“The Center for Religion and Spirituality (CRS) allowed me to dive deeper into my faith and honor God’s will,” said Amytza Maskati, a 2026 graduate of the Pastoral Music Program.
Maskati’s journey with CRS began while she was an LMU urban studies undergraduate and singing at student liturgies. Years later, completing the Pastoral Music extension program felt like coming full circle.
“I feel most alive when I sing. I feel God touching me,” Maskati said. “LMU CRS is a blessing that reminds us who we are and who we belong to at the core.”
LMU’s Center for Religion and Spirituality serves as a bridge between university-level theological knowledge and the lived experience of faith. Through its programs, CRS equips adult learners, ministers, educators, and community leaders to strengthen their spiritual formation, deepen their theological grounding, and lead with compassion and purpose.
Students take what they learn directly to their parishes, classrooms, neighborhoods, and workplaces, including communities that may have limited access to theological education and formation. In this way, the impact of CRS extends well beyond LMU and into the communities its students serve.
Elsy Arevalo, director of CRS, said the center provides transformative theological education and reflection rooted in spirituality, scripture, community and the call to be men and women with and for others. Speaking at the CRS graduation, she reflected on the graduates’ commitment to lives of faith and service.
“It gives me great hope to see so many of you saying yes to God, to love, to justice, to service, to the way of Christ,” Arevalo said. “The love of God is indeed active and vibrant in and through you. It is an honor to walk with each of you, and in partnership with the dioceses, in building the kingdom of God here on earth, now.”
For Maskati, receiving her diploma represented both an accomplishment and a continuation of that journey.
“The going does get tough, but we get stronger and wiser when we love and trust in God,” she said.
CRS will host a virtual open house on Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 7 p.m. for those interested in learning more about its programs. For a full list of the upcoming CRS programs visit: Center for Religion and Spirituality.