Learning for mission and life

An English language school established by the Passionist Congregation has celebrated its tenth anniversary. Source: The Southern Cross.

The English Language Studies for Pastoral Ministry, based in Melbourne, provides valued language services to students from across the globe, delivering on its goal of providing learning for life and mission.

It is estimated that 80 per cent of the Church today lives in the Southern Hemisphere and nearly all of these people are in developing countries.

Principal executive officer Fr Kevin Hennessy recognises ELSPM’s important role in supporting a modern ministry that is collaborative and dynamic.

“As the English language is a medium for conversations and connections across the globe, our work is empowering religious people to work together and participate in building the church of the future,” Fr Hennessy said.

Founded in Adelaide in 2014, ELSPM teaches English to overseas students from religious orders, who are destined for further theological study or to work in pastoral ministry in an English-speaking country.

ELSPM took over the educational licence of the Mercy Sisters at St Aloysius College, Adelaide, and achieved its first accreditation in April 2014, thanks to the efforts of the Christian Brothers and a dedicated group of volunteers. The first group of students began their studies in August that year.

It was soon evident that if ELSPM was to continue to cater for students it would need to be in Melbourne or Sydney. A strong connection with Yarra Theological Union and the Passionist community at Templestowe, Victoria, prompted the move to Melbourne in 2015.

Since August 2016, ELSPM has been led by Salesian Sister Sr Margaret Bentley, as the Academic manager. With the support of highly qualified and dedicated team and volunteers, ELSPM has worked with more than 300 students including priests, seminarians, pastoral ministers, religious men and women, candidates for religious life or Christian Church ministry.

ELSPM’s students come from many places and have gone on to work in a variety of roles. Many have completed further studies to achieve their Bachelor or Masters of Theology, and several have continued to Doctoral studies. Many more have continued to work within religious ministries that use English as their international language.

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Yarra Theological Union

Yarra Theological Union is an inclusive and welcoming community, Catholic by tradition and ecumenical in spirit. We are committed to being a community of scholarship, prayer and pastoral care. We offer theological education and ministerial formation, open to those who seek educational and personal transformation in changing contexts. Our mission is to equip people for various ministries in the churches: parishes, schools, hospitals, church agencies and in the world at large.

ytu.edu.au/