The latest event of the series, titled “When Task and Ministry Collide,” explored Western culture, along with the call of the Vatican II which describes the goal of communion for the Church.
Presenter: Carole Veronesi, IPS Parish Consultant (licensed organizational development professional)
During the workshop, the 150 plus attendees were given time to discuss issues and how they impact ministry. For instance, the participants:
Gained understanding about the culture of their teams
Identified the practices that get in the way of communion
Explored new ways of being with each other in order to fulfill the call to communion
Attendees discussing communion in the Church
Proving to be beneficial, the event created a platform for important discussions and critical thinking about communion in the Church. The workshop ended asking, “What can be done to more fully answer the call to communion?” Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!
The next event will be “Administrando Resultados en un Mundo Diverso,” featuring a discussion in Spanish about managing results in a diverse world. It will be held on Saturday, November 8th at St. Donatus Parish. For more details or to register, contact Dina Carr at dcarr1@luc.edu. Hope to see you there!
Let’s Tweet! For more updates, follow @BrianSchmisek on Twitter!
10-20-2014|Comments Off on Speakers Bureau Workshop Series Continues Success
One of the biggest factors that affect a person’s experience of a church is whether or not they feel welcomed. But what does it truly mean to be welcoming, and what difference does hospitality really make?
Loyola IPS explored answers to those questions and more during its first Speakers Bureau Workshop Series event held last week.
Carol Knoerzer, director of liturgy at Mary Seat of Wisdom parish, came to the event to acquire new ideas on how to improve her parish’s usher and greeter ministry.
“The workshop was just terrific on many counts,” proclaimed Knoerzer. “The presenters… were full of ideas, enthusiasm, energy and successful stories.”
When asked what she will bring back with her to Mary Seat of Wisdom, Knoerzer said she learned the importance of making good eye contact and asking newcomers to help with tasks or inviting them to a parish event. In addition, she noted that it is good sit in different pews to encounter new people and be aware of those standing by themselves, so someone can reach out to them.
Loyola IPS is both proud and grateful to be able to create these events as platforms for parishioners to learn how they can continue improving the church community experience.
There were more than 50 attendees representing 16 different parishes and diocesan organizations who were able to bring back new ideas and thought-provoking dialogue back to their community.
Here at Loyola IPS, we believe that it is important to provide innovative learning experiences in leadership, outreach and inter-parish discussion. The IPS Speakers Bureau Workshop Series certainly fills those criteria.
Christina Bax, pastoral associate for Saint Clement Parish, and Tim Weiske, chair of the Stewardship Council and co-chair to the Young Adult Community Board in Saint Clement Parish, facilitated the evening with their effective and knowledgable presentations.
For more updates, follow me on Twitter @BrianSchmisek
10-02-2014|Comments Off on Speakers Bureau Explores Hospitality in the Church
Did you ever want to get up close and personal with the Stanley cup, brought home to Chicago by our beloved Blackhawk team?
The Water Tower Campus of Loyola had just such a chance last week while it made a stop at the Bentley Gold Coast dealership (across from the Water Tower Campus) in downtown Chicago on Thursday, June 27.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of Pacem in Terris, events are scheduled to commemorate and enliven the message of Pope John XXIII.
On March 23, all are invited to a working conference called “Building Peace in Chicago and Beyond,” featuring four interactive panels with Loyola faculty and Chicago community organizations from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Richard J. Klarchek Information Commons. The discussion will center on ways the community can reduce violence and increase peace.
On Wednesday, April 3, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., in Beane Hall, Robert Ludwig, PhD, will present on Pacem in Terris and the Professional Life. Mark Bosco, S.J., will moderate a panel discussion comprised of panelists from Loyola’s professional schools. The focus will be on the encyclical and how its themes play a role in their professional lives.
The third event falls on the exact 50th anniversary of the issuance of the encyclical. On April 11, former Maine Senator George Mitchell will speak about “Making Peace by Negotiation and Agreement, and not by Recourse to Arms.” His presentation will be at 7:30 p.m. in Kasbeer Hall.
All events are free and open to the public, but registration is recommended for the working conference on March 23.
After working in the business world for much of her adult life, Kevin Chears felt the call to full-time ministry work. She came to IPS in 2007, pursuing the MA in Pastoral Studies, which she compeleted in 2010. After some discernment, Kevin again felt called into the Master of Divinity progam at IPS. She was able to roll all 36-credit hours of her MAPS degree into our MDiv program. Kevin is currently working as a parish intern at St. Gertrude Roman Catholic Parish in the city’s north side Edgewater neighborhood. She is set to graduate in May with the MDiv degree.
You can learn much more about Kevin on Saturday, March 23, at our Spring Open House! To register for this event, click here: https://gpem.luc.edu/register/IPSMarchoOH
3-18-2013|Comments Off on Feature Profile: Kevin Chears, MDiv student and upcoming Open House panelist
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.
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 on Loyola Spring Block Party
Fr. Brett Hoover, CSP will speak on Comfort, Challenge, and the Good Life, and sign copies of his new book Comfort, An Atlas of the Body and Soul, Monday, November 14, 2011 at 7pm in Regents Hall, 16th floor of Lewis Towers. This event is free and open to the public.
11-07-2011|Comments Off on Comfort, Challenge, and the Good Life
Thank you, Jewell Gregory, for setting up the Day of the Dead altar in the IPS Lounge!
Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it attains the quality of a National Holiday. The celebration takes place on November 1st and 2nd, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints’ Day (November 1) and All Souls’ Day (November 2). Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts.
Jewell explains the several typical characteristics of such an altar:
“ One is that it is generally designed to be on more than one level and that is why we added the rectangular box to the table we used for the altar. The dead appreciate sweet smells, and that is why the bar of Sandlewood scented soap is included. In Mexico, there would probably be fragrant marigolds strewn on the surface, which we represent with the flowers. In Mexico Copal incense might be burned to perfume the air, but lacking that, I used a Native North-American sage smudge of the type used to purify the home instead. In order to avoid setting off the smoke alarm, it was burned very briefly while blessings were said for the altar, for those who respect it, and for the spiritual enrichment to be found in observing the Day of the Dead.
An essential requirement, which is undoubtedly one of the pre-Christian aspects of the altar, is that it contains elements relating to wind, fire, earth and water.
There is a folk art form of delicately cut paper that represents the wind. We have some of these little metallic cut-paper banners near the top of the altar.
Fire is represented by the candles, both the votive candles and the two Our Lady of Guadalupe candles.
Earth is represented by the Day of the Dead bread. There are three different types; one represents a human body, and looks something like a big doll. One represents a baby, placed beside the larger figure. The third is a circular loaf decorated with abstract forms representing human bones. Of course the dead can’t eat the bread, but the fragrance of food nourishes them.
There is a bottle of water in fulfillment of that requirement.
In addition, we have some Milagros or ex votos made of metal representing flaming hearts. These could be interpreted in various ways. Mine is that they represent the ardent love connecting me with the beloved departed I am thinking of most especially as we approach the season of All Saints and All Souls; the Day of the Dead.
In the lighthearted spirit of this feast, and in being a little imaginative with the departed, I have included some humorous cards purchased at the Mexican Fine Arts Museum in Pilsen. There are also two sugar candy skulls, decorated in the traditional manner, placed at the top of the altar. Surrounding the first level is a garland of skeletons, macabre at first glance, but very much in keeping with the Day of the Dead.
I plan to bring some photos of people I am thinking of to place on the altar, and I hope
that others will do so as well. if there are other items people want to add — candies, calavaritas (little skulls) or anything that seems right, they will be welcome additions. It has been satisfying to bring these things together, and a pleasure to think we will all share in it.”
Over the past several years many of you have communicated with Ryan Hoffmann, Enrollment Advisor, for Loyola’s Institute of Pastoral Studies (IPS). Ryan has been an important part of the discernment and graduate research process for many students. After 5 years at Loyola, Ryan has decided to pursue other professional goals. However, he will remain at IPS as an MDiv student. We wish him the best in his new role. Ryan, you will be missed!
10-20-2011|Comments Off on Goodbye, Ryan Hoffmann!
