Degrees

J.C.L., Catholic University of America; M.Ch.A., Catholic University of America; B.A., University of North Texas at Denton

Short Bio

Cecelia M. Bennett, J.C.L., is an associate director in the Loyola Institute for Ministry. She has been at Loyola since 1988. She holds a B.A., English from the University of North Texas, Denton, Texas. From the Catholic University of America, Washington D.C she holds both a Master in Church Administration and a Licentiate in Canon Law. Her Licentiate Dissertation was "Mixed Marriages in the United States: A Study of the U.S. Implementing Statement on Mixed Marriages." 

Bennett has a wide range of experience in ministry and religious education at the national and diocesan levels. Former positions include: Associate Director of Religious Education and Director of Catechist Certification, Archdiocese of Miami; Director of the Institute for Pastoral Ministries, St. Thomas University, Miami, Florida; Specialist for Family Life at United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCC) Washington, D.C., and, Advocate and Notary in the Marriage Tribunal, Diocese of Dallas, Texas.  Bennett is an active member of several professional organizations, Canon Law Society of America (CLSA), National Association for Lay Ministry (NALM), and the National Conference of Catechetical Leaders (NCCL). She has served on the CLSA Committee on Women in the Church and Society, the International Beginning Experience, Board of Directors, and as vice-chair of the Board of Directors of the National Association for Lay Ministry. She is currently serving a new term on the NALM board.

Bennett has been a member of the Women’s Studies Committee at Loyola since 1995 and the Loyola University Ombudsman since 2004.  She is a visiting instructor in Canon Law at the Loyola Law School and for the institute. In her role as LIM associate director (administrative services) Bennett is responsible for the overall supervision of the LIM staff and for the overall management of the LIM office.  Bennett has compiled the Administrative Handbook for liaisons and facilitators in the LIM extension program and the LIM Extension Program Policy Manual for students, facilitators and liaisons.  She coordinates the start-up and state authorization systems for the LIM extension program, has general oversight of LIM extension program administrative policy, and supervises extension program administrative liaisons. She serves on the LIM promotions team and participates in the overall promotion of LIM programs, with special emphasis on extension program promotion.  She also serves on the LIM admissions committee, and chairs the LIM administrative staff committee.

Courses Taught

Canon Law