On March 2, 2024, colleagues and friends will gather to celebrate Ansel Augustine's 25th anniversary of full-time ministry in New Orleans. The occasion also marks his appointment as Assistant Director of African American Affairs by the USCCB Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church.
Faculty member Thomas Ryan, Ph.D., was interviewed for an article in Northwest Catholic regarding a report he wrote about perceptions of Catholic Social Teaching (CST) and perceptions of diocesan commitment to CST and social action. The report was the result of a collaboration between the Loyola Institute for Ministry and the Roundtable Association of Catholic Diocesan Social Action Directors.
In December 2023, Pope Francis formally approved letting Catholic priests bless same-sex couples, as long as they do not appear to endorse their marriage. WWL Radio interviewed Professor Tom Ryan about the Pope's declaration, which is formaly titled "Fiducia Supplicans: On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings." Listen to Dr. Ryan's explanation of the meaning and limits of the declaration here.
Alumna Louise Locke has dedicated her career to serving others. Holding dual Master's degrees in Pastoral Studies and Counseling, Louise currently ministers as a Maryknoll Lay Missioner in Bolivia. She recently shared her experiences as a missionary on the Go Forth podcast, reflecting on Matthew 10:39 ("Whoever finds his life will lose it, whoever loses his life will find it.") and giving witness to her faith. Listen to the podcast here.
Loyola University New Orleans has received a $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to support a project with the Loyola Institute for Ministry (LIM), in partnership with the National Community of Catechetical Leadership (NCCL) entitled “Becoming a Missionary Synodal Parish Community.”
LIM Professor Tom Ryan collaborated with LIM adjunct faculty Deborah Wilhelm and Gilberto Ruiz of Saint Anselm College to co-author GIA Publications' Living the Word: Scripture Reflections and Commentaries for Sundays and Holy Days for Year B, starting on the First Sunday of Advent on December 3, 2023.
In September 2023, LIM Director Tracey Lamont traveled to the Archdiocese of Louisville to give a talk to alumni of the LIM extension program. In her keynote address at the Archdiocese of Louisville’s annual Faith Formation Celebration, she explored the relationship between synodality, listening, and revitalizing faith formation.
Read an article about Dr. Lamont's address and visit in The Record, the Archdiocesan newspaper.
The Archdiocese of Louisville celebrated its most recent group of students in the LIM Extension Program who earned their Certificate in Theology and Ministry.
Pictured in the photo (l-r) are LIM liaison and facilitator Art Turner, Dawn Hueglin, LIM director Tracey Lamont, Kathy Holderbaum, Paula Silliman, Tim Tallent, Beth Freeman, Lynn McDaniel. Doug Wolz was unable to attend.
Karen Brady, MRE, recently wrote a guest column, "Breaking Down Barriers," in the Arizona Daily Star. In it, she reflects on Matthew 15: 21-28 in which the Caananite woman asks Jesus to heal her daughter and considers its lessons for us today in terms of our treatment of others.
Read the article GO»
Local alums Ansel Augustine, MPS, and Kevin Fitzpatrick, MPS, made possible a retreat for ninety-eight incarcerated men at the Rayburn Correctional Center in Angie, Louisiana. This past summer, Ansel, director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministries, facilitated the retreat with Sister Judy Gomila and Kevin.