Dr. Francisco Castillo, professor of Pastoral Studies at the Loyola Institute for Ministry at Loyola University New Orleans, presented a workshop at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress in February 2026 titled "Más allá del RICA: La mistagogía como camino de esperanza y formación continua" ("Beyond RCIA: Mystagogy as a Path of Hope and Ongoing Formation").
We’re proud to celebrate Ansel Augustine, a Loyola alumnus whose recent article "On Mardi Gras, Catholics should celebrate the faith and resilience of the New Orleans Black Masking Indians" shines a powerful light on the living culture and faith of New Orleans.
At the annual conference of the Association of Graduate Programs in Ministry, held in Tucson in February 2026, Dr. Emily Jendzejec was named the recipient of the inaugural Pope Francis “Timbro Pastorale” Award for Best Ministry Publication. The newly established award recognizes exemplary scholarship that advances pastoral practice and theological reflection in service to the Church.
As Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Lenten season, Tom Ryan is helping audiences reflect more deeply on the meaning behind the 40 days of repentance observed by many Christians.
Loyola Institute for Ministry Professor and University Chaplain Dr. Tom Ryan was featured on WWL-TV and WDSU-TV, offering insight on New Orleans’ new archbishop, James Checchio. He also appeared on the Newell Normand Show on WWL Radio to discuss an article he authored on Mardi Gras and spirituality.
Listen to Tom on the Newell Normand Show here.
LIM alumna Becky Eldredge, MPS, celebrated a major milestone in January 2026 with the release of her newest book, Encounter Grace (Loyola Press). In this heartfelt guide, Becky invites readers to discover God’s presence in the ordinary moments of daily life, offering reflections, prayer practices, and guidance rooted in Ignatian spirituality.
The Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the United States (ACHTUS) has released its first-ever Daily Advent Reflections booklet for 2025, a milestone publication featuring profound spiritual insights from twenty-five contributors ranging from emerging graduate students to the nation’s most esteemed scholars.
Faculty member Dr. Sarah Stillwell has won the Kelly Frailing Excellence in Online Teaching Award. This award recognizes Loyola faculty whose performance exemplifies a commitment to excellence in online teaching, online course development, innovative online pedagogical development, and online student engagement. Congratulations to Dr. Stillwell!
Loyola Institute for Ministry graduate Paula Atchley, M.R.E., is celebrating a major professional milestone as she steps into her new role as Executive Assistant to the President of Loyola University. Her journey to this achievement reflects not only personal perseverance but also the profound formation she experienced through the Master of Religious Education program at LIM.
Nicole Gomez, a Haciendo Caminos Fellow at the Loyola Institute for Ministry (LIM), recently appeared on the Accompany Podcast (season 1, episode 1) from the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM) along with LIM staffer Claire Gallagher.