2025: The Ministry of Healing in Challenging Times
Are you called to bring Christ's healing presence to a wounded world?
Join us as we explore the profound connection between pastoral leadership and healing ministry. This thought-provoking lecture series challenges church leaders to embrace the fullness of Jesus's ministry—not only teaching and preaching but also his revolutionary approach to healing.
What You'll Discover
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Jesus as Healer, Now and Then: Jesus' work of healing in its biblical and historical context and what it can mean for us today.
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Healing through Accompaniment: the transformative power of presence in chaplaincy across various contexts—hospitals, prisons, and beyond.
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From Lament to Hope: pathways for cultivating healing and renewal within parish communities, moving from shared pain to collective hope.
Mark your calendars for this enriching exploration of ministry and healing in our contemporary context.
Register to Attend
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Click here to register.
Download Flyer
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Download flyer here.
Speakers and LIM Alumni Responders
| February 13, 2025 | 7:00 pm CT | |
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Dr. Thomas Ryan is the University Chaplain and a Professor of Theology and Ministry at Loyola University New Orleans. He served as the Director of the Loyola Institute for Ministry (LIM) from 2007–2021. Dr. Ryan's research interests include the history of biblical interpretation with a focus on medieval exegesis, the history of spirituality, and faith and popular culture. In addition to work on Aquinas's biblical commentaries, he has written on the spirituality of medieval interpretations of the Song of Songs, the material spirituality of paint-by-numbers Last Suppers, New Orleans post-Katrina, and the medieval Feast of Corpus Christi as an expression of the sensus fidelium. He is co-editor of the series "The Bible in Medieval Tradition" published by Eerdmans. Additionally, he wrote the Year A (2022-2023) and the first half of Year B (2023-2024) "Understanding the Word" portion of World Library Publication's Living the Word: Scripture Reflections and Commentaries for Sundays and Holy Days." | |
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Dr. Shatonda S. Jones is Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Education in the Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology Program at St. Bonaventure University. Dr. Jones specializes in adult and geriatric communication and swallowing disorders, with a particular interest in motor speech disorders. Her research focuses on health capacity building in communities affected by neurological conditions, the diffusion of health information, vowel merger, and the intersections of health and spirituality. She is a Certified Brain Injury Specialist Trainer. Dr. Jones is also the chair-elect of the Council on Academic Accreditation of the American Speech Language Hearing Association. Dr. Jones holds a Ph.D. in Therapeutic Science from the University of Kansas, a Master’s in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Iowa, and a Bachelor’s in Speech Pathology from the University of Tulsa. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Pastoral Studies in the Loyola Institute for Ministry. |
| March 13, 2025 | 7:00 pm CT | |
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Chaplaincy in Hospitals, Prisons, and Beyond |
Rev. Jeannie Alexander is the co-Abbess and co-founder of Earthfire Abbey, an interfaith abbey and farm in Vermont, dedicated to restorative practices in earth stewardship and human rights. She is the founder and former executive director of No Exceptions Prison Collective, an abolitionist organization that worked through a legal/faith/and educational framework to co-create alternatives to mass incarceration, with a focus on dismantling private prisons. She is the author of the amendment to the Tennessee Constitution, which in 2022 abolished all exceptions to the abolition of slavery in that state. She is the former head chaplain of Riverbend Maximum Security Prison, and a former attorney. She holds a law degree from Cornell University and a Masters in Religious Studies with a focus on Ethics and Mysticism. She is a shepherdess, river walker, lover of all things wild, a devoted wife and grateful daughter. She writes and preaches frequently on the topics of a theology of holistic liberation, a consistent life ethic, spiritual rewilding, the sacred work of queer liberation, and resiliency through regenerative community building. |
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Lisa Gianturco's professional journey is a profound transformation from chemical engineering to pastoral ministry. For 15 years, she navigated the complex world of chemical engineering with precision and expertise, bringing the same analytical rigor to her technical work that would later characterize her approach to pastoral care. After dedicating herself to her family and raising her children, Lisa discovered a deeper passion emerging through her involvement in her parish's social justice and volunteer chaplain ministries, sparking a transformative discernment process. Her pursuit of a Master of Pastoral Studies at the Loyola Institute of Ministry was a deliberate and strategic step towards professional chaplaincy. By working towards certification with the National Association for Catholic Chaplains, Lisa is answering a profound vocational call, translating her life experiece into compassionate, structured spiritual support for those in need. | |
| April 10, 2025 | 7:00 pm CT | |
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Dr. Elsie Miranda is the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at The Association of Theological Schools. Previously she served as associate professor of practical theology and director of ministerial formation at Barry University. Growing up Cuban American, she's deeply passionate about how faith connects with real-world social and political dynamics. Her work explores how cultural contexts shape people's experiences and their pursuit of peace and justice, both locally and globally. Her scholarship includes contributions to the edited volumes Hispanic Ministry in the 21st Century: Urgent Matters (Convivium Press, 2016) and Hispanic Ministry in the 21st Century: Present and Future (Convivium Press, 2010). She is also coeditor and contributor to Calling for Justice Throughout the World, Catholic Women Theologians on the HIV AIDS Pandemic (Continuum Press, 2009). | |
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Veronica E. Carter's 30+-year journey in education transcends a mere profession, embodying a profound calling to uplift and empower others. Her dedication is evident in her nearly two-decade tenure as the Upward Bound Program TRIO director at Loyola University, following a decade of impactful work with federal TRIO programs at Southern University New Orleans. Beyond her administrative roles, Veronica's commitment to service is deeply rooted in her faith and academic formation. Her studies at the Loyola Institute of Ministry profoundly reshaped her worldview, instilling a Christ-centered approach to community service that led to her appointment to the Catholic Charities board in the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Her ministerial contributions extend to her parish, where she serves as the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Coordinator and RCIA Catechist, and has actively participated in Finance and Pastoral Councils. |
2024: Navigating Difference, Celebrating Unity: The Promise of Synodality for a Polarized Church
Each 1-hour virtual lecture in this series will explore how the practice of synodality (encountering with love, listening with empathy, and discerning a faithful response) can help people respond to experiences of polarization in the Church.
Speakers and LIM Alumni Responders
| February 22, 2024 | 7:00 pm CT | |
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An Antidote to Polarization |
Dr. Rafael Luciani is Venezuelan layman, with a Doctor in Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University; he conducted postdoctoral research at the Julius Maximilians Universität, Germany. He is a professor at the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in Caracas and Extraordinary Professor at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. He currently teaches Ecclesiology, Latin American Theology, Vatican Council II and Synodality in the Church. He serves as Expert of CELAM (Latin American Episcopal Council) and Member of the Theological Advisory Team of the Presidency of CLAR (Latin American Confederation of Religious). He coordinates the Ibero-American Theology Project. He is co-coordinator of the Intercontinental Seminar Group Peter & Paul for the reform of the Catholic Church and is an Expert of the Theological Commission of the General Secretariat of the Synod. He has been appointed as Expert of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality. Amongst his many academic publications in several languages, his most recent book is Synodality: A New Way of Proceeding in the Church (Paulist Press). |
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Milissa currently works for the Chancellor in the Archdiocese of Newark and serves as coordinator for parish strategies and small group ministry. She is a also a board member of the National Community of Catechetical Leaders (NCCL Catholic). |
| March 13, 2024 | 7:00 pm CDT | |
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Dr. Cynthia Bailey Manns was appointed Delegate to the 2023 Synod of Bishops. She is the Adult Learning Director at Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Community in Minneapolis and adjunct professor at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. Dr. Bailey Manns was a delegate from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis to the Continental Assemblies. | |
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Becky is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director passionate about inviting people closer to Christ. She does this by accompanying people as they navigate deep waters of their faith lives through spiritual direction, writing, retreats, and as founder of Ignatian Ministries. She is author of two award-winning books: The Inner Chapel and Busy Lives and Restless Souls. Becky is part of the Archdiocese of New Orleans Spirituality Center teaching staff where she trains spiritual directors in the Ignatian tradition. Learn more about Becky’s ministry at www.beckyeldredge.com. | |
| April 11, 2024 | 7:00 pm CDT | |
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A U.S. Hispanic/Latino(a) Response to Polarization in Our Church |
Dr. Castillo is the Joe and Kelly George Visiting Professor of Pastoral Studies in the Loyola Institute for Ministry at Loyola University New Orleans. His research interests include Catholic social teaching, liturgical theology, theopoesis, liturgical and theological aesthetics, liberation theology, U.S. Hispanic/Latino(a) theology, catechetics, religious studies, comparative religion, religion and film and cultural identity. |
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Carolina Fierro-Amador is a cradle-Catholic, Mexican immigrant living in northeast Mississippi since 2002. She is the general manager in a small family-owned company and has served in the Saint James The Greater parish in Tupelo in a variety of ministries including English and Spanish as a Second Language, Hispanic Evangelization Committee member, Lector, Eucharistic Minister, pre-marriage talks, RCIA, Church History for eighth graders, and Confirmation preparation. She is married with four beautiful children in heaven and four wonderful children walking with her and her husband. |
2023: Becoming a Listening Church: The Invitation to Synodality
The 1-hour lectures in this series explore how Pope Francis is calling us to practice synodality as a way of being church and the theological and practical implications involved in becoming a more synodal church. Recordings of the lectures are linked below.
Speakers and LIM Alumni Responders
| February 9, 2023 | 7:00 pm CST | |
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A Synodal Church |
Dr. Kristin Colberg is an Associate Professor of Theology at Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary where she teaches classes in ecclesiology, theological anthropology, and theological method. |
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Thomas F. Ryan, Ph.D.
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Dr. Ryan is the Interim Vice-President of Mission and Identity, Professor of Theology and Ministry, and Associate Dean of the College of Nursing and Health. |
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Grant Tregre leads the Social Justice Ministry at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church a ministry that addresses the systemic social sins of racism, poverty, mass incarceration, and a host of other social concerns in the New Orleans metro area. |
| March 16, 2023 | 7:00 pm CDT | |
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Dr. Bigelow Reynolds is an Assistant Professor of Catholic Studies in the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Her research interests include the intersection of ecclesiology and lived Catholicism in contexts of diversity, marginality, and suffering. | |
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Justin Daffron, S.J., Ph.D. |
Fr. Daffron is Loyola's Interim President. |
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Kayla is a student at the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College, where she is pursuing a Ph.D. in Theology and Education with a focus on preaching. | |
| April 20, 2023 | 7:00 pm CDT | |
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Dr. Jendzejec is an Assistant Professor of Pastoral Studies in the Loyola Institute for Ministry at Loyola University New Orleans. She specializes in the intersection of Catholic theology, religious education, and young adult ministry. | |
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Michelle Collins, Ph.D., CNM, RNC-EFM, FACNM, FAAN, FNAP |
Dr. Collins is Dean of the College of Nursing and Health and is also a professor in the School of Nursing. |
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Marysa has been a Young Adult Minister, Coordinator of Children’s Ministry, and Campus Minister. She is currently a high school religion teacher and Campus Minister and also serves on the Young Adult Council for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. |
2021: The Demand of Encounter Today
The three virtual lectures explored the demands on us of Pope Francis’s call to create a culture of encounter and intended to draw out theology’s public implications and so inspire people to work for the transformation of our Church and world with special attention to racial justice. View flyer »
Speakers
| February 8, 2021 | ||
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Some Notes for Catholics" |
Dr. Ford is Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at St. Norbert College. He is a scholar-activist and, in his teaching, addresses questions of gender, race, sexuality and social justice. His current book project seeks to articulate a new theology of sex and gender for the Roman Catholic tradition. |
| March 15, 2021 | ||
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Dr. Imperatori-Lee is Professor of Religious Studies at Manhattan College. Her research interests include Catholic ecclesiology, particularly the intersection of ecclesial identity with feminist and Latino/a Catholic thought. She is the author of Cuéntame: Narrative in the Ecclesial Present (Orbis Books, 2018), which elaborates a Catholic ecclesiology from a Latino/a perspective by exploring how narratives shape ecclesiology. | |
| April 12, 2021 | ||
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Dr. Ryan is the Marjorie R. Morvant Professor in Theology and Ministry and Director of the Loyola Institute for Ministry. His research interests include the history of biblical interpretation, the history of spirituality, and the thought of Pope Francis. In addition to work on Aquinas's commentary on the Psalms, he is co-editor of Eerdmans' series The Bible in Medieval Tradition. |