Francisco Castillo, D.Min., has been appointed as the Spanish Language College of Reviewer for the groundbreaking Compelling Preaching Project at Catholic Theological Union (CTU). This innovative research initiative, conducted in collaboration with the University of Chicago's Department of Psychology, aims to explore the neurological and psychological impacts of Roman Catholic homilies across English and Spanish-speaking communities. Dr.
Fr. Mark Mossa, S.J., of the Religious Studies department, will profess his solemn final vows in the Society of Jesus during a public Mass at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, March 30 at Holy Name of Jesus Church. All are welcome to attend. For those unable to attend in person, the ceremony will be livestreamed on the parish website at hnjchurch.org.
Veronica Carter, MA, MPS, has been appointed to the board of directors of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans. Her education at the Loyola Institute of Ministry profoundly shaped her vision of faith-based community service, embodying the Christ-centered approach that this appointment acknowledges. Ms. Carter currently serves as Director of Upward Bound at Loyola University New Orleans, while also dedicating her time as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Coordinator and RCIA Catechist in her parish community.
LIM alumnus Brian Merry, M.R.E., has been appointed as Spiritual Fitness Program Manager at Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA), the largest joint military installation in the United States. JBSA encompasses three major locations - Fort Sam Houston, Lackland, and Randolph - where units specialize in military training, aviation operations, medical services, cybersecurity, and intelligence activities.
Loyola University New Orleans has awarded the 2025 Unsung Hero Award to Paula Atchley, MRE, and Lindy Brasher, MRE, both graduates of the Loyola Institute of Ministry (LIM). The award recognizes individuals who embody the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s enduring legacy of unity, service, and compassion. The recipients were honored at the inaugural MLK Interfaith Convocation for Unity, held Tuesday, January 21st in the Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola on Loyola's main campus.
Loyola University New Orleans has awarded the 2025 Kelly Frailing Excellence in Online Teaching Award to Dr. Emily Jendzejec for her groundbreaking course "Synodality." The annual award recognizes faculty who demonstrate exceptional achievement in online teaching, course development, pedagogical innovation, and student engagement. Dr. Jendzejec's course aligned with the historic General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome in October 2024, featuring an immersive week-long experience where Loyola Institute for Ministry students joined 150 delegates from 15 U.S. Catholic universities.
Milissa Else, M.P.S., a distinguished alumna of the Loyola Institute for Ministry (LIM), recently shared her experiences working alongside Jennifer Behnke, M.M., the Associate Director of Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Newark. In a compelling discussion, they explored the concept of synodal listening and Milissa's transformative journey to Rome in October 2024, where she participated in the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican.
Claire Gallagher, Associate Director of The Flourishing Sisterhood project at LIM, recently spoke with Dr. Tom Neal, Chief of Evangelization and Mission Engagement for the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee and host of the "Sharing the Faith" podcast.
We are delighted to celebrate the imminent publication of "Praying with Our Feet: Encountering God in the Margins" by distinguished alumnus Dr. Ansel Augustine. Through the lens of Ignatian spirituality, this work demonstrates how to actively embody religious beliefs and Catholic social principles while walking alongside those on society's edges, with particular attention to the experiences of the Black Catholic community.
Six LIM graduate students experienced a rare opportunity to witness Church history unfold as they and faculty member Emily Jendzejec joined a landmark pilgrimage to Rome during the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. The delegation was part of a larger group of 150 representatives from 15 U.S. Catholic universities who traveled to Vatican City from October 12-19, 2024.