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 working with these parishes:
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. 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
St.
Simeon - Bellwood
St.
Vincent Ferrer - River Forest
