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October 25, 2023[A printable PDF of this media release is at this link]
London, Ontario – Bishop Ronald P. Fabbro, CSB, is pleased to announce lead support of $250,000 over five years from the Toldo Foundation of Windsor, to create The Toldo Chair for the Advancement of Human Formation. The Chair will provide teaching, research and counselling services at St. Peter’s Seminary.
The work at the Seminary will be focused on assisting people in moving towards, or already in, the priesthood, diaconate and lay ministry to further develop skills of self-awareness, a capacity for building healthy, productive relationships with the communities they serve, and effectively dealing with challenges experienced on their faith journeys.
Angela Townend, MSW, RSW, is the inaugural Toldo Chair for the Advancement of Human Formation. Professor Townend has been working at St. Peter’s as human formation counsellor on a part-time basis since 2017.
This initiative began with a grant from the Lilly Endowment in 2021 to develop evidence-based best practices for the human formation of future priests, called Formation in Relational Maturity (F.i.R.M.). Now, the gift from the Toldo Foundation elevates the role of human formation counselling to a full-time position at the Seminary, and fully integrates F.i.R.M. into the Seminary’s formation practices.
Quotes
“Good human formation of our seminarians preparing to serve as parish priests is foundational to joyful, productive lives in ministry, and to nurturing a healthy quality of life in our parishes,” said Bishop Fabbro. “We are uplifted by the decision of the Toldo Foundation to join with the Seminary on this important initiative.”
According to Seminary Rector Fr. Denis Grecco, “Pope Francis has called us towards a new epoch in our Church, the synodal epoch. Good listening skills and the ability to accompany people on their faith journeys are crucial, and can happen when those of us in ministry have well-formed human relational abilities.”
Professor Townend stated, “It is gratifying to see the growth in our future priests, clergy and lay ministers as they develop new understandings of how to build healthy relationships for parish life.”
Upcoming Event and Photo Opportunity
The official launch and recognition of the Chair’s funders will take place at the 17th Windsor Bishop’s Dinner, on 26 October 2023, at the Ciocaro Club.
For More Information:
For more information on the Toldo Chair for the Advancement of Human Formation, see this link.
Media Contact
Matthew Clarke, Director of Communications , Diocese of London
mclarke@dol.ca
P: 519-433-0658 ext. 263
M: 519-494-4086
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