The School of Theology and Ministry, in collaboration with the Boston College School of Social Work, has launched a new program to form leaders to respond to the needs of Hispanic Catholics in the United States. Rooted in the Ignatian tradition, the Leadership Certificate is taught completely in Spanish and is designed to educate Latinos interested in serving as leaders in their parishes, training them not only in issues of theology and spirituality, but also on how to address social issues arising in their communities.
F茅lix Palazzi, School of Theology and Ministry
鈥淭his Leadership Certificate program will empower people by offering them the tools they need to address real problems happening in their communities,鈥� said STM Associate Professor of the Practice F茅lix Palazzi, who leads the initiative with 亚色影库SSW Associate Professor Roc铆o Calvo. 鈥淲ith a strong foundation in theology and spirituality, we can train people to address needs in an Ignatian way, and put faith into action in a conscious way.鈥�
The partnership with the School of Social Work was a natural fit, said Palazzi, who noted that the Leadership Certificate has a theological and spiritual foundation, but a social orientation. The program is designed to train and empower participants to address issues related to economics, housing, immigration, food insecurity, as well as legal issues.
According to Palazzi, the Leadership Certificate is the only program of its kind in the United States that combines faith formation, spirituality, and community engagement for Spanish-speaking laity.
Roc铆o Calvo, Boston College School of Social Work
鈥淲e are approaching leadership from a cultural, Hispanic perspective and providing training that will make these Latino communities feel empowered and supported,鈥� said Calvo, director of the Latinx Leadership Initiative at the School of Social Work.
Calvo noted that the program鈥檚 instructors are practitioners who work in Latino communities on a regular basis and know what the needs are in these communities. They have expertise in areas such as Hispanic ministry, pastoral ministry, theology, philosophy, leadership training, Ignatian spirituality, behavioral health, and social work.
鈥淲e are responding to a national need,鈥� she added. 鈥淎nd with our leadership program being fully online, we can reach a national audience.鈥�
Calvo said it was exciting to 鈥渂reak down the silos鈥� and develop a program like the Leadership Certificate that reaches across two schools within the University to address needs of the Catholic Church on a local level and a national level.
According to Palazzi, the Leadership Certificate is the only program of its kind in the United States that combines faith formation, spirituality, and community engagement for Spanish-speaking laity.