A group of clergy and lay students from throughout the U.S. and their international professors hailed this summer's debut canon law semester at Immaculate Heart Retreat House in L.A. as a resounding success.

The nine students from California, Florida, Kentucky and Washington --- including two layman, one laywoman, one married permanent deacon, one religious priest and four diocesan priests --- attended an intensive 10-week canon law residential program at the IHM retreat center.

The summer pilot program was the result of an innovative collaboration between the archdiocese, the locally-based International Institute of Tribunal Studies and the Pontifical University of St. Thomas (Angelicum) in Rome.

"It was a great experience for both students and professors alike," said Dominican Father Bruno Esposito, dean of the Angelicum's faculty of canon law who was among the group of canon law professors who traveled from Italy, Hungary and several U.S. cities to serve as faculty for the Angelicum's only summer canon law campus outside of Rome.

Students in the L.A.-Angelicum partnership program attend two consecutive summer semesters in Los Angeles followed by two years at the Angelicum, which greatly reduces overall expenses for the three-year Licentiate in Canon Law degree. In addition to introductory canon law courses, this year's first-semester students took intensive Latin and Italian, since classes at the Angelicum are taught in Italian.

"The students found that these studies were important not only for their ministry to the People of God in the United States, but also for the insights they gained into the universal nature of canon law," said Father Esposito in a letter to the nation's prelates encouraging them to consider sending "priests, deacons and lay people to take advantage of this unique opportunity in Los Angeles" next summer.

Besides Catholic University in Washington, D.C. and, now, Los Angeles, the only other option for students interested in earning a license in canon law in Northern America is to study at St. Paul University in Canada. Currently, there is a worldwide shortage of canon lawyers licensed to serve as tribunal judges.

Jesuit Father Michael Ravenkamp, 57, associate pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows in Santa Barbara and summer canon law student, said the courses were eye-opening. "As the summer progressed, I learned that canon law is far more than tribunal ministry. Now, the idea of working for justice is the most intriguing thing for me," said Father Ravenkamp.

"It gave me hope," he added, "hearing the professors talk about the growing collegiality in the church" between clergy and laity. He commented that training deacons and their wives for tribunal ministry would provide a great service to the church.

Canon law student, Marian Finn, religion teacher at Mayfield Senior School in Pasadena, said the curriculum taught by world-renowned professors was "vast, eye-opening and seriously academic."

Fellow student, Father James Oropel, 32, an associate priest at Holy Innocents in Victorville who has had an interest in canon law since his days as a seminarian, agreed that the summer classes were illuminating.

"It was enjoyable both academically and spiritually," said Father Oropel, who appreciated the daily Mass in Italian, the camaraderie among the students and the caliber of the professors. "It is a unique experience," he noted, "when one finds a learning institution that aims to facilitate the formation of both the intellect and the spirit."

To receive a Summer Semester 2010 Canon Law brochure or information on other "Summer with the Benedicts" Catholic enrichment courses, contact Immaculate Heart Sister Rita Stuckey at the Metropolitan Tribunal, (213) 637-7275.