Catholic
College and Universities Loras gets $10 million
By PATRICIA LEFEVERE
A fundraisers fantasy came true this past spring at Loras
College in Dubuque, Iowa. An alumnus and his wife -- who wish to stay anonymous
-- gave the small, diocesan liberal arts college $10 million to found a
Catholic Studies Center.
Loras has been talking about such a center for six years. The
grant will allow Loras to create a diverse operation with a community component
as well as an academic program that will tie the college more directly into the
Dubuque archdiocese, said John Waldmier, associate academic dean.
Dubuques archbishop, Jerome Hanus, is Loras chancellor
and holds one vote on its board. He also appoints the eight diocesan priests
who serve at the college.
Five years ago Loras inaugurated its Pastoral Education Graduate
Studies program, anticipating 30 to 35 candidates by 1998. Instead, it has
almost 75 enrollees, noted the colleges fundraiser, James Collins, who
sits on the archdiocesan education board. Collins said that the archdiocese
desperately needs certificate programs in church finance, music ministry
-- even parenting. We require 60 credits of an accounting major, but none to be
a parent, he said.
One thing Loras will not do with the $10 million is to erect a new
building. Ample space already exists. Loras will, however, establish a Chair
for Catholic Thought, available to Loras faculty, and it will also bring in
prominent theologians for a semester. Loras will also explore using the Iowa
Communications Network for transmitting its programs for lay education around
the region.
Waldmier said hes heard talk on campus that changes in the
Catholic church in the 21st century -- new models for parishes, ministry and
governance -- will begin first in the Midwest and only later spread to the
coasts. Thats why he believes that centers for Catholic Studies at Loras
and at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul will become influential.
Loras hopes to link study with service. Already students who work
in Appalachia over Thanksgiving vacation and those who volunteer to go to
Central America during the summer recess coordinate their projects with members
of the social work and religious studies departments.
Early in the exploratory process for a center, Loras faculty,
staff and administrators received copies of Ex Corde Ecclesiae, Pope
John Paul IIs apostolic constitution on higher education. Its
taken very seriously here and comes up often at meetings, Collins said.
Most recently, some educators wanted to know how to address the colleges
largely merit-based financial aid awards in light of Ex Corde. The
archdioceses 215,000 Catholics include many rural poor and Hispanics who
would benefit from need-based awards.
National Catholic Reporter, October 16,
1998
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