Loyola Institute for Ministry (LIM) faculty and staff hosted a truly special gathering with the LIM community at the welcoming home of  professor Tom Ryan and his wife Elizabeth. This gathering brought together the threads that weave through LIM's past, present, and future—alumni, current students, extension program facilitators, friends of the institute, faculty, and staff—creating a rich tapestry of shared purpose and connection. We were grateful to reconnect with valued alumni who have carried LIM's mission into their various ministries, meeting local students from our online program face-to-face for the first time, and celebrating the LIM’s distinctive history and transformative approach to practical theological education.

Alumni spoke of how LIM's transformative educational model prepared them not just with knowledge, but with the practical wisdom and spiritual grounding needed for real-world ministry challenges. These stories served as an invaluable way to welcome current students more fully into the LIM community and to inspire them in their studies and ministries.

The evening demonstrated that LIM is far more than an educational program—it's a community of practice that extends well beyond graduation, continuing to form and support ministers throughout their vocational journeys.