Ms. Elise Ainsworth
Director

Location:
Dominican University
7900 W. Division, River Forest, IL 60305
(708) 488-5112 elisea-b@yamchicago.org

 

Director: Elise Ainsworth

Elise Ainsworth-Bryson was born and raised in the Cathedral Parish of St. Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet IL, where she attended religious education classes and was very involved in the high school youth group. It was this involvement in youth ministry events that led her to pursue ministry as a career. After earning an Associates Degree at Joliet Junior College, Elise transferred to Dominican University where she earned a Bachelors of Arts in Pastoral Ministry.

Elise was blessed with the gift of participation in Aquinas Institute's inaugural Ministry in the Mountains program, a ten day emersion experience of graduate theological study in Colorado Springs, CO. After some serious discernment, Elise applied for and received a full-tuition scholarship to attend Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, MO. In her time at Aquinas, Elise had many enriching experiences including training in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, an internship with the Cana Institute (marriage and relationship ministry), and Clinical Pastoral Education at Laclede Groves, a Lutheran Continuing Care Retirement Community. After four years and 110 credit hours, Elise earned her Masters of Divinity from Aquinas Institute.

As a lay woman in the Catholic Church, Elise sees her life in ministry as constantly unfolding. Since her graduation she has been doing a variety of things including teaching high school theology in various settings. She finds teaching to be a worthy challenge and satisfying work, but perhaps not her true vocation. This new adventure in Young Adult Ministry with the Archdiocese of Chicago seems well timed and Spirit-led. Elise is looking forward to helping young adults find their home in the Church and helping the Church rediscover the treasure of Young Adult members.

List of Parishes Elise is currently working with:

St. Anthony, Cicero Ascension, Oak Park St. Bernardine - Forest Park St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy - Oak Park St. Charles Borromeo/Our Lady of Mount Carmel Divine Infant -Westchester Divine Providence, Westchester St. Domitila - Hillside St. Edmund - Oak Park St. Eulalia - Maywood St. Frances of Rome - Cicero St. Francis Xavier - La Grange St. Giles, Oak Park St. John Vianney - Northlake St. Louise de Marillac - LaGrange Park St. Luke - River Forest St. Mary of Celle - Berwyn Mater Christi - North Riverside Our Lady of Mount Carmel St. Simeon - Bellwood St. Vincent Ferrer - River Forest

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*Last updated 02/01/2010*

Further information will be added on this site in the near future...

In the meantime, additional information about the RUAH Project can be requested via email at: yam(at)yamchicago.org