Restorative Justice Ministry Certification

October 19-24, 2025
Loyola University Chicago
Water Tower campus, Chicago, IL

Congratulations! Your application has been accepted and we are very happy to offer you the opportunity to participate in the Restorative Justice Ministry Certificate Program through the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago. This program will be held at the Water Tower campus in downtown Chicago. This site should provide you with the important information needed to prepare for this program.

Registration:

Loyola University Chicago will email you in the next week or two with a link to complete an online registration with the University.  

Travel:

Please make your travel plans as soon as possible (by August 15th) to receive the best price for travel. Once you book your travel, please email a copy of your itinerary to Erika Cedrone (ecedrone@catholicextension.org) so that she can release the $550 towards your travel costs ($500 for flights + $50 for travel from airport to downtown Chicago).  If you plan to drive, please let Erika know and save all receipts for tolls and gas and you will be reimbursed after the program. If your flight costs are a financial burden, please contact Erika Cedrone, after completing the program, to request possible additional support. All travel funds will be allocated to the diocese and then reimbursed to you. Please take into consideration the arrival and departure information below when making your plans. 

ARRIVAL: Sunday, October 19th

For O’Hare and Midway airports: plan your flight arrival time for before 2 pm (CST). It takes about an hour (on the train) from either airport. Check in at the lobby of Baumhart Hall between 2 pm3 pm. (please be aware that you cannot access your room until 3:30 pm). Mass begins at 4:30 pm walking distance from Baumhart Hall. 

Loyola University Chicago:

  • You are responsible for your transportation from the airport to Loyola University Chicago, Water Tower Campus. Please consider taking public transportation to campus. This is the best and quickest way to travel from the airport to Loyola University Chicago. You will take the CTA Blue line from O’Hare or Orange line from Midway.  Both lines connect to the Red line train. For CTA information, visit. https://www.transitchicago.com/airports/You will receive an email from Loyola University a few days before you depart with an easy diagram on how to purchase a ticket and take the Chicago CTA.  
  • All meals will be provided while attending this program. Be sure to eat lunch before arriving on campus on Sunday, October 19th. There is a Welcome Mass at 4:30 pm. and a cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres at 5:15 and dinner at 6:30, but lunch will not be available if you arrive earlier. 

DEPARTURE: Friday, October 24th

For O’Hare and Midway, if possible, plan your flight departure time for after 2pm (CST)

  • Mass concludes at 10:00 am. You are responsible for transportation from Loyola campus to the airport. Information on how to return to the airport by car share/public transportation will be provided by Loyola before you leave. There is a minimum of one hour travel to O’Hare or Midway. (This travel time should be calculated in addition to the two hours that is recommended prior to departure for check-in, security, and arrival at your departure gate.)  

Arriving early or extending your stay to visit Chicago?
For those interested in arriving early or extending their stay in Chicago, please be aware that you will be responsible for any accommodations outside of the dates for the courses at Loyola. If you would like to extend your stay, please contact Mirta Garcia (mgarcia29@luc.edu) at Loyola for more information about options. 

ACCOMMODATIONS:

Information on your stay at Baumhart Hall can be accessed using the links below. If you have any additional questions regarding your accommodations, please contact Mirta Garcia at 312-915-7466 or mgarcia29@luc.edu. 

PROGRAM OVERVIEW/REQUIREMENTS:

  1. Click here to access a draft of the COURSE OVERVIEW(please note that these courses may change) 
  2. Survey: Loyola Registration & Ministerial Reality email to be sent from Loyola. DUE Aug 12, 2025 

Each participant will be sent an email with next steps from Loyola University Chicago. There will be a survey that includes questions about personal contact information, dietary restrictions, headshot JPG photo, and short bio, “REAL” federal or State ID for our visit to Cook County Jail, and a few questions regarding the participant’s ministerial reality.  These questions will help guide the workshops on the first day.  

Questions:

For any questions regarding funding or the scholarship for this initiative, please contact Erika Cedrone, Assistant Vice President of Mission at Catholic Extension Society, atecedrone@catholicextension.org or (617) 817-2907. 

For any questions regarding program specifics or accommodations please contact Mirta Garcia in the Office of Continuing Studies at the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago at mgarcia29@luc.edu or 312-915-7466