Jesuit Development Office
Jesuits in Ministry
Novices across North America spent one month in Denver this past summer studying the history of the Society.
Lloyd Baugh, S.J.
Lloyd Baugh with his communications students in Rome.
Lloyd Baugh has been missioned to the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome since 1984, the year of his ordination, first as a graduate student and since 1990, as a teacher. His areas of teaching, research and publication include fundamental theology, spirituality, film studies and the complex and rich interface between theology and cinema. His book, Jesus and Christ–Figures in Film, has become a classical reference work in the field.
At the Gregorian, Lloyd teaches in Italian, but his students, who come from every corner of the globe, can do exams and theses in English, French, German, Spanish and Portuguese. The student population of 3000 bring to their courses a varied mix of life experiences and cultural and ecclesial traditions; that and the University’s interdisciplinary approach to studies make for a rich academic and religious experience.
Typical of a professor at “the Greg,” Lloyd has been called on by the Vatican to serve as advisor in the Pontifical Commissions of Culture and Social Communications. He served on the committee that in 1996 prepared the Vatican “Oscars,” a list of the top 45 films of Christian, religious and cultural significance.
As part of the Gregorian’s international outreach, Lloyd teaches regularly in Jesuit and other universities outside of Rome: Campion College in Regina, Holy Cross, Loyola-Marymount and Notre Dame in the USA, Heythrop College in London, the Ateneo de Manila in the Philippines and the Collège St. Michel in Madagascar.
Lloyd considers sacramental ministry an essential part of his mission. Several years ago, to serve the growing number of lay students at the Gregorian, Lloyd developed a campus ministry program, now an integral part of the University. He continues to participate in that program, presiding at the Eucharist and the sacrament of Reconciliation and doing spiritual direction and weekend and Holy Week Ignatian retreats.
Lloyd Baugh Center: a weekend retreat with young families.
Lloyd is also active in traditional parish ministry, both in Rome, directing weekend spiritual dynamics with a group of married couples from a suburban parish, and in Toronto, where, during the summers, he helps out in Our Lady of Lourdes parish. “That contact with Canada and the Jesuits of my home province,” he says, “is crucial to who I am, how I am and what I do in Rome.”
Engaging Hearts and Minds
The Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice
By Peter Bisson, S.J.
Jesuit Forum Team, from right: Fr. Bill Ryan, S.J., Anne-Marie Jackson and Fr. Peter Bisson, S.J.
Participants at our recent workshop, Engaging the Signs of the Times in the Current Economic Crisis, were surprised to have moved from paralysis and fear to hope and imagination, surprised to have discovered possibilities for newness in the midst of the current crisis.
The Forum process attempts to find some meaning in our confused and uncertain times. The goal is to counteract the growing privatization of people’s faith and deepest convictions. The authentic dialogue we are promoting fosters deep listening and a way to find common bonds and action. It turns problem-solving on its head and focuses on meaning and motivation.
We will be organizing various types of meetings and events and use our process to motivate people on the major global issues of our time.
What we do. The Jesuit Forum for Social Faith and Justice tries to empower people to build a more just world through the practice of social discernment. In guided group conversations or forums, this way of listening to one another not only taps into people’s minds, but also into their hearts—their experience and their feelings—as important information about the world and what it means. This frees people’s imaginations and hopes, leads to new ways of seeing things and making decisions, and empowers their commitment to build a better world together. We are like the fish in the cartoon, ready to nibble the big toe of sleeper to wake him up!
Who we work with. Since October 2007 the Forum has held or prepared many small forums with leaders and decision-makers among university students, high school teachers, social justice and health workers, education consultants, and with Jesuit apostolates.
We are slowly breaking into the corridors of power with the confident expectation we will soon be leading forums with leaders in these sectors. Since our approach is new and somewhat counter-cultural, we spend substantial time meeting with very busy senior administrators in health-care, education, labour, business, politics and communications, etc., acquainting them with our way of proceeding. To date all our contacts have appreciated the significant value of what we are trying to do.
Who we are. The Jesuit Forum is a team of three people: Fr. Bill Ryan, S.J., Anne-Marie Jackson and Fr. Peter Bisson, S.J.We are housed at Loretto College, 70 St. Mary Street, on the University of Toronto campus. Come and see us some time!