Leader in Service

Alice Kearney Alwin '98

Hometown / Current Town: Northbrook / Chicago

Student Life @ LA: Student Council MVP, "Kuch" award, Brother Small SJ award, senior class president; Insignis officer; yearbook; four years in chamber choir; lacrosse JV captain; KY summer service 1997 and led in 1998; Kairos 78 in February 1997

Current Occupation: Vice President of Ministry, Mission, and Identity at Loyola Academy

Previous Role: Director of Ministry and Mission at Marymount School of New York

Education: University of Wisconsin, BA in Philosophy, Yale Divinity School, MA in Divinity Fordham University, Doctorate in Ministry (in progress)

Tell us about the work you do.

As the Vice President for Mission, Ministry, and Identity, I lead Campus Ministry, DEI, Ignatian Service Learning and Engagement, and Adult Faith Formation. I am a member of the executive leadership team and I also taught in the theology department this year. I have the best job at Loyola. I exist to ensure Ramblers have transformative experiences that complement their academic learning to increase their empathy, faith, and sense of justice. My team helps create powerful encounters that help members of our community believe they belong and they are loved. My job is to listen to how the Holy Spirit is alive and at work in people's especially young people's lives. I can't believe I get to be a Jesuit school minister during the Francis papacy. It's my dream job.

Why were you drawn to this line of work?

At Loyola, in my theology classes, on retreat, and while doing service I received a lot of encouragement and positive feedback, which pointed me toward answering a call to ministry. Yes, the Roman Catholic Church does have women ministers! I loved to study ethics, theology, and scripture, but an academic career did not seem like the right fit for me. I have enjoyed coordinating liturgy, retreats, service, and other spiritual programming that engages both the head and the heart. When I graduated Loyola, I wasn't exactly sure what my career would be in the church as a woman, but I had faith and confidence that God was leading me exactly where I was going to be most needed. I am so grateful God led me right back home to Loyola.

AMDG ("For the greater glory of God") has always been a meaningful motto to me, but it means so much more to me now I deeply desire to glorify God through my new role. As I was discerning a call to lay ecclesial ministry in the Roman Catholic Church, I sampled lots of different ministries: parish work, writing for Catholic publications, and working with social service agencies. But, I also felt a strong sense I wanted to be a minister and a mom. So being a school minister tugged on my heart both because I love students' profound spiritual questions and also because I wanted to share my work with my own children. My two daughters plan to attend Loyola. I have spent many hours in prayerful contemplation imagining handing them their diplomas. I can't wait

How did your time at Loyola prepare you for your current role?

My parents taught me how to pray, and my grammar school taught me to love the Mass, but my four years at Loyola allowed me to develop a personal relationship with God. Those were years of sincere, thoughtful, heart-opening prayer experiences for me. I learned to notice the ways God was trying to get my attention in the midst of my way-too-busy life. As I live out my vocation as a minister, not a day goes by without spending time in prayer. I could not do what I do, and I would not be who I am, without prayer, and I credit Loyola with that aspect of my spiritual formation.

I walked into Loyola as a freshman in 1994, the moment our school became co-educational. I knew and felt something extraordinary was going on, and I committed to making the most of the opportunity. So I was very active and involved at Loyola, as a student council president, Insignis officer, summer service leader, and more. It felt like I was always running something or planning to run something. Managing many responsibilities in addition to my classes taught me to hustle and prioritize, and I draw on those skills every day.

Do you have a favorite quote or mantra that inspires you?

Rev Pedro Arrupe, SJ, called for Jesuit education to form 'women and men for others' has taken on a special meaning for me this year, which is the 50th anniversary of his speech which put this phrase into the public consciousness. He experienced the joy of learning, the transformative power of doing service, the thrill of cultural exchange, and the horror of nuclear war. I'm inspired to bring all of my life experience into my ministry to be a woman for others.

Who at Loyola influenced or inspired you?

Sr. James Jeffers, DC, was the moderator of Student Council, and she was my biggest cheerleader. She encouraged my (sometimes wild) ideas about new and fun activities, and she trusted me to get the work done. She let me be responsible for complex projects and was always the first to celebrate my victories. She helped me develop as a leader. Looking back, there has always been a religious sister in my life. Grammar school, high school, divinity school, and at every job there has been a member of a women's religious community who has mentored me. These women have a profound and too often under-recognized role in building the kingdom of God.

At the end of the day, what makes you most proud?

I am so proud of Loyola Academy for welcoming the laity into positions of leadership, specifically for recognizing the contribution of lay ecclesial ministers whose spiritual formation and theological education have prepared them to lead the church's mission. I am very aware as I walk the hall of graduates' photos on the first floor that the administration used to be all Jesuits. Loyola has read the signs of the times and adapted, and our school is stronger for it. I am grateful for the support of Rev. Gregory J. Ostdiek, SJ, and I love his vision for where we're headed.

Are there any milestones or achievements you would like to share?

I often introduce myself as an alumna of the Class of 1998 and Kairos 78. Kairos was so important to me, and I can still access strong memories of those four days. Believe it or not, the Campus Ministry team is preparing to launch the 300th Loyola Academy Kairos in early 2025. We have really set ourselves apart in the Jesuit Schools Network for the strength of our program. It's still voluntary yet most students choose to make this retreat. Keep an eye out for how we will welcome everyone back to LA to celebrate this program that has meant so much to so many.

To read the full interview, visit goramblers.org/leadersinservice.

Ignatian Pilgrimage 2024

Over Spring Break, Alice and Loyola Academy President Rev. Gregory J. Ostdiek, SJ, led a group of faculty members on a pilgrimage across Spain. While there, they retraced the steps of St Ignatius Loyola even making a stop in Pamplona at the site of Ignatius' "cannonball moment." By immersing themselves in the rich tapestry of Spanish culture and history, the group gained a deeper appreciation for the enduring legacy of St Ignatius and the profound impact of his spiritual teachings.