PTHO - Pastoral Theology (PTHO)

The pastoral field education program serves to offer students experience in ministry which integrates the other aspects of the individual's formation in a way that prepares the student for ministry in the Church. Seminarians and lay students engage in appropriate ministerial experiences, and share in a process of individual and group theological reflection. 3 credits

The pastoral field education program serves to offer students experience in ministry which integrates the other aspects of the individual's formation in a way that prepares the student for ministry in the Church. Seminarians and lay students engage in appropriate ministerial experiences, and share in a process of individual and group theological reflection. 3 credits

The pastoral field education program serves to offer students experience in ministry which integrates the other aspects of the individual's formation in a way that prepares the student for ministry in the Church. Seminarians and lay students engage in appropriate ministerial experiences, and share in a process of individual and group theological reflection. 3 credits

The pastoral field education program serves to offer students experience in ministry which integrates the other aspects of the individual's formation in a way that prepares the student for ministry in the Church. Seminarians and lay students engage in appropriate ministerial experiences, and share in a process of individual and group theological reflection. 3 credits

A continuation of PTHO 6007. Prerequisite: PTHO 6007

This fulltime pastoral experience internship is designed to augment the experience of international students enrolled in the Master of Divinity Program in the American ecclesial & pastoral context. A learning agreement, developed between the seminarian his pastoral supervisor, is approved by his academic advisor at the beginning of the semester. An evaluative report on the experience is submitted by the supervisor at the end of the semester, for which the student will receive either “S” or “U.”

This fulltime pastoral experience internship is designed to augment the experience of international students enrolled in the Master of Divinity Program in the American ecclesial & pastoral context. A learning agreement, developed between the seminarian his pastoral supervisor, is approved by his academic advisor at the beginning of the semester. An evaluative report on the experience is submitted by the supervisor at the end of the semester, for which the student will receive either “S” or “U.” This course is an continuation of PTHO 6013.

This fulltime pastoral experience internship is designed to augment the experience of international students enrolled in the Master of Divinity Program in the American ecclesial & pastoral context. A learning agreement, developed between the seminarian his pastoral supervisor, is approved by his academic advisor at the beginning of the semester. An evaluative report on the experience is submitted by the supervisor at the end of the semester, for which the student will receive either “S” or “U.” This course is an continuation of PTHO 6014.

This fulltime pastoral experience internship is designed to augment the experience of international students enrolled in the Master of Divinity Program in the American ecclesial & pastoral context. A learning agreement, developed between the seminarian his pastoral supervisor, is approved by his academic advisor at the beginning of the semester. An evaluative report on the experience is submitted by the supervisor at the end of the semester, for which the student will receive either “S” or “U.” This course is an continuation of PTHO 6015.

Beginning Spanish for non-Spanish speakers, focusing on building communication skills and addressing language situations encountered in pastoral ministry.

A continuation of PTHO 6017. Prerequisite: PTHO 6017.

An intermediate Spanish course for those with elementary knowledge of Spanish, continuing to build communication skills for use in pastoral ministry settings. Prerequisite: PTHO 6018.

This is a non-credit but full-time registration category for students of religious orders and religious movements who are engaged in full-time, novitiate training, mission itinerancy or other full-time pastoral training that is an integral part of their formation program.

This is a non-credit but full-time registration category for students of religious orders and religious movements who are engaged in full-time, novitiate training, mission itinerancy or other full-time pastoral training that is an integral part of their formation program.

This is a non-credit but full-time registration category for students of religious orders and religious movements who are engaged in full-time, novitiate training, mission itinerancy or other full-time pastoral training that is an integral part of their formation program.

This is a non-credit but full-time registration category for students of religious orders and religious movements who are engaged in full-time, novitiate training, mission itinerancy or other full-time pastoral training that is an integral part of their formation program

Introduction to homiletics and engagement in the process of biblical preaching, with attention to its pastoral function. Emphasis on organization, composition and delivery. Evaluation of several homilies as preached to the class.

Introduction to homiletics and engagement in the process of Biblical preaching, with attention to its pastoral function. Emphasis on organization, composition and delivery. Evaluation of several homilies as preached to the class.

A continuation of homiletic instruction where students deliver homilies for various occasions, subject to self, peer and professional criticism.

A continuation of PTHO 6112, with special attention to the practical delivery of homilies. Particularly designed for deacons. Prerequisite: PTHO 6112

An exploration of the value and power, personal and social, residing in spiritual literature written in solitude and prison. The student is called to wrestle with Dietrich Bonhoeffer's questions about the broad failure of modern Christian middle-class culture to sustain Christians who are imprisoned and bereaved of their loved ones as well as of the possibility of fulfilling their vocational hopes and projects. The readings will stimulate teachers, counselors and ministers wrestling with Bonhoeffer's questions to share their pastoral experiences and provide those who find or may in the future find themselves in analogous situations with memories and knowledge that may prove to be a source of spiritual friendship, consolation and strength.

This course will provide an introduction to interpersonal skills basic to the helping professions; the nature of counseling; responsibility of the counselor; goals in counseling; resistance and termination. Particular emphasis is placed on competency and self-understanding. The course will be taught through lecture, demonstration and class exercises.

This course examines in depth the Theology of the Body as presented by Pope John Paul II along with evaluative commentary from within the Catholic theological community. It also explores the implications of this theology for sexual ethics, sacramentality of marriage and celibacy. (Cross-referenced to CETH 6252 and STHO 6252)

This course summarizes the spiritually therapeutic lessons of previous coursework by comparing the counsels of great spiritual books studied in the Certificate (scriptures, mystical writings, theological reflections, religious novels, encyclicals) with those of popular self help literature. The aim is to invoke self-help literature to identify the spiritually therapeutic richness of Christian Spiritual Literature and also to provide a Christian reference point for evaluating advice given in popular self-help books, especially in areas where such advice is in tension with of tension with Christian spirituality, morality and revelation.

See BIBL 6241.

This class looks at the journey of a person’s Spiritual Life. The journey involves an initial invitation from God, our response through prayer, our commitment as disciples and our living out this commitment in community. Our experiences of family life, past and present, become landmarks on this journey. The class consists of lectures, class participation, readings and prayer. (Cross-referenced to STHO 6244)

Analysis of selected texts from the papal and pre-papal periods of Pope John Paul II’s thought on the family, in light of his affirmation of the inalienable dignity of each human person. What makes a human being a person? How is our personhood rooted in the primordial subjectivity of the family? What is the role of the family in society, the responsibility of spouses toward each other and toward their children, and the authentic experience of conscience that makes human love and community possible? (Cross-referenced to STHO 6238)

See CETH 6254.

See CETH 6266.

The fullness, beauty and effectiveness of the Church’s pro-life teachings faces challenges from contemporary secular society. This course will begin with a close reading of Blessed Pope John Paul II's Evangelium Vitae and then systematically apply its teachings across a host of issues: abortion, euthanasia, sexuality, health care distribution, poverty, war, torture, the death penalty, and ecology. The course will focus on strategies for effectively advocating for pro-life positions without reducing Catholic teaching to secular politics.

A continuation of homiletic instruction for deacons and deacon candidates where students deliver homilies for various occasions, subject to self, peer, and professional criticism.

A brief examination of the Church's origin and identity in the ministry of Jesus, the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles, her missionary self-understanding as expressed in her magisterial teaching, canon law, liturgical and sacramental life and catechesis, and the implications of this understanding for the diocese, parish and individual believer in making intentional disciplines. The contention of recent popes -- that evangelizaion is, in fact, the Church's sipreme duty, the reason for her existence and the key to her identity -- will be tested and confirmed.

Twentieth-century literary works written by distinguished American and British authors, are considered as works of art in their own right; as comments upon the religious meaning of the human condition; and, above all, as examples of the ways in which sacramental themes are embodied in works of the imagination. (Cross-referenced to STHO 6236)

See BIBL 6529.

Church law and its role in the Church today; history of canon law, particularly the 1983 Code. Consideration of the character of the 1983 Code of Canon Law as well as certain general institutes of law as they appear in Book I and particular canons in Books II and VII with reference to the status of laity and clerics.

Canonical and pastoral aspects of current Church legislation on the Sacrament of Matrimony. Aspects of the 1983 Code having practical and innovative impacts on the marital state, particularly in the area of tribunal jurisprudence.

'The Sacraments of Initiation and Canon Law' will examine from a canonical-pastoral perspective the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and eucharist. Drawing from the Code of Canon Law, Vatican II, and the teaching of the Church's Magisterium, the course will provide the student with a clear understanding of the sacraments of initiation, an examination of the pastoral issues which may arise, and an appreciation of the important role which Church law plays in the ministry of those engaged in catechesis on the sacraments of initiation.

See HSTD 6426.

“The Church's deepest nature is expressed in her three-fold responsibility: of proclaiming the word of God (kerygma-martyria), celebrating the sacraments (leitourgia), and exercising the ministry of charity (diakonia)” (Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est). This course explores these three interlocking dimensions of the Church’s mission with an emphasis on evangelization and how liturgy and service flow from and support this work of proclaiming the Gospel. Taught with an eye to pastoral application, the course provides students with a theological foundation for their evangelizing ministry in addition to familiarizing them with practical strategies for and the potential challenges of building and sustaining a faith community that is committed to serving God and neighbor through evangelization, worship, and charity.

This course prepares students to fulfill Jesus’ teaching mandate in the 21st century. Students will examine biblical, psychological, and cultural foundations for teaching ministry. Building upon this foundation, students will explore a variety of catechetical and pedagogical approaches, strategies, and resources. Recognizing the need to offer a persuasive defense of Christianity within a sometimes inhospitable cultural context, the course also equips students with the range of apologetic strategies they will need to respond to the diverse challenges brought against Christian faith in the present age.

Demonstration and practical exercises for priesthood candidates in the ministries of celebrating Eucharist and other sacramental liturgies, including RCIA and baptism of children, marriage, funerals, sacramental ministry to the sick and dying, Benediction and the Liturgy of the Hours in parishes.

Principles of Vatican II and subsequent Church teaching on liturgical/musical integration. An overview of the history of liturgical music, emphasizing the proper balance of liturgical, pastoral and musical factors. Other topics: liturgical year; effective selection of music for particular celebrations; copyright issues.

The purpose of this class is to explore the depth, wisdom and power of the Lord’s Prayer by exploring its scriptural contexts and sources. Versions of the Prayer in all the Gospels and in the writings of Paul will be studied to highlight the Trinitarian dimension of the Prayer and the way in which it maps out the Christian spiritual journey and enables Christ’s disciples to escape from various cycles of violence that impede their quest for God’s Kingdom.

In this course, students read all of Dante’s Divine Comedy, and perhaps sections of his treatises “On Monarchy” and “On the Eloquence of the Vernacular.” Dante emphasizes the harmony of nature and grace, the path to God through the goodness of ordinary life and human love. Thus the focus in class discussions and papers is on what Dante reveals about the spirituality of ordinary life in the world, as opposed to the “easier path” - as Dante describes it at the beginning of the Divine Comedy - of religious life. (Cross-referenced to STHO 6565)

A study of scriptural texts and themes related to the Blessed Virgin Mary: Old Testament texts/institutions that prefigure Mary; New Testament texts that refer to Mary. Exegesis of select Lucan and Johannine texts using both modern and traditional methods of interpretation. Scriptural foundations of Marian dogmas/doctrines, liturgical feasts, and devotional practices.

See STHO 6575.

See BIBL 6577.

“The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus” (Pope Francis, The Joy of the Gospel). The promise of happiness echoes resoundingly in the Christian tradition, and yet Catholics are leaving the Church in droves because they feel the Church has not made good on its promise. Informed by contemporary research on happiness, this course will prepare seminarians and lay ministers to help others discover fulfillment and joy greater than the world can offer through Christian teachings and practices. We will do this by exploring how the Church’s teachings guide one to true happiness, by experiencing a variety of Christian spiritual practices, and by drawing out implications for ministries like spiritual direction, pastoral care, catechesis, and preaching. This course will also benefit people who want to discover for themselves how practicing Christian faith more intentionally can bring greater joy to one’s day-to-day life. (3 credits)

An introduction to pastoral theology in its mediating role between theological insight and pastoral practice. This course focuses on the pastoral situation as encountered through Catholic tradition, personal and cultural experience, aspects of pastoral ministry in the contemporary Church and ways of responding both pastorally and prophetically.

This course considers the ways in which the Church today continues to fulfill the Gospel call to care for those in need, and to address issues of social justice. The role of the parish community and its leaders (priests, deacons, and lay ministers) is explored. The collaborative work of clergy and laity is viewed in light of Catholic social teaching.

Discusses the priest as presider in the worshipping community, together with the roles of other liturgical ministers and the assembly. This course focuses on the nature of the parish as a praying people, and of the family as a domestic Church. Students will learn to integrate liturgical planning, sacramental catechesis and community worship in parish life.

Examines the ministry of teaching in the New Testament, the early Church and our Church today. Explores the role of culture and community in faith information, the nature of faith and conversion, the contribution of developmental psychology, and the implications for the various teaching ministries (evangelization, catechesis, preaching). Students will acquire practical skills in identifying resources, lesson planning and teaching, and theological reflection on the ministry of teaching.

See HSTD 6710.

Human and psychological bases for sound spiritual growth; relation of growth to the direction relationship and the journey toward freedom through awareness and discernment.

See HSTD 6310.

Theology of the Christian spiritual life: Biblical foundations; Patristic writings; classical sources; contemporary writings; anthropological foundations; progress in the spiritual life and its various stages; and mysticism. (Cross-referenced to STHO 6728)

A contemporary look at theological and spiritual perspectives on the priesthood, presenting growth and development in priesthood as a profoundly human experience that finds its source and intelligibility only in the living Christ; love, self-esteem and rediscovery of ministry in the priesthood. (Cross-referenced to STHO 6735)

Augustine’s spirituality aspires to participate in the life of the Trinity through deliberate, affective and sacramental love made possible by the grace of Jesus Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. It was realized by one’s individual relationship with God, conduct in the larger society, and communal life in the Church. Using key works, including the Confessions, The Trinity and The City of God, the course will trace the outlines of this profoundly Christian spiritual vision.

The life and spiritual rule of St. Francis of Assisi; early Franciscanism; development of the Franciscan spirit through Church history, permanent influences of Franciscan spirituality on the Church.

Origins of Carmelite spirituality; development of the Carmelite charism; expressions of Carmelite spirituality in Saints John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila and Therese of Lisieux; permanent influences on the Church.

See HSTD 6709.

This course explores the values given to work, contemplation, art and worship in antiquity and modernity, in Hebraic, Jewish and Christian cultures. On the basis of these explorations, it argues that leisure is the basis of culture and that liturgy is the basis of leisure. On this basis, it seeks to introduce a spectrum of Christian reflections on the prerequisites to a sane Economy. (Cross-referenced to STHO 6802)

See BIBL 6803.

Discussion of the Christian faith as the source of inspiration for artists, poets, novelists, and musicians across the centuries, and in more recent times also for film-makers. A survey of several classical examples of Christian inspired art so as to see the way faith, hope and love are presented. Themes: Jesus and Christians in the movies, hope and despair in the poetry of Hopkins, peace in the music of Hildegard of Bingen, faith in the short stories of Flannery O'Connor, marriage and the family in the novels of Sigrid Undset, evangelism in the paintings of Caravaggio.

An overview of the history of the ministry of teaching in the Christian tradition and of Catholic schools in the United States. An examination of the multiple tasks of the school in fostering faith development and an exploration of the norms for the school of the future.

An exploration of the role of leadership as a part of the spiritual journey. Topics include aspects of spirituality (vocation, charism, community) and of leadership (including both theoretical and practical dimensions). Readings, lectures and participative learning are employed.

Integration of the various theological and pastoral disciplines encountered in the M.A. in Pastoral Ministry program, using "Pastoral Project" or "Case Study" methodologies. Submission and approval/acceptance of the final project complete the M.A.P.M. degree requirements.

Completed upon submission and approval/acceptance of the final M.Div. project. Required of M.Div. candidates. Enrollment of lay ministry candidates with the approval of the instructor.