Congratulations, 10 Years, ELSPM
ELSPM MEDIA RELEASE, CELEBRATING 10 YEARS TEACHING ENGLISH FOR THEOLOGY AND PASTORAL CARE.
And a tribute to Margaret Bentley FDA and her leadership.
Photos of the celebration at YTU, Trieu MSC, a graduate. Also present our graduates, our MSC novices, Long and Nang.
ELSPM, the English Language Studies for Pastoral Ministry, is celebrating ten years of providing 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 Catholic Church today live 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,” he said.
Founded in Adelaide in 2014 as an initiative of the Passionate Congregation, 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 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 on 8 August 2014. 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 (YTU) and the Passionist community at Templestowe, Victoria prompted the move to Melbourne in 2015.
Since August 2016, ELSPM has worked with over 300 students including priests, seminarians, pastoral ministers, religious men and women, candidates for religious life or Christian Church ministry.
Some of ELSPM’s students came from places that have experienced war, or an influx of refugees and returned to work with their own people. Fr. Pong CSsR, from the tribal people of Thailand, now works with his own people. Sr. Lan, RNDM, is in Africa working with children from very poor families. Sr. Seraphina, FMM, through her music therapy in South Korea, helps those suffering from trauma.
“At ELSPM we are proud that our teaching and support has helped our students answer the call to discipleship and take with them the extra skill and confidence of working in English,” said Fr Hennessy.
ELSPM’s English courses are all accredited through the Australian Government and are registered through the National ELICOS Accreditation Scheme (NEAS). ELSPM is also an approved provider for English preparation for Theological studies at the University of Divinity.
For more information about ELSPM, contact:
Academic Manager: Sr Margaret Bentley fma M: 0409 789 600 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Principal Executive Officer: Fr Kevin Hennessy CP M: 0408 461 622 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
