Category : Jesuit University

A Holy Rage

By Dr. Peter Jones, IPS Interim Dean, Clinical Associate Professor

On Pentecost Sunday, protests throughout the country and around the world continued. The murder of George Floyd, captured on video and seen around the world, devastates the conscience. His public lynching has catalyzed the release of frustration and anger, the result of centuries abuse, oppression, and all manner of injustices. A collective voice is crying out for justice and yet our institutions of justice continue to fail. Any talk of peace and resolution is premature because we are still unable to hear the truth. Without truth there can be no justice, no peace, no reconciliation, and certainly no growth in love.

Wilfredo Lee/AP

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:1-4.

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In the 9th century BCE, the Assyrians were in power across the region (in what are now portions of Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Iran) and they were barbarically cruel. When Assyrian rulers perished and leadership transitioned, revolutions came and went and some areas secured a measure of control and relative peace in their lands, but not for long. The Assyrian’s seemed always to return and establish control.

In the first half of the 8th century BCE, having gained control over portions of Israel, the people there experienced new levels peace and prosperity, levels not known since King Solomon some 200 years earlier. While it appears to have lasted only a few decades that renewed power in local hands led to new corruptions, injustices, and oppressions, as seems too often the case. Amos saw this and God called him prophesy, to call out this injustice and warn the people that these oppressions violate the will of God. Amos offered strong words, chastising those where were once struggling for their independence from Assyrian tyranny as they now embody their own tyranny, becoming the oppressors. Amos speaks to directly to these, bringing truth to the new powers-that-be, who were his own people.

There are those who turn justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground. […] There are those who hate the one who upholds justice in court and detest the one who tells the truth. […] There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes and deprive the poor of justice […] Therefore this is what the Lord, the Lord God Almighty, says: “There will be wailing in all the streets and cries of anguish in every public square. The farmers will be summoned to weep and the mourners to wail. There will be wailing in all the vineyards, for I will pass through your midst,” says the Lord. […] “Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!”

                                                         Amos 5:7, 10, 16-17, 24 (NIV)

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“For I will pass through your midst…”

God’s righteous anger “passes through.” Amos doesn’t bother with the question that so bothers many moderns, “Can God get angry?” Amos knows God’s anger and warns that it will bring turmoil and violence to the oppressors and upset their enabling institutions. The only way to prevent it is to hear and accept the truth and pursue justice openly. For this, Amos cried out.

He was not heard. His warnings were not heeded. Will we listen, today, to the voices crying out for justice? Are we willing to hear and accept the truths those voices bear? Or will our defensiveness get the better of us, yet again? As the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote while incarcerated in Birmingham, Alabama, reflecting on the profound challenge presented to the civil rights struggle by white moderates, will we again seek law and “order” instead of true reconciliation, accept “the absence of tension” rather than the pursue “the presence of justice,” and “paternalistically” believe that we know better how “they” ought to protest and to set the timetable for “their” freedom?

There is a Holy Rage passing through our midst. The Spirit has descended again like tongues of fire and empowers voices of truth, enlivens movements for justice, and demands that we accept the prophet’s challenge to let go of our desires to pursue God’s desire.

Justice is an expression of love. Individually, we act justly when we view and treat each other according to what we are: beloved children of God. Collectively, our groups and our society are socially just when the institutions we set up and control function to treat us all according to what we are: beloved children of God. And this extends beyond ourselves: we and the institutions we create must function to treat all of God’s creation accordingly. Every tree, animal, and ecosystem is a beloved creation of God and must be treated as such. “God saw all that God had made, and it was very good.” (Gen 1:31).

In the face of this divine intervention, these tongues of fire, this passing through of Holy Rage … what shall we each do? What shall the Institute of Pastoral Studies do? What shall Loyola University Chicago do?

I recommit myself to the personal task of pursuing the truth: to study, to understand, to meet, to listen, and to meditate. This requires an intentional battle against my own racist unconscious, the fears deep within me, infused in me by the society and culture in which my self-understanding has emerged and developed. This requires humility and an openness that is not simple or easy to maintain. How many of us regularly win the battle against our ego’s own defenses? However difficult this work may be, we cannot do otherwise. Pray for fortitude and courage.

I’m sure I’ll fail in many respects but I won’t stop. Even further, our failures cannot prevent us from participating in the collective soul-searching required of our community. If you wait to “get it right” for yourself before you join in then you’ll never join in and our advancing struggle will be paralyzed. We can instead choose compassion and offer each other grace as we come together to work on our shared lives. The Institute of Pastoral Studies is not mine. It does not belong to the faculty, staff, or students. It is ours. It is as it is because of us. Let us take renewed ownership at each level, assess its policies and its functioning, assess our contributions and ways of proceeding, and consider the ways we interact through it.

How can we, the Institute of Pastoral Studies, come to terms with the fact that we are an HWI, a Historically White Institution? What do we do with that fact and with what we will undoubtedly learn about the IPS? How will we integrate the voices and the truths emanating from those of us whose skin color remains the focus of hatred and violence? What values and priorities will we seek to embody and upon which we will call to help us make decisions when things are not clear?

These questions are not easy to ask and even harder to answer honestly. Will you participate with us? Will you commit yourself to the personal, interior work necessary to be anti-racist? Will you participate with us in a collective process of reflection and action?

Opportunities for this are under development, beginning with a moment of prayer. A group of IPS students, staff, and faculty will offer that moment to the entire Loyola University Community this Thursday, June 4, 2020 at noon. This will be an opportunity to center ourselves, to gather our resolve, and begin our work together.

Will this moment also be the beginning of your journey … or the end? It is up to each of us.


Racism and The Church: A Community Conversation on ‘Open Wide Our Hearts’

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.

To view the livestream panel video, click this link.

To view photos, click this link.

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.

To learn more about IPS, go to https://www.luc.edu/ips/.

For those interested in applying to IPS, go to https://gpem.luc.edu/apply/.


Michael Bland promoted to Adjunct Associate Professor

Long-time Adjunct Faculty member Michel Bland has recently been promoted to Adjunct Associate Professor.

Dr. Bland is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and works as an educator, therapist, a consultant, and a psychometrician.  Dr. Bland has a wide-range of experience in providing direct clinical services to adolescents and adults with post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, as well as individuals dealing with identity issues, life changes, including vocational, employment, relational issues, grief/loss, and geriatric issues in various clinical settings.  Dr. Bland also has provided outreach to victims of sexual abuse including providing individual counseling and group therapy for victims and their families.

We recently asked Professor Bland to share with the IPS community.

How long have you been affiliated with IPS?  In what capacity?        I am completing the end of my tenth year. 

Are you currently involved in other formal pursuits, other than IPS?        I have a private practice on the north side of Chicago.

What classes are you currently teaching this semester?        This semester I am teaching: IPS 512: Ethics for Pastoral Counseling and Spiritual Direction, IPS 520: Testing, Measurement & Assessment, and in the fall, I will be teaching IPS 509: Psychopathology.

What continues to draw you to IPS?        After being invited as a guest speaker a few times, I quickly found the spirit and mission of IPS to be very attractive, and in the Spring of 2009, I was asked to teach Psychopathology. I remain because of that same spirit, ministry, and passion. I enjoy the community and the diversity of the student population.

Can you share a personal spiritual practice that continues to restore and re-energize your mind, body, heart and spirit?        I find it important for me to take quiet time for myself to be able to find my foundation and center. I also enjoy having Labrador Retrievers as they remind me to relax, enjoy and walk! Walking them a few miles a day forces me to enjoy the outdoors as well as my time with them!

We congratulate Professor Bland on his recent promotion and hope that he continues to be part of the formation of IPS students.

You can reach Professor Michael Bland at mbland1@luc.edu.


IPS Enrollment Advisor Mariclare Kanaley settles in

Mariclare Kanaley began her new role as IPS Enrollment Advisor this past January.

Courtesy of LUC GPEM

Earlier this semester, IPS Associate Dean Peter Jones introduced Mariclare, writing “Mariclare comes to IPS with a range of experiences that will no doubt enable her to succeed in this role. A graduate of Marquette with a degree in education and an appreciation for the Jesuit mission, she is also bilingual, having lived and studied in Spain for two years. Mariclare was most recently a teacher at St Matthias School here in Chicago (teaching Spanish and also religion courses).”

We recently sat down with Mariclare to learn more about our new enrollment advisor.

Mariclare with her family

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?  (Grew up where, family, etc.) I grew up in Glenview, IL, a bit north of Chicago, with my parents, older brother, two younger sisters, and our dog. We all attended elementary school, high school, and college together (yes, all four of us, by choice!) and afterward went our separate ways. My parents still live in Glenview and after a few years of all working and living in different states and countries, we are all back in Chicago within a few miles of one another. My family is the most important part of my life!

What is your current role at IPS? I am the Enrollment Advisor for IPS. I work with prospective students and applicants of our programs as they determine which areas match their interests, how they are going to finance their education, and I try my best to be as supportive as possible as these candidates take a very important step in their personal and educational journey. I offer personalized conversation by e-mail, and encourage students to sign up for a one-on-one appointment with me to take the time to walk through all of their questions. That’s my favorite part of my role! I love getting to know the people interested in IPS programming and helping find solutions to questions, problems, or worries with the help of the IPS and GPEM staff. A one-on-one meeting can take place over the phone, over an online face-to-face program called Zoom, or in my office here at Chicago’s Water Tower Campus. Interested students can sign up for a meeting on the Enrollment Advisor Appointment Page!

What were you involved in prior to working at IPS? Before joining IPS in January, I had been a classroom teacher for 8 years. I taught middle school in Milwaukee, Spain, and Chicago – they continue to be some of the best years and most inspiring moments of my life. I have a passion for educating, caring, and understanding, and am a big supporter of teachers, adolescents, and parents everywhere. Outside of the classroom I taught yoga – I specialized in hot power yoga and yin restorative yoga; while I don’t currently teach, I still practice as often as I can!

How did you discern IPS to be a next step? I mentioned earlier that my siblings and I all attended the same schools, and both our high school and our university were Jesuit. I saw what an impact Jesuit education had on our character formation, and wanted to stay connected.  Loyola University had always been a dream for me, and I felt that my background and skill set as a teacher would be helpful in the role as the Enrollment Advisor at IPS. I feel truly blessed to be here and continue to learn and grow surrounded by the teams and communities in which I work.

Are you currently involved in other formal pursuits, other than IPS?       I am pursuing my MA in Community Counseling, another goal of mine.

What are some of your favorite Chicago-related pursuits? I love to walk around the city and enjoy the life and architecture, but not during winter! Chicago has a wealth of wonderful restaurants that I like to try, and discovering new places with culture and history is one of my favorite parts of this city.

Finally, can you share a personal spiritual practice that continues to restore and re-energize your mind, body, heart and spirit?     Yoga and meditation are part of my self-care practice. Clearing my mind and ensuring I am available to meet others’ needs was a necessity as a teacher, and it has become a part of my standard restoration practice. There are plenty of apps and tutorials if anyone is interested in trying something new!

We want to thank Mariclare for sharing with us, and we wish her all the best in this new life chapter.

Finally, to view a video of Mariclare prepared by Loyola Chicago’s Graduate and Professional Enrollment Management team, click here.

You can reach Mariclare Kanaley at mkanaley@luc.edu.
To learn more about IPS, go to https://www.luc.edu/ips/.
For those interested in applying to IPS, go to https://gpem.luc.edu/apply/.

IPS and Pontifical Gregorian University partner on Christian Spirituality degree

Dean Brian Schmisek recently traveled to Rome for the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Loyola University Chicago Institute of Pastoral Studies (IPS) and fellow Jesuit institution, the Pontifical Gregorian University (PGU).

This agreement between IPS and PGU essentially means that IPS will accept the “Diploma in Ignatian Spirituality” offered at PGU as twelve (12) credits towards the “Master of Arts in Christian Spirituality,” a 36-hour degree program offered here at IPS.

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.”

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To learn more about IPS, go to https://www.luc.edu/ips/.  For those interested in applying to IPS, go to https://gpem.luc.edu/apply/.

IPS Coordinator of Formation on Spiritual Direction and Pastoral Counseling

Submitted by Carol Taliaferro, IPS Coordinator of Formation

Which is right for me?  Spiritual Direction and/or Pastoral Counseling?

This is a really good question and one that comes up often. So let’s start by defining terms.  First, spiritual direction, as the name implies, is primarily about the spiritual life: our relationship with God and the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  It is also involved in fostering personal growth in and deeper intimacy with God (as experienced in prayer and lived out in discipleship).

Counseling and psychotherapy are different.  These terms are often used interchangeably so I’d like to make a distinction here as well.  Counseling helps us to work through and resolve problems in our lives and relationships.  Psychotherapy, on the other hand, goes deeper and is primarily focused on the emotional life and helps us to heal past hurts and to look at and resolve unhealthy patterns in our lives.

When should you pursue counseling/therapy vs. spiritual direction?

If you are struggling with emotional pain and negative patterns of behavior in your life, dealing with depression or mood disorders, anxiety, addictions or other diagnosable conditions, psychotherapy is your best option.   Do you need guidance and support sorting out your life and your relationships?  Counseling would be the way to go.

Are you trying to grow in your relationship with God and discern the movement of the Holy Spirit in your life?  Then, spiritual direction is what you should pursue.

Keep in mind that each discipline is not mutually exclusive and you can participate in spiritual direction along with therapy and counseling.

(Adapted excerpt from: Spiritualdirection.com – Catholic Spiritual Direction – What is the Difference between Counseling and Spiritual Direction?)

“Pastoral counselors hold a unique position in the field of counseling.  With their combination of theological training and advanced education in the behavioral sciences, they are poised to provide effective mental health counseling that is capable of respectfully integrating religious and spiritual components.”

(The Misunderstood Pastoral Counselor: Knowledge and Religiosity as Factors Affecting a Client’s Choice, Walker, et. al., Paper based on a program presented at the 2012 American Counseling Association Annual Conference and Exposition, San Francisco, CA, March 23-25,)

Reflection Corner

As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards to God’s varied grace. 1 Peter 4:10

Spiritual formation requires taking not only the inward journey to the heart, but also the outward journey from the heart to the community and ministry.  Christian spirituality is essentially communal.  Spiritual formation is formation in community.  In community, we learn what it means to confess our weakness and to forgive each other.  In community, we discover our own woundedness but also a place of healing.  In community, we learn true humility.  Without community, we become individualistic and egocentric.  Therefore, spiritual formation always includes formation to life in community.

(Henri Nouwen, Following the Movements of the Spirit, Spiritual Formation with Christensen, M. J. & Laird, R. J.)

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You can reach Carol Taliaferro at ctaliaferro1@luc.edu.    
To learn more about IPS, go to https://www.luc.edu/ips/.  For those interested in applying to IPS, go to https://gpem.luc.edu/apply/.

IPS Saddened by Deacon Jimmie Flewellen Passing

The IPS community is saddened to learn of the recent passing of one of our Advisory Council members, Deacon Jimmie Flewellen.

Rev. Jimmie Flewellen passed away on January 31, 2019.  He was 92 years old.

Rev. Jimmie received a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies degree from IPS in 1983 and was honored with a Damen Award from IPS at Loyola University Chicago in 2013.

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.

Courtesy of A.A. Rayner & Sons

 

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To learn more about IPS, go to https://www.luc.edu/ips/.  For those interested in applying to IPS, go to https://gpem.luc.edu/apply/.