ACADEMIC NEWS
New Director of Admissions and Enrollment Returns to Sacred Heart Major Seminary
John Lajiness hopes to become a ‘ spiritual multiplier ’ as he guides lay ministry students through their paths of discernment
Karla Dorweiler
Stepping into the role of Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management at Sacred Heart Major Seminary felt like going home for John Lajiness .
Lajiness first made Sacred Heart his home when he entered as a seminarian after high school . He obtained his philosophy degree in 1998 and studied theology for a year at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome , eventually discerning the vocation of married life , but always feeling called to ministry .
“ I had a strong passion to lay down my life for the Lord ,” said Lajiness . “ Seminary prepared me for a great marriage because the kind of self-gift for which you prepare in order to be a priest is exactly the kind of self-gift to which a husband is called , just in a different way . I was able to approach both my marriage and my ministry with that formation from Sacred Heart .”
Lajiness has worked at several parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit and served as Assistant Dean / Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management from 2004 to 2008 . He obtained his master ’ s degree in theology from Sacred Heart in 2006 .
Now as Director of Admissions and Enrollment Management , Lajiness serves lay ecclesial ministers who want to dive deeper into their Catholic faith and men who are discerning the permanent diaconate . He assists students as they take the first step to enroll at Sacred Heart and then works for their success as they determine their path of learning and growing . In addition , he looks forward to working with moderators and the team of priests within the context of the new Families of Parishes model .
“ One of my deepest desires is to be a resource to them ,” Lajiness said . “ Being guided in the richness of the faith can help so many at a parish level , and there are many different ways to do that .”
Classes at Sacred Heart Major Seminary range from individual online courses to more than a dozen certificate , associate , bachelor ’ s , graduate , and post-graduate programs in philosophy , theology , the New Evangelization , and other areas . Some certificate programs can be completed entirely online , and an online master ’ s degree will be available in the future .
Free online courses , such as Ralph Martin ’ s “ A Church in Crisis : Pathways Forward ,” offer interested students a chance to take a self-paced , non-creditbearing class . Engaging in an online class often leads to a desire for further enrichment through additional classes or degrees .
“ It ’ s personal to me ,” said Lajiness . “ I came here at first thinking the Lord was calling me one way and then he called me another way . That ’ s why I love this role so much , and I ’ m happy to come back to it . There ’ s nothing more gratifying than seeing somebody discerning what the Lord is saying to them and growing in that . It ’ s a blessing to witness the power of the Holy Spirit literally working right in front of you .”
Lajiness sees the development of online programs at Sacred Heart as an opportunity to share the New Evangelization with people outside the Archdiocese of Detroit . Remote learning options allow priests and laypeople around the country and the world to learn how to apply the principles of evangelization in their own communities and dioceses .
24 Sacred Heart Major Seminary | Mosaic | Spring / Summer 2022