The Foundation’s Stewardship Coordinator received the exciting news in April that she had been recommended for a unique and prestigious opportunity. The University of Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life invited Karina Sandoval to participate in the Strong Foundations for Pastoral Leaders Program. Karina was selected from a pool of recommended candidates as an outstanding young adult working in the Church with the desire for further integrative pastoral, intellectual, and spiritual growth.
The goal of the Strong Foundations for Pastoral Leaders Program is to provide training to fifteen young adults working in the Church who show remarkable promise as emerging future leaders of the Church in parishes, dioceses, or Catholic organizations. To achieve this goal, they created an intensive week of training as well as a two-year mentorship program.
The one week training program will take place at the University of Notre Dame in June, 2019. During this time, Karina will receive training from experts in the subjects of mentorship, finances, educational design, technology, pastoral care, human formation, theology, cultural diversity, spiritual development, and practical tools to encounter the real Church. The list of outstanding speakers for this program include: Colleen Moore, Brian Reynolds, Brian Dean, Archbishop Gomez, Dr. Brett Robinson, MJ Vachon, Darius Villalobos, Dr. Claire Kilbane, Dr. John Cavadini, Mike Patin, Christina Lamas, Dr. Tim O’Malley and Dr. Leonard DeLorenzo.
Following the week-long program, each participant will receive a mentor-minister who will challenge, support and “walk with them” for at least two years from the start of the program, and who will be available to help them create a map of possible professional development for their careers in ministry.
After two years, the cohort of young adults will gather and share what they’ve experienced to see the growth and lessons learned in the process. The entire Strong Foundations for Pastoral Leaders Program is fully funded by the Lilly Endowment, Inc., including transportation, materials, accommodation, meals, and registration.
Karina Sandoval has served as the Stewardship Coordinator for the Foundation for the Diocese of El Paso since 2016. She has a B.A. in Media Advertising from the University of Texas at El Paso and a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry from the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. She is currently pursuing a Post-Master’s Certification in Spiritual Formation from Boston College.
Karina was born in El Paso, Texas and raised in Juárez, Mexico, by her parents, Rosa and Guillermo. “I will always be grateful to my parents for giving me a Catholic education, starting in elementary school.” Karina says that she made the conscious decision “to give her profession to God after practicing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Since then, I have felt that God has given me every possible opportunity to prepare for my ministry work.”
Karina expressed that she is very grateful to have the opportunity to attend Notre Dame this summer and that she plans to bring back everything she learns to the Foundation to utilize in her work, as well as to share with the El Paso Catholic community.
Karina’s favorite quote is “Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam”, or A.M.D.G. which means all for the greater glory of God. She encourages everyone to practice the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius “to find your mission in this world”.
Stewardship Coordinator Karina Sandoval can be reached at ksandoval@elpasodiocese.org or 915.872.8412.
Photo Credit: Yasmin Marquez Campos