Student Successes
Steve Doody, MPS ’09, of Baton Rouge offers some reflections on what he, as a full-time lawyer, is doing with his Master of Pastoral Studies degree from the Loyola Institute for Ministry.
What I am "doing" with my LIM degree? The answer is "nothing," at least externally. Although I am enriched personally by my LIM studies, and although I may "do" something with my M.P.S. in the future, the truth right now is that I am "doing" nothing with it.Instead, I am still practicing law full time.A more nuanced statement, is that in all I do, whether in my job as a lawyer, in my interaction with colleagues at work, in my family and personal relations, I try to apply what I learned at LIM. But no one "sees" that from the outside as something I am "doing" with my degree. Continued
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Testimonial by Terry Deokaran, Hammond, LA.; Loyola Institute for Ministry Extension (LIMEX) Student
Initially I began theological studies three years ago in order to increase my awareness of God. Throughout the reflective process, now so well instilled in me by Loyola, I have come to the conclusion I also desired at the beginning stages of studies to attain the joyous spirituality I saw radiating from the Dominican priests in my parish of Holy Ghost in Hammond. Continued
The Shrewsbury class of 2008 celebrated their Graduation with a special Mass presided over by Bishop Brian on Saturday 20th September, 2008. Over 80 people, including 5 priests and a deacon, were present to witness the handing over of Masters Degrees and Certificates in Pastoral Studies and Religious Education at a beautiful occasion at St Mary’s Church in Hooton. The liturgy included the giving of towels to the graduates as a symbol of service and discipleship, and the blessing of water from all corners of the diocese and from the American graduation ceremony held earlier this year in New Orleans . Four years of study, reflection, group discussions, essays and dissertations, culminated in our Mass of thanks for each others' friendship and for the sharing of our respective journeys of faith. The day concluded with drinks, buffet and speeches, joy and not a little sadness, and the realisation that we were each moving on to the next chapter. The occasion also marked the handing over of the reign of Diocesan Liaison for the Loyola Extension Program from Dinah Davis to Cecelia Allan. Dinah has served in this capacity for 8 years and Tom Ryan, Director of the Programme in Loyola University New Orleans, who was present to help celebrate the UK graduation, made a special presentation to Dinah for her sterling years of service. Another Extension group has just begun its journey. If you are interested in discovering more about this course of distance learning which is sponsored by the diocese, contact Cecilia Allan, Limex Liaison, 0161 439 3573 email: ceciliaallan@aol.comThe graduates of 2008 were: Fran Butler MPS; Cath Cainen CPS; Anita Callaghan MPS; David Harries MPS; Nick Kern MPS; Margaret Lillis MPS; Joan Sharples CRE; Gerard Turnbull CPS.
- Major Warren Hoy, US Army, M.R.E. Cand. '07 -- Warren is the Associate Dean for European and Latin American Languages at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, California. He was deployed to Baghdad on February 29, 2004. While serving our country in Iraq, Warren kept in contact with his learning group and kept up with his studies. He is now in the process of officially earning credit for the extension courses his group completed during his tour of duty.
James Sciegel -- Certificate of Advanced Studies, ‘99
Jim Sciegel has been named the U.S. Army’s Director of Religious Education in Heidelberg, Germany. He works in the office of the Chief Chaplin of the Army in Europe.
Lynn Zupan -- Specialized Certificate in Parish Life & Administration, ‘04
Lynn Zupan co-presented a workshop, with the Most. Rev. Gerald Barnes (Diocese of San Bernardino CA), at the 2005 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. The workshop was titled “When There Are More Parishes Than Priests.”