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Weston Jesuit School of Theology
Formation
Weston Jesuit School of Theology seeks to educate its students in the theological tradition of the Church and impart good pastoral skills while “forming” them in a more humane and authentic Christian way of life. Of the many Christian traditions of formation, the Jesuit tradition and Ignatian spirituality, is naturally favored. The School and the Jesuit Community seek to explore, teach, and embody it.

A fundamental assumption grounds theological and ministerial formation at WJST: that theological education for ministry in the Roman Catholic Church is best done in a context in which men and women, Jesuit, lay and other religious, those preparing for priesthood and those preparing for lay ecclesial ministries, work together collaboratively in classes, liturgy, ministry practica, and service to the school community and to the local church. Key elements of formation in this context include:
  • Liturgy, hospitality, and community building. In addition to the Wednesday liturgy and repast, The Rector of the Weston Jesuit Community and the President of WJST have brought together the WJC and the WJST community for liturgy and dinner once a semester, as well as for penance services during Advent and Lent.
  • A broadly shared commitment to bringing the intellectual, spiritual, ministerial, and personal dimensions of formation together in the classroom. 
  • Common opportunities for prayer, faith-sharing, retreats, spiritual direction, pastoral workshops, service, and formal and informal conversations on spirituality, ministry, and pastoral issues. 
  • A commitment to ecumenism and inter-faith dialogue.
  • Immersion projects involving faculty and students have provided fruitful occasions for sharing faith and witness.

Beyond such common elements, Jesuits and Capuchins avail themselves of the formation resources of their respective religious communities, which have the primary responsibility for their formation for priesthood. Lay students and women religious have opportunities for more intentional and focused ministerial and spiritual formation. The director and mentors of the Manresa Program for Lay Spiritual Development oversee the provision of many opportunities – e.g., weekend retreats, directed Ignatian retreats, service in the local community, and development of a personal formation plan. The Director of Contextual Education oversees ministry practica, theological reflection groups, and the Pastoral and Professional Series, which is a series of interactive presentations designed to foster and strengthen skills and sensitivities for pastoral ministry.


Judith A. Talvacchia -Manresa Program Mentor
After a 23 year career in the corporate world, Judy earned a Master of Divinity Degree from Weston Jesuit School of Theology in 1998. She was certified as a lay chaplain by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains in 2002. Judy has served as a chaplain at Mary Immaculate Nursing/Restorative Center in Lawrence, MA since 1999. She completed the Practicum in Spiritual Direction at Weston Jesuit in 1996 and since then, has provided spiritual direction to lay students at Weston Jesuit. Judy has a strong interest in the formation of lay ecclesial ministers who can serve effectively in today’s church. She and her husband reside in Medford, MA.

Judith Molnar LoGerfo -Manresa Program Mentor
Judy began her journey from nursing to lay ecclesial ministry over twenty years ago when she earned a Masters Degree in Educational and Pastoral Ministry from Emmanuel College. After serving in parish and campus ministry in the Archdiocese of Boston, she came to Weston Jesuit where she completed her MTS degree in 1995. As a certified lay chaplain in the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, Judy has been active for the past decade in the Office of Health Care Ministry as a hospital chaplain and pastoral educator for adult parishioners and seminarians who prepare for visitation to the sick. Her interest in Ignatian Spirituality and passion for travel came together in 1998 when she made the Loyola Pilgrimage to Spain. In 2004 she completed her internship in Spiritual Direction at St. Stephen Priory in Dover, MA. As a retreat director she is co-leader of “Companions in Healing”, a retreat for health care workers, at Campion Renewal Center. Judy and her husband are Cambridge residents and parents of four adult sons.
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