What is Ministry en lo Cotidiano?

Ministry en lo Cotidiano is a leadership development and faith formation fellowship for undergraduate students interested in experiencing faith-based service in Latine communities in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. The purpose of MLC is to help develop leaders of the future within the Church and in Latine communities. 

Ministry en lo Cotidiano means “ministry in the everyday.” It is a concept drawn from the work of Latine theologians in the United States over the last 30 years and it describes a starting place for knowing and understanding God. Despite the growth of Latine populations within Catholic churches, this group is still under-represented in ministerial leadership. MLC is designed to close that gap by encouraging Latine students at Dominican University to engage in fellowships within their own communities. 

As a Catholic, Hispanic-Serving Institution, Dominican University is uniquely positioned to play an important role in this kind of vocational formation. We partner with parishes and community-based organizations on Chicago’s southwest side and the near-west suburbs to create dynamic immersive experiences for students that support their formation through an innovative theological reflection model.

Encounter Faith and Service in Community

Each year, University Ministry interviews and accepts 8–15 students into Ministry en lo Cotidiano. Fellowship responsibilities span a wide range of activities including, but not limited to, accompaniment of immigrants, community organizing, education and tutoring, immigration legal services, increasing food security, faith development and campus ministry.

A staff member at each partner organization supervises students while a trained university minister prepares and guides small groups in theological reflection. Partners include churches, schools, charitable organizations, social and economic justice projects, and more. 

The experience of faith, service and everyday life in Latine faith communities is one of encounter, or encuentro. Weekly theological reflection sessions that draw upon the deep wells of Latine theologies provide a safe and brave space for fellows to process and interpret their experiences.

For more information,
please contact:

University Ministry
ministry@dom.edu
(708) 488-5481