In the span of two months, Associate Kim Martinez has been featured in two news publications: the 2019 fall edition of Viator, published in December by the Viatorians and in the 2020 spring edition of Logos, published in February by Catholic Theological Union.
Associate Kim Martinez with a bust of St. Viator
The reason? Martinez is the first Linnan Scholar at CTU, as the recipient of the John E. Linnan, CSV, Theology and Ministry Endowed Scholarship. It was established in memory of Fr. Linnan, who passed away in 2018. Fr. Linnan was a deeply respected theology professor, pastor and former assistant provincial of the Viatorians. He also led CTU as its third president, from 1981 – 1987, and remained on its faculty until 2001.
Fr. John Linnan, CSV
The endowed scholarship was created as part of CTU’s 50th anniversary, Forward in Faith capital campaign, and it provides funds for graduate students in theology who are inspired by the vision of the Clerics of St. Viator. In both publications, Martinez described how she first was drawn to their mission, back in high school when she attended a retreat led by Viatorians.
Martinez has been paying that experience forward. She now works with young people as a campus minister at Bishop Gorman High School. With the scholarship, she is pursuing a Master of Arts in justice ministry online from her home in Las Vegas.
Associate Kim Martinez with some of her students at Bishop Gorman High School
“The gift to be able to work with teens at such a crucial time in their lives,” she says, “when they are searching for a personal and meaningful relationship with God, continues to be my call.”
Just last year, Martinez made her definitive commitment as a Viatorian associate after 10 years in the community.
“I feel that the Viatorians are ahead of their time in recognizing the gifts of each and every one of us in the church,” she says, “and embrace the myriad of ways that each us has been called, while sharing the journey in community with one another.”