![\"zdjecia](\"http:\/\/blogs.luc.edu\/ips\/files\/2015\/04\/zdjecia-z.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nHometown<\/strong>:\u00a0I was born in Poland and for the past 10 years I have been living in Chicago.<\/p>\n What did your studies focus on at IPS?<\/strong> What has been your biggest accomplishment while at IPS?<\/strong> What was your favorite class and why?<\/strong> Do you have any advice for future students?<\/strong> As a recent graduate, in what way will you go forth to \u201cchange the world?\u201d<\/strong> \u201cFaith, like a mustard seed, is an apparently small and insignificant thing that can achieve impossibly great things.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n 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:<\/p>\n \u201cThe only power that can heal and save the world, the only power that can do the impossible, is the pow<\/i>er of faith.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n As an Evangelization Associate in the office for the New Evangelization, I want to teach young people that\u00a0\u201cEverything is possible for God\u201d (Mk 10:27).<\/i><\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Today, young people speak new languages and they have to experience the practical reality of building a faith community:<\/p>\n \u201cPray for one another (James 5:16); 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<\/em>,\u00a0Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I. clearly points out:<\/p>\n \u201cCreating 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.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Connect with Anna via Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Join the conversation by\u00a0following\u00a0@BrianSchmisek<\/a>\u00a0on Twitter and @LoyolaIPS on Instagram! Also, network with the\u00a0Loyola Chicago IPS<\/a>\u00a0community on LinkedIn.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" While at\u00a0IPS, Anna Dudek has taken advantage of some of the great things\u00a0IPS has to offer to enhance\u00a0education. 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 read more
\nIn the Institute of Pastoral Studies (IPS), my studies focused on Master of Arts in Religious Education.\u00a0I 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\u00a0format. Two years ago, it was a privilege to go to John\u00a0Felice\u00a0Rome Center as a part of Loyola\u2019s 1st summer study abroad. Loyola\u2019s campus is wonderful and I couldn\u2019t miss the opportunity to go there last year as well. I highly recommend the John\u00a0Felice\u00a0Rome Center for a study abroad experience in Rome.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cContextual Education,\u201d 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\u2019 families and etc.).<\/p>\n
\nI cannot say which class was my favorite because IPS has good professors and each of the classes impacted my life.\u00a0Christian Doctrine & Its History\u00a0with\u00a0Professor\u00a0Peter\u00a0Jones\u00a0helped shape my\u00a0understanding of\u00a0Christian Theology from the first century to the present day, with special attention\u00a0to Christology, the doctrine of the person and work of Jesus Christ.\u00a0Thus,\u00a0Foundations of Christian Spirituality\u00a0with Fr.\u00a0Steve Krupa S.J. gave a beautiful\u00a0overview\u00a0with special\u00a0attention to current issues in the field of spirituality and Christian spirituality in our time.\u00a0Yet, I\u00a0can clearly identify with the class of New Testament in Rome.\u00a0I can certainly say I had a most pleasurable time with our group of great friends and outstanding teachers: Professor Brian\u00a0Schmisek, 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.\u00a0As 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.\u00a0It’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.<\/p>\n
\nDo not be afraid and take advantage of what IPS offers you. Loyola University prestige has the potential to be an\u00a0excellent education.\u00a0The IPS has excellent faculty and very good resources. My dream was to study abroad and IPS gave me this opportunity.<\/p>\n
\nI 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\u00a0Jesus before Christianity<\/i>\u00a0points out that:<\/p>\n
\n<\/em>Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:24b-25);
\n<\/em>Bear one another\u2019s burdens (Galatians 6:2);
\n<\/em>Spur one another toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24).\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n