Aquinas Institute Symposium Cultivates Catholic Leaders
by Ann Schade of Edgewood College and Sara O’Malley Bligh of Dominican University
In June 2006, the Vocare Center at Aquinas Institute of Theology, Chicago, initiated the Graduate Symposium in Mission Leadership. With the generous support of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, this program welcomes men and women from educational institutions into an 18-month immersion in the theological and spiritual traditions of the Church. Through six online courses and weekend intensives, participants grow in their ability to articulate fundamental elements of the Catholic Church’s theological tradition and explore theological reflection as a way to infuse all dimensions of their institution with the mission of Christ. In addition, shared learning and reflection helps participants understand their leadership in light of the role of Catholic education as a sponsored ministry of the Church and cultivates spirituality for leadership that deepens their own vocation and serves the mission of each institution.
Five participants represented Sinsinawa Dominican sponsored institutions. They are Ann Schade, human resources (Edgewood College); Sylvia Contreras, director of library (Edgewood College); Sara O’Malley Bligh, director of university ministry (Dominican University); Mary Ann Mueninghoff, OP, director of mission integration (Dominican University); and Barbara Dannhausen, OP, director of mission integration (Sinsinawa Dominicans). These participants completed the program in March 2008.
Lay leadership in our sponsored institutions is strong and growing. As it grows, the need for our leaders to be prayerful, intelligent, justice-oriented, and joy-filled women and men of faith continues.
Ann Schade and Sara O’Malley Bligh are members of the first cohort. Their reflections follow.
Sara O’Malley Bligh
This mission leadership symposium has helped me to contemplate my own leadership in the context of mission at Dominican University (DU). How do I bring about the reign of God as a leader at Dominican? How am I a transformational leader? How do I work with others to identify and celebrate the gifts of our community so that DU is both transformed and transforming? Together with my colleagues in this symposium, we have explored these big questions. Whether working in human resources, teaching as a faculty member, overseeing the operations of a school, or serving as the president, each of us has begun to more fully embrace our common call to leadership and ministry in the Church. In addition, we have contemplated the responsibility our institutions have as transformative agents of the Church in the world. As such, DU must have leaders for mission who will continue to engage in the prophetic questions of morality and justice, promote gospel values both on campus and in our local and global communities, offer liturgies and prayer that inspire, celebrate the rich resources we have in our brothers and sisters of all faith traditions, and name God’s grace in our midst. How grateful I am that the Sinsinawa Dominicans and the Sisters of St. Joseph affirm and support our call to lay leadership and continue to encourage others to participate in this mission opportunity at Aquinas.
Ann Schade
Through this program, I have discovered ways in which I contribute to Edgewood College’s transformational ministry. I feel that it is a responsibility of my role as a mission leader to proclaim the presence of God in our work. At Edgewood College, we have the privilege of working with traditional-aged students at a time in their lives when they are exploring many facets of life. It is important for us to be prepared to reflect the essence of the mission in our varied positions. Like the adage of a rose, “whether a seed, a bud, or in full bloom, a rose is a rose at any stage,” we are all on a spiritual journey. I certainly encourage others to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity at Aquinas Institute to learn and grow through mission leadership development.