Cultural Orientation Program for International Ministers (COPIM)

What is COPIM?

The Cultural Orientation Program for International Ministers is a series of three 3-day workshops designed to support the ministry of priests and religious sisters and brothers whose native culture is not that of the United States. The program was started twelve years ago in response to needs expressed by some international priests themselves, as well as diocesan bishops, vicars for clergy, continuing education directors, and offices of ethnic ministries. It was recently expanded to serve the needs of sisters and brothers as well.

COPIM gives priests and religious some opportunities for cultural dialogue in supportive, affirming contexts. They learn more about the church, society, and culture of the United States while also appreciating and affirming their own cultural heritage and values. The goal is to enable them to become more critically aware of both their own cultures and the U.S. culture(s) they serve.

Understanding how to recognize and respect cross-cultural boundaries is crucial for ministry in today’s multi-cultural situations. Theory and skills learned in this program prepare the participants for more effective ministry in the U.S. and for reentry in case they return to their country of origin.

Who Provides this Program?

COPIM is administered through the Center for Religion and Spirituality at Loyola Marymount University. It is tailored to meet the particular needs of individual dioceses or religious orders for the cultural orientation of priests and religious born and trained outside of the U.S.A.

This program is endorsed by the Region Eleven Conference of Presbyteral Councils (RECOPS), Region Eleven of The National Organization of Continuing Education for Roman Catholic Clergy (NOCERCC), the National Conference of Vicars for Religious (NCVR), the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR), the Council of Major Superiors of Women (CMSW), and the Bishops of the California Region.

Schedule of Workshops

Several series of COPIM workshops are offered in beautiful retreat-house settings:

2003-2004: Northern California
(El Retiro San Iñigo; Los Altos, CA; 650-948-4491)

November 10-12, 2003 (priests & sisters)
February 9-11, 2004 (priests alone)
February 11-13, 2004 (sisters alone)
April 19-21, 2004 (priests & sisters)

2003-2004: Southern California - Priests
(Serra Retreat House; Malibu, CA; 310-456-6631)

October 20-22, 2003 (Mon-Wed)
February 2-4, 2004 (Mon-Wed)
April 26-28, 2004 (Mon-Wed)

2003-2004: Southern California - Sisters
(El Carmelo Retreat; Redlands, CA; 909-792-1047)

November 3-5, 2003 (Mon-Wed)
March 2-4, 2004 (Tues-Thurs)
May 11-13, 2004 (Tues-Thurs)

Costs for 2003—2004:

Participation in COPIM is funded according to the arrangements for continuing education in most local dioceses or religious orders.

A Cultural Orientation Certificate is given to those who complete all three workshops.

Continuing Education Credit is also given through LMU EXTENSION.

For Whom is COPIM Intended?

COPIM is designed for priests and for religious sisters and brothers who have come from other countries to work in the United States within the past five years and are already engaged in pastoral ministry here. Invitation to participate in this program ordinarily comes through their bishop or religious superior. Ministers born in the United States who work in inter-cultural contexts or those from other countries who have been here for many years may also attend. Priests or religious from any culture will find the COPIM workshops informative, challenging, and helpful for ministry in today's Church.

Methodology

COPIM workshops use adult education models with as much dialogue and interaction as possible. Most of the presentations are given in English, but are translated into other languages, as necessary. Small group discussions may take place in Spanish or other languages common to the group.

Content presentations provide useful information in areas of culture, church history, theology, and pastoral ministry.

Question and answer periods allow the participants to understand more fully the issues raised by the presenters.

Small group sessions provide time for further dialogue among the participants, whose ministerial and personal experiences are honored as valuable resources for pastoral reflection.

Guest speakers include leading experts on the cultural, social, pastoral, theological, and legal aspects of church life and ministry in the United States today.

Facilitators

The COPIM workshops are led by:

Fr. Ken McGuire, C.S.P., Ph.D.
Paulist Foundation for Values in Ministry

Fr. Eduardo Fernandez, S.J., Ph.D.
Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley

Mr. Louis Velasquez
Office of the Vicar for Clergy, Archdiocese of L.A.

Sr. Louise Bond, S.N.J.M.
Vicar for Religious, Diocese of San Bernardino

Sr. Mary Faith Clarke, S.N.J.M.
Vicar for Women Religious, Archdiocese of L.A.

Guest speakers include other leading experts on the cultural, social, pastoral, theological, and legal aspects of church life and ministry in the U.S. today.

Printable Brochure:

COPIM 2003-2004 (in Abode pdf format)

For Further Information:

Fr. Felix Just, S.J.,
Director, Center for Religion and Spirituality
One LMU Drive, Suite 1840
Los Angeles, CA 90045-2659

Phone: 310-338-2799  Fax: 310-338-2706
Email: CRS@lmu.edu

or

Fr. Ken McGuire, C.S.P.
Coordinator, Cultural Orientation Programs
24303 Woolsey Canyon Rd. #38
West Hills, CA 91304
Phone: 818-348-3080
Email: kennethmcguire@cs.com