Alumni » Our Alumni » Fr. Jaime Noel Deslate
Fr. Jaime Noel Deslate, Psy.D., first religious to graduate from IPS, shares his IPS story
My name is Fr. Jaime Noel Deslate, and I have spent the past 14 years working in ministry for the Archdiocese of Capiz, Philippines.
I was fortunate to be part of the first team of priests trained by Fr. Peter Lechner, S.P. an American licensed clinical psychologist, to assist priests with ministerial and psychological issues.
After a year of training under Fr. Lechner, I was sent to study in the United States by the Episcopal Commission on Clergy. The commission wanted me to receive ongoing professional training in clergy ministry in order to assist other priests in the Philippines.
In 2000, I came to study in the U.S., where I earned an M.S. in Pastoral Counseling from Loyola College in Columbia, Md. I also completed a certification course on Formative
Spirituality from the Epiphany Academy in Pittsburg, PA under Fr. Adrian Van Kaam and Susan Muto.
Under the mentorship of Fr. Peter Lechner, in 2003 I began pursuing a doctoral degree in clinical psychology at IPS.
Fr. Lechner found IPS to be the best-suited graduate school for my future ministry.
In 2008, I earned my Psy.D. from IPS and was honored to be selected to address my fellow graduates at commencement.
Currently, I am the director of programs at John Mary Vianney Galilee Development and Retreat Center for Priests in Tagaytay City, Philippines.
As director of programs, I coordinate and supervise all of the center’s programs and also oversee the staff of diocesan and religious priests, sisters and laity.
The center was constructed by the Catholic Bishops of the Philippines, under the leadership of Cardinal Rosales, Archbishop of Manila, who currently is the chairman of the Episcopal Commission on Clergy.
The center caters to the ongoing formation of clergy both within the Philippines and from neighboring Asian countries.
In addition, the center offers residential and non-residential programs to priests who have common and special needs. Programs are either therapeutic and healing or preventive and holistic in their approach.
Regardless of the program used, counseling is always provided in the spirit of compassion, love, and respect to the person of the priest and out of love for the Church. The programs run all year round.