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Alumni » Our Alumni » Jill Bohacik

IPS has equipped me with necessary tools for serving the needs of humanity


Intent on earning both her Master's and Doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, Jill Bohacik (M.S. Clinical Psychology, class of 2006) left IPS after receiving her Master's degree in clinical psychology to pursue a higher calling – one that would serve Our Lord and His most needy. 



Jill, please share with us how you came to study at IPS.
I have been following Our Lady of Guadalupe around for the past 7 years of my life. Ever since a memorable mission trip to Guatemala, she has made it clear to me that she wants to be my guide. In every important decision I have had to make since that trip, it is she who has come to my aid and directed my path. So naturally, in trying to decide which graduate school to attend, I ran to good ol’ Guadalupe for help!
 
After researching many different schools and visiting various programs, I stumbled upon the IPS website. One look at the mission statement was all it took, and I was on the phone setting up an interview.

I was thrilled to find a school that was strong in academics while proudly proclaiming the truths of the Catholic faith. My conviction and peace only increased as I went from interview to interview and met the professors and students. My mind was made up before I left that first day. But before I walked out the door, I caught a glimpse of a beautiful picture hanging on the wall – and there she was, Our Lady of Guadalupe, looking down on me. “Ok, I get it!” I thought, and left with peace in my heart.
 
So I prepared myself for 4 more years of school. I assumed I would complete the Master’s program and then follow with the Doctoral program. Well, I learned quite quickly never to assume anything again! Right before I was about to enter the doctoral program, Our Lady placed before me another path – the one that leads to her Son.

You say that Our Lady redirected your plans. How so?
Our Lord was asking me to discern a call to the religious life. A surprise to my head, but not to my heart. After visiting various communities, I found peace with The Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal. I will be entering the order this September 2008 on the Feast of Padre Pio at Our Lady of Guadalupe convent.

As I wait to enter, I’ve had time to reflect on all I’ve learned at IPS. My current job as a clinician at a psychiatric partial-care facility has shown me just how critical IPS’ mission is.

In what regard?
My work is primarily with the mentally ill who suffer from drug and alcohol addictions. I do not believe I could do what I’m doing without the integrated training I’ve received.

Multiple times a day I’m in situations in which I need to apply the principles of integration to complicated clinical issues. Without this knowledge, I would drown in a sea of secularism that offers as its best answer: YOU are your only hope. IPS has taught me how to dispel this ugly lie, and to live my life in such a way that proclaims: CHRIST is your hope!

I’m confident that my studies at IPS will not be wasted at the convent. The Sisters’ work is with the very poor – materially, and many times, psychologically. IPS has equipped me with necessary tools for serving the needs of humanity. This is what I’ll spend my life doing. And out of all of my studies, late nights of writing papers, and cramming for finals, the most important thing I’ve learned is this: Become poor. Know your poverty!

That’s a tremendous revelation.  Can you please elaborate further?
We cannot give to others until we’ve emptied ourselves so that Christ may fill us. Then when we are full of Christ, He pours Himself out upon everyone we meet. Thus the poverty of mental illness, the poverty of addiction, and the poverty of hopelessness are transformed through love. And one by one, we begin to build a people of hope.

I pray that as I give my life completely to the Lord, I may become aware of the depth of my poverty. Only then will He come to me, make up for all that is lacking in my heart, and HIMSELF serve those whom He places in my path.

The mentally ill are poor, though not always by choice. Their poverty is of a different kind. May they be a constant reminder to us of our own need for Christ.  May Our Lady of Guadalupe guide each of us and help us to know not only the poverty of our hearts, but the love of God who waits to fill us. Blessed be the empty womb of Mary that was filled with the brilliance of Eternal Light!