Alumni Successes
Do you have an achievement you’d like to share with us? Have you moved recently, changed jobs, or added a family member? Loyola University New Orleans is committed to keeping in touch with as many of its former students as possible. Please fill out this form to update your information with the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations and the Institute for Ministry.
- Teresa J. Degen, M.P.S. '87, D.Min. and James T. Degen, M.R.E. '87, D.Min. From first LIMEX graduating class, Teresa was the first person to walk across the stage and be awarded degree
"It hardly seems possible that 15 years have passed already. The Loyola experience has opened many doors for our fellow graduates and us. Our LIMEX training is recognized and appreciated across the country. As we have moved from parish to parish, sometimes to a new diocese, we ask immediately if there are LIMEX graduates in the community. They are our first and favorite source of ministry partners. Throughout our 28 years of full time ministry, we have enjoyed many extraordinary opportunities and blessings. Our LIMEX experience is certainly among the richest of these blessings. Hardly a day passes that we do not call upon our Loyola experience, reference a text from our course work, or somehow connect with the rich background we received through LIMEX." (LIMexpress Fall 2002)
- Rita Lucey, M.P.S. '97 -- Rita is a LIMEX graduate from the Diocese of Orlando. In November 1997 she crossed the line at Fort Benning Georgia with 24 others to demonstrate for the closing of the School of the Americas. In 1998 she and 24 others were sentenced to six months in prison and a $3000 fine for their peaceful protests. Rita Lucey resigned her position as President of the Greater Orlando Chapter of the United Nations Association in February 1998 to self-surrender to Coleman Federal Prison. She is active in many peace-related organizations and is a member of Winter Park Quaker Meeting. As wife, mother of four and grandmother of six, retired Business woman she is a member of The Florida Coalition for Peace and Justice, Amnesty International, Grandmothers for Peace, the School of Americas Watch and a board advisor to Radio for Peace. As an ex-convict she is very involved in different prison ministries, understanding now, all too well the problems that exist in that environment.(LIMexpress Fall 2000)
- Theresa May, M.P.S. '00 -- Theresa is a pastoral associate and director of religious education at Saint Jerome's, in Jerome, ID. Theresa along with her family have received several significant awards, including most recently Idaho Family of the Year from the Knights of Columbus. They were named fourth runner up nationally as well. You'll find it hard to list all that this outstanding family does for the church--Cursillo, music ministry, Knights of Columbus, work on building a new parish worship center, etc.--while also running a farm. The have made 20 trips since 1997 to an orphanage in Mexico to help volunteer their services and support.
- Deacon Pierce Murphy, M.P.S. '00 -- Pierce is the police ombudsman for the city of Boise. He is very much a man on the local news here in the state's capital. He also serves in one of the local parishes.
Oanh Ngo, M.P.S., 04' - On Saturday, 3 March 2007, Oanh Ngo from the Diocese of Belleville learning group was one of 12 women honored for "their unique and vital contributions both to the Church in St. Louis and to the broader community" (Archdiocesan Press Release). The annual awards honor 12 Catholic women in the Archdiocese of St. Louis and are sponsored by the archdiocesan Women in the Church Committee of the Human Rights Office, which is part of the archdiocesan Office of Apostolic Services. The honorees are selected as representatives for all women in the archdiocese who have dedicated their lives to peace, social justice, and service.
According to the Archdiocese, "The Catholic Women Awards are a direct outgrowth of the mission of the Archdiocesan Committee on Women in the Church. Three of the key components of that mission are to develop an awaremenss of the roles of women within the Church, to affirm the equality and dignity of all women in a multicultural Church and society, and to help women discern and affirm their gifts. Each of the twelve awards takes its name from one of the roles, gifts, or charisms that women bring to the Church and the community." Most Reverend Raymond Leo Burke conferred the Ruth Award on Oanh. The recipient of the Ruth Award exhibits "Unconditional Committment" which "answers God's call to dedicate herself to the care of others. She puts someone's continual needs before her own" (Ceremony Program).
In addition, on 27 April 2007, Oanh received the O'Fallon (Illinois) chamber of Commerce's Citizenship Award in the ministry/clergy category. It was the 31st annual award given by the Chamber in conjunction with the local newspaper, The O'Fallon Progress, "The Awards are given annually to 7 categories of distinguished people who go above and beyond to make the O'Fallon community a better place to live and to work [...]." The recipients are nominated by members of the community at large and selected by a panel of chamber members and newpaper staffers.
Oanh continues to serve in her ministries in the Archdiocese, developing her minsterial skills while serving others.
- Dr. Alice Pita, M.P.S. '04, M.D. -- Alice, from the Diocese of Ft. Worth learning group, recently retired as the head of pediatrics for the city of Dallas. She uses the experience gained as a graduate student at the Loyola in volunteer ministry.