The Tolton Teaching Parish Program (TTPP) has become an integral part of formation at Mundelein Seminary since its inception two years ago. Spread across 90 parishes and four dioceses, the program continues to grow and develop to form priests for parish life.
Dr. Debbie Armenta, the associate coordinator and academic faculty member, teaching electives in Eastern Christian spirituality brings to the seminary 35 years of experience. These various ministries include working with individuals with disabilities and those in locked institutions, advocacy for patients who are HIV/AIDS positive, immigration ministries and chaplaincy in care homes for the elderly.
Born and raised in Greenwich, Connecticut, Armenta’s undergraduate studies were in New England and the Midwest, but she began in ministry in San Jose after getting married and now has four sons.
“My crazy family that I love so much, they keep soldiering on,” Armenta said.
Armenta began her ministry working with developmentally disabled children and their families. After her work with children, she was also engaged in ministry with “profoundly broken people.”
After working in the Bay Area for 10 years, Armenta moved back to the Midwest, where she finished some of her graduate work in Terre Haute, Indiana, at St. Mary of the Woods. Several years after landing in Indianapolis and founding the diocesan ministry for children with disabilities, she moved to the Chicago area and made “a conscious move into pastoral care.” Eventually, she was invited to join the Tolton Teaching Parish Program by Father John Kartje, rector of Mundelein Seminary.
“I opened my heart and I heard it,” Armenta said. “I was a little nervous, but I had this great peace that this is where God wanted me to be.”
“I really see the culmination of everything I’ve done for 35 years … every piece of where God has placed me I put to use and I never would have anticipated that.”
Speaking to how her various experiences have prepared her for this new position, Armenta said, “I really see the culmination of everything I’ve done for 35 years … every piece of where God has placed me I put to use and I never would have anticipated that.”
She recalled a quote from a priest who said, “God dreams much bigger dreams than we ever dream for ourselves.” Reflecting on that quote, Armenta said, “I am thrilled to be here. I know that I do bring experience, but I feel that I am here to collaborate, to share, to accompany and to journey with.”
While working with teaching parish committees (groups of parishioners who meet regularly with the seminarians assigned to their parish) is her primary ministry in the program, she also assists with seminarian formation and supports parish pastors as well.
Speaking to how her various experiences have prepared her for this new position, Armenta said, “I really see the culmination of everything I’ve done for 35 years … every piece of where God has placed me I put to use and I never would have anticipated that.”
“It is a beautiful, synchronous relationship that we are engaged in, helping each other grow and learn and to grow closer to God,” Armenta said.
Feeling privileged to be at Mundelein Seminary, Armenta looks forward to continue working with Mundelein’s community. “I love to keep learning, to keep growing. I don’t ever want to settle, I don’t ever want to stagnate — and I don’t want the seminarians to settle or stagnate. So, I want to say, Let’s do this together, guys. Let’s go for the gold.”
This article originally ran in the Fall 2019 issue of the seminarian-produced BRIDGE magazine. The full magazine can be viewed here.
Find out more information on the Tolton Teaching Parish Program (TTPP) here.
