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Institute for Pastoral Initiatives News

Vocation, Vocation, Vocation!

By Sr. Angela Ann Zukowski

Over 25 years ago, I received a call from Archbishop Pantin inviting me to come to the Archdiocese of Port of Spain on the Island of Trinidad to consult on a communications plan being explored for the Archdiocese.  I had been serving both in the Vatican on a Commission and as an International Consultant for Catholic Communications.  I immediately said 'yes' not even knowing where Trinidad was located.  Nor could I find it on the map!  (see map below in photo gallery)

Yet, my 'yes' has lead to 25 years of diverse ministry experiences for bringing the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives (IPI) and the University of Dayton into the Caribbean and bringing our lives into sync with theirs. Isn't this what 'vocation' is all about?

One of the outcomes of that initial meeting in 1993 was the creation of the Caribbean School for Catholic Communications (CSCC).  What initially was intended to be a basic program for the Archdiocese of Port of Spain for two years has evolved into the CSCC for the entire Caribbean.  Over 1,000 Catholic Caribbean residents from diverse islands (countries) have passed through the CSCC.  My greatest joy is discovering many of them as not only leaders in their diocese today but leaders in secular Communications ministry or Catholic Education, etc.  We never know what God has instore for us when we say 'yes' to an invitation.

The main project for the Caribbean people in this school is to create a video or digital media production.  The CSCC is not only about learning digital media literacy and skills but deepening the participant’s knowledge of the Church’s theology, spirituality and a catechesis for effective communication of the faith.  So our theme is "New Ways of Being Church in a Digital Milieu". The CSCC participants diligently proceeded to design and produce their projects, post them online for the CSCC’s advisory team to watch and evaluate.

Our IPI collaborative work with the Caribbean Bishops on a growing number of levels is gradually integrating our online classes for religious education and faith formation (vlcff.udayton.edu)  into the life of the Caribbean Catholic Church.  Archbishop Jason Gordon is already exploring with various ministry entities of the diocese for integrating our Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation ( VLCFF) into the formation of Catholic School educators, catechists and diverse ministry formation groups, as well as in the Catholic Religious Education Development Institute.  I believe this is what also needs to happen in Africa, Latin America, Australia and Canada.   

Before my week in the Caribbean ends, I will also prepare for the Living Water Community’s 2020 Chapter, where the community will turn over the reigns to younger members. The Living Water Community has grown,with about 29 household members, 600 covenant members, 200 consecrated members and over 350 staff at various levels of their 35+ ministries.  This is simply amazing.

This is 'our time' to make a difference for the future of the Caribbean Catholic Church and for moving the Church forward in a prophetic way in the 21st century.  If we open ourselves up, patterns form in our lives which make a huge future difference for the Church.

I would never have guessed 55 years ago when I entered religious life that almost half of my religious life ministry would be connected with the Caribbean Catholic Church.  God is full of surprises.

Sr. Angela Ann Zukowski is the Director of the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives, which oversees many programs, including the Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation (VLCFF), a distance learning program offering adult religious education and faith formation classes throughout the year to more than 70 dioceses around the world. In addition, other IPI initiatives include the Forum for Young Catholic Hispanics, Christian Meditation in Catholic schools, Special Needs in Faith Formation, Chaminade Scholars pilgrimage from Assisi to Rome. Catholic Schools for Tomorrow, the Forum for Young Catechetical Leaders, and the Caribbean School for Catholic Communications. 

 

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