Wednesday, November 4, 2026
2:00 to 3:15 p.m. (ET) — Online (Zoom)
Free of charge — registration is required.
Part of the 2026-2027 Canon Law Webinars, jointly presented by the Faculty of Canon Law, the Canadian Canon Law Society and the Centre for Canonical Services.
Presentation
Although the topic is broad, this webinar focuses on timely canonical issues related to accountability in religious institutes. Leaders and members are accountable for decisions under canon law, ethical standards, the institute’s charism and the vision of Pope Leo XIV. Therefore, the presentation begins with the general chapter, the institute’s highest internal authority while in session, and considers how collegial decision-making is balanced with the personal authority of superiors. It reviews the chapter’s core duties: protecting the charism, fostering renewal, electing leaders, addressing major issues, and issuing binding norms through broad representation and communal discernment. The webinar then examines temporal goods as ecclesiastical goods, even when held by a civil corporation or other entity, with attention to ownership, donor intent, member welfare, and proper administration. It then concludes with two case studies that illustrate these principles in practice.
Dr. Eileen Jaramillo, DMin, JCL
Jaramillo has a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Education, a Master of Arts (MA) in Theology and a Master of Divinity (MDiv). Prior to receiving a Licentiate in Canon Law (JCL), a Masters in Canon Law (MCL) and a Doctorate in Ministry (DMin), Jaramillo served in leadership as an overall Director of Religious Education in two very large parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit, Michigan. This ministry included Catholic schools, grades K-12, as well as the programs for students attending public school, adult education, and the RCIA (now the OCIA).
While serving in leadership as a DRE she was appointed to numerous diocesan committees and evaluation teams. She was also a field education supervisor of seminarians for St. John Provincial Seminary and SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary. She taught at the latter seminary. Additionally, she continued to be involved with migrants, a ministry she began while studying for her Bachelor’s degree.
She then served in the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio as the Urban Region Religious Education Consultant. Her ministry was primarily to inner city parishes. In collaboration with two bishops, pastors, and women religious, she designed and implemented a needed process and program for inner city schools and parishes.
After receiving her degrees in canon law, she was appointed as a judge in the Diocese of Columbus, Ohio and then as a judge in the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan for a total of 25 years. Additionally, her ministry included extensive chancery work such as addressing problematic situations, serving on the sexual misconduct review board, and working closely with the various departments. She also assisted women and men religious with canonical issues pertaining to formation, membership dynamics, other elected leadership concerns, and general chapters.
In addition to giving numerous presentations to bishops, priests, permanent deacons, religious, and laity, Dr. Jaramillo also taught courses in canon law for three universities and a seminary. She co-authored the document Christ Is All And In All regarding our relationship with Eastern Churches. She has also authored many articles on consecrated life. Her most recent books are: Discerning Charism: The Key to Founding Institutes of Consecrated Life or Societies of Apostolic Life (2026) and Envisioning the Future of Consecrated Life: Its Beauty and Challenge during these Troubled Times (2026).
While in Lansing, Michigan Jaramillo also became involved with Habitat for Humanity. She helped build several houses serving next to the people who would live in the houses. She was also the primary leader who facilitated the building of two houses in the very poorest areas of that city.
She was elected as a Consultor on the Board of Governors of the Canon Law Society of America (CLSA). She served as chair of four committees: professional responsibility, nominations, consecrated life, and convention planning. She gave several seminars at its annual convention. Jaramillo is also the co-author of the handbook entitled Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, published by the CLSA (2021).
