Learning for mission and life
News
An English language school established in Adelaide by the Passionist Congregation recently celebrated its tenth anniversary.
Now based in Melbourne, ELSPM, the English Language Studies for Pastoral Ministry, provides valued language services to students from across the globe, delivering on its goal of providing learning for life and mission.
It is estimated that 80 per cent of the Catholic Church today live in the southern hemisphere and nearly all of these people are in developing countries.
Principal executive officer Fr Kevin Hennessy recognises ELSPM’s important role in supporting a modern ministry that is collaborative and dynamic.
Fr Kevin Hennessy CP with a student at the language school.
“As the English language is a medium for conversations and connections across the globe, our work is empowering religious people to work together and participate in building the church of the future,” he said.
Founded in Adelaide in 2014, ELSPM teaches English to overseas students from religious orders, who are destined for further theological study or to work in pastoral ministry in an English-speaking country.
ELSPM took over the educational license of the Mercy Sisters at St Aloysius College and achieved its first accreditation in April 2014, thanks to the efforts of the Christian Brothers and a dedicated group of volunteers. The first group of students began their studies on August 8 that year.
It was soon evident that if ELSPM was to continue to cater for students it would need to be in Melbourne or Sydney. A strong connection with Yarra Theological Union (YTU) and the Passionist community at Templestowe, Victoria, prompted the move to Melbourne in 2015.
Sr Margaret Bentley working with English language students.
Since August 2016, ELSPM has been led by Salesian Sister, Sr Margaret Bentley, as the Academic manager. With the support of highly qualified and dedicated team and an amazing group of volunteers, ELSPM has worked with more than 300 students including priests, seminarians, pastoral ministers, religious men and women, candidates for religious life or Christian Church ministry.
ELSPM’s students come from many places and have gone on to work in a variety of roles. Many have completed further studies to achieve their Bachelor or Masters of Theology, and several have continued to Doctoral studies. Many more have continued to work within religious ministries that use English as their international language.
Some of ELSPM’s students came from places that have experienced war or an influx of refugees and returned to work with their own people. Fr Pong CSsR, from the tribal people of Thailand, now works with his own people. Sr Lan, RNDM, is in Africa working with children from very poor families. Sr Seraphina, FMM, through her music therapy in South Korea, helps those suffering from trauma.
“At ELSPM we are proud that our teaching and support has helped our students answer the call to discipleship and take with them the extra skill and confidence of working in English,” said Fr Hennessy.
In its 10 years, ELSPM has grown, expanded and adapted to the needs of students and the challenges of pandemics and distance. In 2020, like education providers across the globe, ELSPM pivoted to deliver face-to-face, hybrid and remote learning courses. The online offering has continued alongside onsite learning, recognising that travelling to and staying in Melbourne can be difficult and expensive for many students and orders.
“ELSPM is proud of its support of religious people and looks forward to many more years of working with students to strengthen ministries across the world,” said Fr Hennessy.
ELSPM’s English courses are all accredited through the Australian Government and are registered through the National ELICOS Accreditation Scheme (NEAS). ELSPM is also an approved provider for English preparation for Theological studies at the University of Divinity.
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