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...a distinct program that addresses specifically the mission and identity of diaconal ministry while educating men for the three-fold ministry of service to the Word, Liturgy and Charity. |
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contacts
Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 A.M.— 4:00 P.M. 847.837.4563 or 847.837.4548 for assistance FAX: 847.837.4565
Deacon Bob Puhala, 847.837.4564, bpuhala@usml.edu Director
Ms. Anne Chrzan, 847.970.4981, achrzan@usml.edu Associate Director
Reverend Dennis J. Stafford, 847.837.4562, dstafford@usml.edu Director of Spiritual Formation
Deacon Jim Cozzo, Jr., 847.837.4563, jcozzo@usml.edu Administrative Assistant
Holly Bertolani, 847-837-4548, hbertolani@usml.edu Administrative Assistant
For inquiries regarding the Spanish language program: Ms. Nelly Lorenzo, Instituto de Liderazgo Pastoral 847.837.4557
Deacon Bob Puhala, Director
Deacon Bob Puhala was appointed director of the Institute for Diaconal Studies (IDS) of the Archdiocese of Chicago by Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I. in 2005. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the National Association of Diaconate Directors and is the thrice-elected representative of NADD’s Region VII, which encompasses 19 arch/dioceses in the Midwest. He also served as a Deacon Director Mentor for two Midwest archdioceses.
In addition, Deacon Puhala is an instructor for the archdiocese’s Ongoing Formation in Ministry program, teaching courses in the Four Pillars of Faith series on liturgy, sacraments, prayer, and the Nicene Creed. He also is an instructor for the archdiocese’s Catechetical Leadership program and is a presenter in the Pastoral Leadership series for newly-appointed pastors.
He offers lectures, presentations, retreats and days of reflection for parishes/staffs around the archdiocese as well as leading retreats at the Cardinal Stritch Retreat Center.
Upon ordination to the diaconate in 1998, Deacon. Puhala served as the Director of Religious Education for two parishes, resulting in nearly an 100 percent increase in enrollment at both parishes. He also was instrumental in facilitating the introduction of the Holy Mass in Spanish and Religious Education classes in Spanish.
Prior to ordination, Deacon. Puhala wrote a features column for the Chicago Sun-Times for 15 years. He is the author of 30 books; his latest, Guide for Deacons, was published in Fall 2011 by Liturgical Training Publications.
Deacon. Puhala held teaching and administrative positions at various universities. He was Assistant to the Graduate Director for Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism; taught undergraduate reporting classes at Medill; held the journalism chair at Lewis University, taught classes and created the department’s first internship program with local media; and taught undergraduate classes at the University of Illinois. At his local parish, he provided leadership in welcoming and helping Mexican immigrants assimilate to their new surroundings, taught English language classes, provided counseling in acquiring the necessary legal papers for residency, and helped find employment and living spaces. He also served on Joseph Cardinal Bernadin’s Lay Ministry Advisory Board.
Deacon. Puhala holds two Master’s Degrees, has completed some doctoral work, and is a member of the National Association of Diaconate Directors. He is married and blessed with two daughters, and lives on the North Shore.
Anne Chrzan, Associate Director
Anne Leblanc Chrzan has been Associate Director of the Institute for Diaconal Studies (IDS) for the past nine years.
In 1986, Anne moved to Chicago from Boynton Beach, Florida after spending one year teaching religion in Boca Raton, Florida. She taught at St. Mark the Evangelist in the Roseland Community and was quickly immersed in the plight of the poor communities on the Southside of Chicago. In order to better understand the drug affected area, Anne completed a Master degree in Drug and Alcohol Abuse from Governors State University in 1991 (certified alcoholism counselor). From 1993 to 2008, Anne worked as an on-call Hospital Chaplain at Centegra-McHenry, Good Shepherd in Barrington, Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. She completed two units of CPE at University of Chicago Hospital.
From 1997-2001, Anne worked as the Director of Religious Education for St. Patrick’s and St. Mary’s Parish in McHenry. From 1993-1997, Anne was a full time Religion Teacher at Carmel High School in Mundelein, where she taught Church History, Sacraments and Scripture. She also worked as the Campus Minister and directed Kairos retreats. She was employed as Pastoral Associate at the Newman Center at Northern Illinois for one year as she began her course studies towards a Master of Divinity degree from Loyola University (1998). Anne worked as the Youth and Young Adult Minister at St. James Parish from 1988-1992 where she lead the QUEST program for youth more than 600 youth and 60 adult couple volunteers. She was involved with the Theology on Tap program as a presenter throughout the Archdiocese of Chicago. It was during this time that Anne also served for three consecutive terms as a board member of Amate House, the young adult volunteer program in the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Anne is the animator and shepherd of the IDS Women of Witness series which offers formation to all wives of aspirants and candidates and co-author of Among Us - Young Adult Small Group Program (Series—Harcourt-Brace 1995). She also coordinates all IDS academic activities/contracts and formation program scheduling.
Anne is a member of the National Association of Diaconate Directors and continues to share her passion of the Church with whomever she meets. She has two children, ages 12 and 13 and lives with her husband, Jim, in Richmond, Illinois.
Reverend Dennis J. Stafford Director of Spiritual Formation
Fr. Dennis Stafford is a second-career priest (ordained 1991) for the Archdiocese of Chicago and was appointed the Director of Spiritual Formation by Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I. for the Institute for Diaconal Studies (IDS) in 2007. Fr. Stafford has a degree in Business Administration from Northern Illinois University and a Master of Divinity degree from the University of Saint Mary of the Lake (USML). He was a member of the first pre-theology class at USML (1986) which focuses on the study of philosophy.
His accomplishments include Product Manager for welding and brazing products in the automotive aftermarket and General Manager in the automotive fastener manufacturing industry. He also was President of a marketing services firm specializing in industrial advertising, corporate identity and new product introduction. Prior to ordination he was a married man with parish-wide experience.
As a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago he has served as associate pastor, administrator of two parishes, pastor of a large suburban parish, member of the Vicariate I committee for school finances, Chairperson for the archdiocesan sub-committee on evangelization, secondary education teacher of Scripture and moral theology (as well as coaching baseball) and, currently, the Director of Spiritual Formation for IDS. He is the animator and shepherd of the Aspirancy Path leading to candidacy. He teaches Presiding at Rites and Rituals I, Homiletics I, Liturgy of the Hours, and Aspirancy Integration Seminar for IDS.
He is the primary spiritual director for all aspirants and candidates and administrator of all retreats and mentoring. Fr. Stafford also administrates the recruiting and appointment of archdiocesan spiritual directors for IDS.
Fr. Stafford annually is Retreat Master for the program introduction Aspirancy Retreat, Aspirancy concluding Day of Reflection and the Candidacy Year 2 Acolyte Retreat. He also serves as the program’s primary vocation recruiter, marketing and public relations liaison, stewardship/fundraising liaison, webmaster, and IDS Journal publisher and editor (monthly journal). He is the author of Evangelization Parish Workbook (Paluch 1995).
Fr. Stafford is a member of the National Association of Diaconate Directors and currently resides and assists at Holy Cross Parish in Deerfield, Illinois.
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