I’m here speaking to you today because in July of 2014, a brand new graduate from Loyola University Maryland, I traveled to Guayaquil, Ecuador to begin my year of service with a program called Rostro de Cristo, having absolutely no idea what to expect. One of our first tasks as newly arrived volunteers was to visit potential work sites, and one of our first stops was to Damien House, a long-standing partner of Rostro de Cristo volunteers.
If you don’t know already, Damien House is a care facility for people suffering from Hansen’s disease (formerly known as leprosy). While feeling a bit jarred at first when I encountered people who had lost fingers, limbs, or the cartilage in their ears and nose from the disease, I couldn’t help but be completely overwhelmed by the contagious love and joy exuding from all the patients I met. We were introduced to Sister Ann Credidio, BVM, a wild and crazy nun from New York who spoke Spanish with a Brooklyn accent (which I didn’t know was possible until I met her), and I was hooked- I knew I had to spend my year of service at Damien.
At that point, Annie as we affectionately call Sr Ann, had been in Ecuador for over 20 years. She first went down to Ecuador to be a teacher, but she began spending time at the infectious disease hospital, in the ward for patients with Hansen’s. At that time, the ward was in serious disrepair. The roof leaked, food was awful, rats bit patients on their toes during the middle of the night- it was a disaster. Annie realized that her presence was needed there, and she switched her ministry to be full-time at the hospital. Eventually, Damien House became its own entity, and Annie has been with them ever since.
While it may not have seemed like much at the time, Sister Annie and the patients of Damien House taught me the true meaning of a ministry of presence. They helped me understand the power of just sitting and being with someone- just offering your presence to them, sharing a cup of coffee with them, and asking about how they are doing. As a cradle Catholic, I spent my entire life hearing readings on Sundays about Jesus and “the lepers.” My time at Damien House gave this an entirely new meaning for me. Now “the lepers” were not this abstract concept- they were people I had come to know and love. They had names and feelings and flaws and stories that were just as real to me as my own. I carry them with me in everything I do: Esther, Blanca, Sonia, Manuel, Leon, Alceides….these are just a few of the people who will benefit from this gift Loyola is giving Damien House today.
All of this I have shared with you is possible because of the unbelievable force that is Sister Annie. Her determination and her tenacity to fight for the patients of Damien is unparalleled. She is the ultimate witness to selfless love. I feel honored to have been just a tiny part of Damien’s history, and I am honored to be standing up here welcoming Sister Annie to Loyola today.”
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Emily Kane is pursuing the MA Social Justice. You can reach her at ekane5@luc.edu.
Over the last two years, Loyola University Chicago’s Institute of Pastoral Studies (IPS) has awarded close to 40 merit-based scholarships to various students in an effort to continue its mission to facilitate the integrated ministerial development of diverse and dynamic leaders for creative, compassionate, and courageous service to church and society.
“Due to the generosity of many benefactors, we can provide these scholarships to our students so upon graduation they can make a meaningful difference unencumbered by high levels of debt. We believe the world needs our students,” said Brian Schmisek, director of Loyola’s Institute of Pastoral Studies. “These scholarships reflect the hope and promise we see in them and their bright futures.”
Every year, IPS administers a limited set of scholarship and grant funds. IPS awards merit scholarships and ministry grants on the basis of academic achievement, leadership, embodiment of the IPS mission, and commitment to social justice. Merit awards cover a portion of for-credit tuition for the duration of the academic year in a degree program at the institute. Some of the scholarships offered include:
Deacon WP Worden Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Richard C. and Rosemary K. Leach Endowed Scholarship
Blanche Marie Gallagher B. V. M. Endowed Scholarship
Joan G. & Leonard D. Richman Family Foundation Scholarship
Ginny Lynch Memorial Scholarship
Rachel (Randy) Gibbons Endowed Scholarship
Robert O’Gorman Endowed Scholarship
Richard Daly is in his 3rd year at IPS pursuing the M.A. in Pastoral Counseling. When asked about how receiving an IPS scholarship has impacted his life, Richard, an ordained Episcopalian priest, says:
“This is my third year at IPS. I have taken 30 credit hours so far. The IPS scholarships and grants have greatly and tremendously impacted my life in that I do not have to work as much in my side jobs. I am helping my daughters with their loans and paying my tuition, too. Additionally, I also have more free time to volunteer in the community or serve at a parish. Without that aid, my time would be spent trying to rustle up tuition money through side jobs.”
“Next year, when I retire, the scholarships will help me even more. Though I am in a dialogue with my Bishop’s office about returning to parochial ministry, my studies at the IPS are of high priority to me. If I could not meet my financial obligations to the IPS, I know that without a doubt I would readily and easily give up on this program because I am going to be even further stretched financially in 2019.”
This 2018-2019 academic year, IPS welcomes two new staff members: Diamond Gant and Kevin Pease.
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Kevin Pease joined this summer as the Director of Chicago Catholic Scripture School, a program under the Continuing Education umbrella of IPS. The IPS Chicago Catholic Scripture School fosters a transformational encounter with Jesus Christ through instruction and formation in Sacred Scripture within a Roman Catholic framework.
Kevin is very excited to be back in Chicago (and especially at Loyola!) after seven years away in the California bay area. After graduating from LUC in 2011 with a B.S. in Secondary Education, Kevin pursued a Master’s in Theological Studies at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University in order to teach theology at the high school level. In 2013, Kevin was hired in the Religious Studies Department of Mercy High School in San Francisco, an all-girls Catholic school, where he taught the Bible for five years. Kevin looks forward to accompanying adult life-long learners on their own faith journeys with God.
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Diamond Gant joined early this month as the new Administrative Assistant for IPS. We managed to spend some time with recent Loyola alumna, Diamond:
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? (Grew up where, family, etc.) Hey, what’s up!? My name is Diamond Gant. I was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago to two loving parents, Doretha and Bobby Gant. I have an older brother named Jamal and we are about 15 years apart. After 4 long and triumphant years, I was blessed to receive my Bachelor’s degree in Multimedia Journalism from Loyola University. On Saturday’s I am a videographer for the “Live from the Heartland Radio Show”. I also own my own YouTube channel where I do reaction videos, vlogs, dancing and more! Speaking of dancing; dance is my passion and this has always been so since I was 4 years old. I’ve done a variation of dance from tap to ballet, modern, jazz, African and Hip-Hop. My favorite style of dance is hip-hop because of its significance to my culture in addition to the fact that I feel like it provides me with more freedom to express myself through different textures and grooves. I am also currently apart of two Chicago based dance groups: CreateInMotion & MINT!
What is your current role at IPS? I am the Administrative Assistant for IPS and I AM ABSOLUTELY LOVING THIS POSITION! Everyone within the office is so supportive and encouraging.
What were you involved in prior to working at IPS? Prior to working with IPS I was a camp counselor for the summer of 2018. Although kids can be a handful at times, I truly enjoy working with them because of how animated and imaginative they are.
How did you discern IPS to be a next step?I believe that I was able to discern that IPS would be my next step because for one thing, even though I graduated, I am still A RAMBLER AT HEART! I love being surrounded by the support of the Loyola Community. IPS specifically stood out to me because of how kind and helpful the people are within this office. As someone who identifies as Christian, I feel like I was honestly led here because of how much I’d get to experience and share Christ’s love with others in the office.
Are you currently involved in other formal pursuits, other than IPS?I have aspirations of returning for Graduate school with the next year or two in order to obtain my master’s in education.
What are some of your favorite Chicago-related pursuits?Because I live just three train stops away, I enjoy spending a lot of my time exploring Chinatown. The area is full of so much culture and rich history. I enjoy visiting Chinatown square the most because of the abundance of places to eat and shop within the area. I would say that my three favorite places to eat there would be Joy Yee, Triple Crown and BonChon (which is where they actually serve Korean food). There is are so many things to learn about Chinese culture/history just by spending a few hours in this area alone.
Finally, can you share a personal spiritual practice that continues to restore and re-energize your mind, body, heart and spirit?As I mentioned before, I usually dance as a way of restoring and re-energizing my mind, body, heart and spirit. I also pray as a way of keeping myself grounded and constantly in communication with Christ.
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Please make sure to welcome Diamond and Kevin when you next stop by the IPS office!
Named for Loyola University Chicago’s primary founder, Arnold J. Damen, S.J., the Damen Award is granted to an alumnus(a) from each of Loyola’s schools and colleges. It recognizes the qualities of leadership in industry, leadership in the community, and service to others.
Currently the principal of St. Francis Xavier School, the only Jesuit Catholic PS-8 school in Phoenix, Kim Cavnar has devoted her life to teaching and leadership in education. Before pursuing graduate studies at Loyola’s Institute of Pastoral Studies, Ms. Cavnar earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Loyola. Upon graduation, she served as the University’s associate director of campus ministry and also taught part time from 1977 to 1980 in the Department of Communication Arts. In addition, she has taught religious studies and served in campus ministry at Nazareth Academy in LaGrange, St. Louise de Marillac High School in Northfield, and St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago. She taught and served in leadership roles at the Academy of Our Lady of Peace in San Diego, Brophy Jesuit College Preparatory in Phoenix, and Loyola High School of Los Angeles. Ms. Cavnar earned a second master’s degree in educational leadership from Arizona State University.
Mary Novak, a friend and former colleague of Kim, says, “Kim simply and directly defines Ignatian ideology.” She continues, “I was lucky enough to know Kim when she was the Assistant Principal in charge of Ministry at Brophy College Preparatory. I was working in counseling and became involved with the Office of Peace and Justice, through retreats and serving on committees involving student activism and peer formation. Her office was the hub. Students with a range of differences found solace and solidarity in that space because of Kim’s unique ability to engage even the most apprehensive students. She is inherently kind, and compassionate, traits driven by her genuine effort to create a society steeped in justice and inclusiveness.”
“Kim Cavnar embodies all that is good in this Jesuit community. In short, she makes people better, instilling in us in the responsibility to see the wrong in our society and commit to advocate for those most marginalized through prayer and action. I am so grateful to have had Kim who has mentored and nurtured my spirituality in a life-changing way. In the words of Pope Francis, “We must restore hope to young people, help the old, be open to the future, and spread love. Be poor among the poor. We need to include the excluded and preach peace.”
Kim embodies all of the above. Her commitment to Jesuit Education is not her job. It is her life, and those fortunate enough to have been touched by her guidance, are truly blessed.”
IPS is proud to honor Kimberly Cavnar with the Damen Award.
