By Fran Lavelle
The Loyola Institute for Ministry Extension Program (LIMEX) of Loyola University in New Orleans will present an information session on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 10 a.m. at Madison St. Francis of Assisi Parish. The information session will discuss the formation of a graduate ministry education learning group in the Jackson area.
Lay, religious and ordained persons who are engaged at a professional or paraprofessional level in the church’s works of education and pastoral ministry, or laity who want to address themselves to their ministry in the world are encouraged to attend the information session.
Loyola, in cooperation with church-related sponsoring agencies responds to the needs of ministry and education personnel who have limited access to Catholic educational resources by offering this on-site extension program leading to the master of religious education and master of pastoral studies degrees or non-credit continuing education certificates.
The theological core courses and capstone course are taken in learning groups led by a Loyola-certified facilitator. Sessions for each course employ a learning design in which downloadable class lectures and other required and suggested readings are correlated with the participant’s experience by means of reflective processes.
Additionally, each session provides opportunities for prayer, reflection and faith sharing based on the themes and graces of the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Students also choose five additional courses in Christian spirituality, pastoral life and administration, or religious education. In these courses, a multimedia course packet is provided to students.
The packet guides the students through a learning process that combines independent study and peer group sharing. Youth ministry, religion and ecology, and marketplace ministry courses are offered through the LIMEX online program giving extension students flexibility in course offerings.
For more information about Loyola and the information session, contact Fabvienen Taylor, 601-960-8470, fabvienen.taylor@jacksondiocese.org.
(Fran Lavelle is the Director of Faith Formation for the Diocese of Jackson)