Saturday Institute for Lay Ministries 2017-18
Whom shall I send? Think about your parish who are the ministers in your parish? There s a priest or two, but there are also lay people lots of lay people. The volunteer who shows up every week at the meal site, to provide the hungry with a plate of food and a word of welcome The parish business manager who intentionally connects financial responsibility with a sense of mission and spirituality The Eucharistic minister who visits the assisted living facility to share the Body of Christ, a prayer, and a caring touch The chair of pastoral council, who helps the council to listen to the Holy Spirit and to act with wisdom and purpose All of them are serving in important roles. All of them are responding to the call to be ministers. And they probably know that to respond most effectively to that call means investing in their own faith development. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Formation is more than just learning more about the faith. It involves a commitment to enter into a process of growth, grounding ourselves in knowledge of the faith, within a community of mission-oriented people, engaging in a regular rhythm of study, prayer, discussion, and reflection, so that over time that rhythm can shape our hearts and our lives. Formation allows us to become more fully the people God has called us to be. A Program to Prepare Ministers and Leaders The Saturday Institute for Lay Ministries is a core program of the Saint Clare Center, supporting the development of lay leaders through formation that integrates meaningful knowledge of theology, practical tools for ministry, and a purposeful focus on mission. The Saturday Institute is a non-degree program that meets on the main campus of Cardinal Stritch University on seven Saturdays each semester. Classes are offered in both English and Spanish. Students may sign up for a single semester or even a single course, but the full program runs four semesters, and students who complete all four semesters receive a Certificate Our Students The students in the Saturday Institute for Lay Ministries come from all over the Archdiocese. They are of different ages and different backgrounds. Several students each year are parish staff members - youth ministers, religious education coordinators, business managers - who have been hired by parishes because of their faith and interpersonal skills, but who don t have a degree in theology. The Saturday Institute provides them with substantive content in a variety of theological topics that supports them in their ministries. Another group that seeks out the Saturday Institute are those passing on the faith - catechists, members of RCIA teams, small group leaders in confirmation programs. These people want to understand the Catholic tradition more fully so that they can share it with others more confidently. Another group of students are neither staff members nor catechists, but simply lay people who want to deepen their faith. They want to invest time reflecting on scripture and studying Church tradition, so they might be more formed, grounded, and inspired by it. Sometimes they know how a deeper faith might be channeled into action and service - sometimes they are not sure, but trust that the program will help them discern how they can help renew the church and share God s goodness in the world. It is imperative that we provide structured educational/formational programs in lay ministries for service to the Church. Archbishop Jerome Listecki, Synodal Declaration, 2014 Students bring these varied backgrounds and experiences with them, and together they form a supportive faith community of disciples who are seeking to grow as ministers and leaders.
Curriculum Fall 2017 People of God What does the Lord require of you? Only to do justice and love goodness, and walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 Overview of the Old Testament - How do the stories of God s relationship with the Israelites help us understand both God and our own faith journeys more fully? This course provides a general introduction to the writings of the Old Testament that will help make this part of the Bible more accessible and meaningful for the students. Students will reflect on the commitments that are involved in being people of God. Morality and Catholic Social Teaching - How does our relationship with God call us to live, both individually and as a society? This course looks at key concepts of moral theology such as conscience, love, sin, and virtues. It also focuses on key principles of Catholic Social Teaching such as human dignity, common good, option for the poor, and solidarity, while noting the church documents from which these principles originate. Formation: In Mission Together - Students will deepen their commitment to service and justice continue to open their hearts to mercy and compassion integrate a ministerial code of ethics with their own involvement in ministry strengthen their ability to collaborate develop skills for dealing with conflict and promoting unity Spring 2018 Rooted in Faith He is like a tree planted near streams of water, that yields its fruit in season; its leaves never wither. Psalm 1:3 Curriculum Church History - As members of the church, what story are we a part of? This course will present some of the key persons and events that have affected the development of Catholic life, and examine some of the challenges posed to Catholic Christianity, along with the church s response. Students will learn about our past so as to gain wisdom to inform our present and guide our future. Prayer and Spirituality - What can we draw from the richness of Catholic spirituality to sustain our relationships with God in both good times and bad? Students will learn about prayer and spirituality from major spiritual traditions within the Catholic church, with a goal of renewing and enriching their own prayer lives. Formation: Growing in Hope - Students will develop skills at translating vision and mission into practical plans within a parish learn strategies for engaging others in plans for growth reflect on faithful responses to current challenges strengthen the ability to lead prayer in groups integrate a personal prayer life with a sense of vocation
Curriculum Fall 2018 Callings They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. Acts 2:42 Overview of the New Testament - How do we understand this Jesus who calls us, and how do we respond to his call? By studying the various writings of the New Testament, students will deepen their understanding of a Catholic approach to scripture, will enrich their knowledge of how each of the four Gospels portrays Jesus, and will gain insight into what it means to be a disciple. Theology of Church - As Church, who are we called to be and what are we called to do? Through this course, students will deepen their understanding of the church by studying documents from Vatican II, writings from Pope Francis, and Archbishop Listecki s pastoral letter, Who Do You Say That I Am?. This learning and reflecting will help students feel more strongly connected to the church s identity and mission. Formation: Called and Gifted - Students will reflect on a Catholic understanding of vocation practice strategies for discerning their individual callings increase their awareness of their gifts and how to use those gifts in ministry become more comfortable encouraging others on their own journeys of discipleship Spring 2019 Presence Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in their midst. Matthew 18:20 Curriculum Liturgy and Sacrament - How do sacraments bring us into communion with God and one another? In this course students will develop a deeper understanding of the sacred liturgy and sacraments of the Catholic Church. This brief survey of sacramental theology, history, and pastoral practice will provide insight into how God is present within and among us during our communal rituals. Students will also discuss ways to engage others more fully in worship. Parish Ministry - What is ministry in general, and what is the ministry of the parish? The parish is a key context for helping people experience God s presence. This course will help students reflect on approaches to ministry so that they can learn ways to form vibrant, mission oriented parish communities where each person feels that their presence matters. Formation: Practices of Renewal - Students will develop a deeper sacramental spirituality clarify their understanding of their role as lay minister practice listening skills that help them be present to others on their faith journeys learn strategies for broader parish engagement feel more confident in initiating efforts at parish renewal
Frequently Asked Questions Are there admissions requirements? You do not have to have a particular academic background to enroll. Most of our students have college degrees, but not all of them do. If you have basic background knowledge from being active in the church, and if you can read and write at a high school graduate level, you should be able to handle the workload. What type of academic work is expected? There will be reading assignments for each course, and some writing. The papers would not be research papers, though. More typical would be a two page reflection paper asking you to apply something you learned in class to your life. How much homework should I expect? Every person is different, but our goal is for the average student to spend about one hour outside of class for every one hour spent in class. So if you are in class for 5 or 6 hours on a Saturday, you should be prepared to spend 5 or 6 hours reading and/or writing before the next class day (which is usually two weeks later). Do the instructors give grades? No. The instructors will give feedback on assignments, but there are no grades. Each course is taken on a pass/fail basis. I have to miss one of the class days. Is that okay? Because there are only six class days in a semester, we encourage students to be present for all six of the days. We understand, though, that people get sick and that there are weddings to go to and job responsibilities that may conflict. So if you have one absence, it will not be a problem. Find out what you need to do to make up any assignments. If you have two absences, we start to get worried - you need to be a strong student to make up for two absences. And if you have three absences, that s half of the classes. You will not get credit for the semester. Is there any final exam or final project? There are no tests or final exam. If you take the full four semester program and would like to receive a Certificate in Lay Ministries, there will be a few short papers assigned during your final semester in which you will review what you have learned over the course of the program. Saturday Schedule 8:00-8:15 Arrive 8:15-8:30 Gathering Prayer and Small Group Check-in 8:30-10:10 Course One 10:10-10:20 Break 10:20-12:00 Course Two 12:00-12:45 Lunch 12:45-1:00 Bilingual Prayer in Chapel 1:00-3:00 Formation Course 2017-2018 Calendar Fall 2017 Class Dates Sept 9 & 23, Oct 7 & 21, Nov 4 & 18 Retreat Date December 9 Spring 2018 (tentative) Class Dates Jan 20, Feb 3 & 24, Mar 10 & 24, Apr 14 Retreat Date Apr 28 Graduation May 23 2017-2018 Tuition Tuition is $450 per semester, payable by the first day of class. Students are also responsible for buying books. This cost is not included in tuition. Books can range from $20 to $80 per semester. Scholarships are available for those students actively involved in some kind of ministry in their parish, and for those students with financial need. For more information, please contact the Saint Clare Center.
Instructors The Saturday Institute for Lay Ministries uses a variety of instructors drawn from throughout the Archdiocese, including: Fr. Steve Avella, Ph.D. Marquette University Ben Brzeski, St. Anthony on the Lake Parish, Pewaukee Gabriela Cabrera, St. Patrick Parish, Racine Brenda Cline, St. Joseph Parish, Grafton Shawnee Daniels-Sykes, Ph.D. Mount Mary University Michael Donahou, Ph.D. Cardinal Stritch University Fr. José González, St. Adalbert Parish, Milwaukee Michael Kamenski, St. Sebastian Parish, Milwaukee Michael Taylor, Cardinal Stritch University Student Testimonials This program has truly been for me a personal transformation. I feel so very blessed to have worked with all my classmates and instructors. Not only did I increase my knowledge, I also started a journey of increasing my own faith, transforming my heart and bringing this ongoing journey back to the people I minister to. Two obvious and immediate changes to my disposition even after the first day of class were confidence and contentment. I had found my voice. I was willing and excited to share my ideas and ask questions without being embarrassed about theology and faith. My commitment to learning more and serving God becomes stronger with every course I take. Lay ministers, just like the ordained, need and deserve formation of high standards, effective methods, and comprehensive goals. Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord For more information, contact Michael Taylor Director of the Saint Clare Center 414-410-4353 mvtaylor@stritch.edu
Stir into flame the gift of God that you have. 2 Timothy 1:6 Saint Clare Center for Catholic Life Cardinal Stritch University 6801 N. Yates Road, #514 Milwaukee, WI 53217 414-410-4405 w w w. s t r i t c h. e d u / s a i n t c l a r e c e n t e r