Linda K. Robinson has been named director of Lay Ministry Formation and associate director of Lifelong Faith Formation for the diocese.
The positions were held by Kevin J. Connor until his death last month following a battle with cancer.
Robinson joined the diocesan staff in November, 2009 as associate director of Family Life Formation.
With the new appointments, she will focus on the diocese’s Lay Ministry Formation Program, a major initiative formed in conjunction with nationally-recognized institutions to educate laity in the Diocese of Camden in parish ministry through college-level certificate and degree programs, with most delivered at satellite locations within the diocese.
The Lay Ministry Formation Program offers college and university certificate and degree courses for parish leaders and staff who serve in various pastoral ministries, including religious education/faith formation, youth and young adult ministry, adult faith formation, family life formation, Hispanic and Black Catholic ministry, social justice and liturgy. Programs also are offered for lay persons involved in pastoral administration and parish business management.
Professional institutions partnering with the Diocese of Camden in this venture are the College of St. Elizabeth (Morristown, NJ), Georgian Court University (Lakewood, NJ), the Center for Ministry Development (Naugatuck, CT), the Northeast Hispanic Catholic Center (New York, NY), St. Charles Borromeo Seminary (Overbrook, PA), Neumann University (Aston, PA) and University of Dayton (Dayton, OH). Local satellite campuses have been established by these academic institutions in Blackwood, Vineland, Absecon, Camden, Atlantic City, and Bridgeton.
As associate director of Lifelong Faith Formation, Ms. Robinson will help coordinate the range of diocesan ministries that support parishes in their work of forming all age groups in the faith. She will report to the Bishop’s delegate for Lifelong Faith Formation, Sister Roseann Quinn, SSJ.
“I am grateful that Linda has agreed to bring her skills and experience to these responsibilities because they are so essential if we are to advance the key pastoral priorities the people of the diocese said were most important when they gathered with Bishop Galante for Speak Up sessions,” said Sr. Roseann. “I know that she will build on the strong foundation established by Kevin Connor, whose own faithful witness inspires us to help others grow more deeply in their faith and to live it by serving others.”
In addition to her diocesan responsibilities, Ms. Robinson is visiting spiritual director at The Jesuit Center for Spiritual Growth in Wernersville, Pa., instructor and mentor for the Church Ministry Institute of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, and project manager for the Philadelphia “Contemplative Leaders in Action” program of the Jesuit Collaborative.
Robinson previously served as pastoral associate for Ignatian Spirituality at Old St. Joseph’s Church in Philadelphia. In addition to lecturing in theology at St. Joseph’s University and de Sales University in Allentown, she served as principal of Lansdale Catholic High School (2003-08) and assistant principal for Academic Affairs of Northeast Catholic High School for Boys (2001-03).
She also was a theology teacher at Archbishop Wood High School, Warminster (1995) and later theology chairperson. Before that, she taught theology at both Father Judge and Archbishop Ryan High Schools, both in Philadelphia.
Robinson holds an M.S. from St. Joseph University, an M.A. from La Salle University and a B.A. from St. Joseph University. She received a certificate of advanced graduate study in spiritual direction (with completion of a post-Master’s program in holistic spirituality) and a certificate in the supervision of spiritual directors from Chestnut Hill College.