For a two year period, candidates
throughout the diocese attend weekly classes in Old and New Testament,
Church, Spirituality, Christology, Sacraments, Moral Theology and Social
Justice. The candidates participate in field experience and workshops
specializing in their chosen ministry: Worship, Sick and Elderly, Family,
Youth, Scouting, Outreach, Adult Faith Facilitator, Religious Education
Coordinator and Catechist. They also participate in a yearly weekend
retreat providing an opportunity to meet with candidates from all of the
sites.
At the end of their two-year
classes, candidates reflect and share their insights and reflections upon
their ministry experience with their pastor/administrator as a way to
better serve in the parish. After all the requirements have been met, A
Eucharistic Liturgy for the Blessing and Commissioning of Pastoral
Ministers, with the Bishop presiding, is held. At the commissioning
each candidate is presented by the Bishop and their sponsoring
pastor/administrator with a framed certificate and their lay ministry pin.
Is to offer a foundation in the
Catholic faith to enable Catholic adults to develop their gifts for
ministry.
This component
fosters a basic knowledge of church teaching. Introductory courses in Old
Testament, New Testament, Church, Spirituality, Christology, Sacraments,
Moral Theology and Social Justice are offered over a two-year period. Each
course is taught for 2 ½ hours once a week for eight weeks from September
to June. Pastoral in nature, the classes will combine the theological
content with practical application to the candidate’s life experiences
and ministry.
First Year - An
"Evangelization" workshop is offered on a Saturday to inform
candidates of the Bishop’s Document "Go and Make Disciples."
Practical suggestions are discussed for implementation in the parish. A "Vision
of Ministry" information meeting is offered for candidates,
Pastors/Administrators and Parish Staff during a regular class session.
Presentations are made by workshop facilitators and participants in the
areas of ministry training: Worship, Sick/Elderly, Family, Outreach,
Youth, Coordinator of Religious Education, Adult Faith Facilitator and
Catechist.
Second Year-A
Candidate chooses one area of ministry for training. The candidate will
attend four Saturday workshops in their particular area of ministry.
In
this component, candidates learn about the purpose of a Spiritual Director
in the "Spirituality" course. They are encouraged to seek
spiritual direction in the second year of training. Each year, a weekend
retreat experience will offer a time to pray and reflect on an individual’s
response to God’s call to holiness and to the fullness of the Christian
life.
This
component entails a supervised ministerial experience by the sponsor of
the candidate or his/her delegate. The candidate and sponsor draw up a
ministerial job description. The job description becomes a learning model
and evaluation tool used by the supervisor in assessing the progress of
the candidate’s ministerial potential.
Following
the completion of the training program, the candidate is recommended and
accepted for a ministerial assignment by his/her sponsor. The Bishop or
his delegate will commission the candidate for service.
The Four Core Components of the Program
Include...
The following is a list of required courses:
- Old Testament
- New Testament
- Church
- Spirituality
- Christology
- Sacraments
- Moral Theology
- Social Justice
- Pastoral Workshops
This
component aims at the development of ministerial and pastoral skills in
the area of ministry for:
- Liturgy
- Sick/Elderly
- Family
- Catechist
- Outreach
- Youth
- Adult Faith Facilitator
- Coordinator of Religious Education
This is arranged within the frame-work of the sponsor.
This
is a time for candidates to pray and reflect on their response to God's
call to holiness and to the fullness of Christian Life.
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