After more than 20 years of serving as the director of the Center for Ignatian Spirituality, Randy Roche, S.J., will be moving into a new role to serve as university chaplain. Dorian Llywelyn, S.J., will be the new director of the Center for Ignatian Spirituality.
“I am really pleased to be moving into this new role,” said Roche, who will continue to offer pastoral counseling to faculty, staff, and administrators. “It is a joy for me to walk with people who are seeking more clarity about their purpose or even their next step into an unknown future,” said Roche. “I see courage and strength right in the midst of our human fragility and am glad to be in a position at LMU where I can be of service in this way, among others.”
Through companioning and listening Roche supports the integration of the whole person: their aspirations, discernment of their vocational calling, spiritual life, and connections to the larger community. “I see how much more peaceful LMU staff and faculty become after working together and how much more effective they are in the university after having engaged more fully with their own spirituality.”
Llywelyn is new to his role as director of the Center for Ignatian Spirituality, but not to LMU. He taught courses in theology from 2003-16. Llywelyn said his time away made him appreciate LMU. “It made me realize what a great treasure we have here. Ignatian education is the integration of the mind and heart.”
Llywelyn will continue to run familiar programs like the Advent Christmas luncheon and the faculty and staff retreat, but he also hopes to reach more departments on campus. “I am interested in asking: ‘Who is not at the table?’, and ‘Why aren’t they there?” said Llywelyn. “Just to think of some random idea, how about looking for example at the spirituality of teaching? Or sport? Or how faith might work with technology? I hope the center will continue to provide opportunities for people to reflect thoughtfully in an atmosphere of trust and openness.”
Llywelyn has dual citizenship in the USA and United Kingdom and has lived in eight countries. Llywelyn is an academic by training and is looking forward to serving as director of the center. “We are one of the greatest cities in the world. And LMU has a fantastic and ever-evolving heritage that brings together the intellectual and the spiritual. So, I have come back to LMU with a great deal of realistic hope.”
