Certificate of Studies in Catechetical Leadership 2008-2009
Mission
Statements
Office for
Catechesis & Youth Ministry
The Office for
Catechesis and Youth Ministry is the representative body through which the
Archbishop directs the catechetical and youth ministry activities of the
Archdiocese of Chicago. As part of
the evangelizing mission of the Church, the Office for Catechesis and Youth
Ministry promotes lifelong catechesis through formation and certification of
parish and Catholic school catechists and catechetical leaders, adult faith
formation, elementary-family catechesis and youth ministry.
We serve catechetical leaders and youth ministers in vicariates,
deaneries, clusters families and other Archdiocesan agencies. We provide
advocacy, leadership and vision for catechesis and youth ministry in the
Archdiocese through:
Office of
Catholic Schools
Catholic
schools exist primarily to evangelize about the Good News of Jesus Christ and to
educate Catholic students for the Church’s mission.
All are welcomed who identify with and seek to live by values in harmony
with the Gospel and its preferential option for the poor.
Catholic schools provide students an opportunity for educational
Excellence in the Catholic Christian
tradition. Catholic faith-learning
communities commit to help each student develop his or her potential for
conscious, responsible living, health relationships and leadership.
The Catholic school communities act as good stewards to make schools
Vital, affordable, and accessible
across the Archdiocese.
University of
St. Mary of the Lake/ Mundelein Seminary
The University
of St. Mary of the Lake/ Mundelein Seminary (USML) is the major theological
seminary of the Archdiocese of Chicago with a national and international
outreach.
The primary
mission of the University of St. Mary of the Lake/ Mundelein Seminary is to
prepare candidates to be priests of Jesus Christ, priest, teacher and shepherd.
It educates men for pastoral ministry as diocesan priests to be
co-workers with their bishops in the service of the Catholic Church.
As part of its
mission to educate future leaders for pastoral ministry, the University of St.
Mary of the Lake/ Mundelein Seminary administers additional, distinct programs
of training for lay ecclesial ministers and permanent deacons.
It also offers a Doctor of Ministry Program for qualified candidates who
are actively engaged in pastoral ministry.
Also at the
University of St. Mary of the Lake/ Mundelein Seminary (USML) there is an
Ecclesiastical Faculty of Theology, which is chartered by the Holy See to grant
teaching and research degrees, and a Liturgical Institute, which promotes and
advances the theology and practice of the Church’s liturgical life.
What is the
Certificate of Studies in Catechetical
Leadership?
The
Certificate of Studies in Catechetical
Leadership is a joint Archdiocesan program sponsored by the Office for
Catechesis and Youth Ministry, the Department of Catholic Schools and the
University of St. Mary of the Lake/ Mundelein Seminary.
The
Certificate of Studies in Catechetical
Leadership has been designed to:
Requirements:
There are
eight core theological courses and five ministerial courses and workshops common
to all CREs and CYMs. Additional
ministerial courses may be required according to specialization.
All courses meet the 2006 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
National Standards for Catechetical
Leaders and Youth Ministers.
Students are required to complete assigned class work for these course to
receive credit.
After the
successful completion of all the courses the candidate will receive a
Certificate of Studies in Catechetical
Leadership from USML. Upon
proof that the candidate has achieved USCCB Competencies for Catechetical
Leaders and Youth Ministers by the particular agency, the Archdiocesan Office
for Catechesis and Youth Ministry will grant the candidate
Archdiocesan Certification as
Catechetical Leader. The
Archdiocesan Certification process for catechetical leaders serving as
Coordinator of Religious Education and/or Coordinator of Youth Ministry is
seeking approval by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops/Commission
on Certification and Accreditation (USCCB/CCA).
Core
Theological Courses:
Ministerial
Courses and Workshops:
Courses
required for all:
Tuition:
The cost of
the theological courses is $150 per course.
Usually the costs for the courses are shared between the parish or school
and the candidate.
Description of
Theological Courses
Old Testament
This course
provides the historical, theological and literary perspectives of the various
books. Biblical foundations of social justice are also covered.
In addition to grasping the basic material, the participants learn to:
move from an uncritical interpretation of the Bible to a critical
interpretation; integrate the Old Testament with their spiritual and personal
life; discover ministerial implications based on Scriptures; and reflect on the
communal dimensions of faith.
New Testament
This course
begins with introducing participants to the world of the New Testament and how
the gospels were written. Each
gospel’s specific setting, structure, and theological themes are explored.
Parables, miracles and the passion and resurrection narratives are
covered. Bridging from Luke into
Acts, the rest of the course covers the early Christian community, Paul and his
purpose in writing and Paul’s literary style.
Christology
This course
will investigate the search for the historical Jesus; the humanity and divinity
of Jesus; the Church’s articulation of its understanding of Jesus through church
councils and magisterial teaching; the Jesus of history vs. Jesus of faith; the
insights of contemporary Christology; and living the paschal mystery in one’s
own life.
Church History
This course
focuses on the dynamic mission of the Church as it has unfolded over the past
two thousand years. Participants
examine our Catholic heritage as manifested in the key events and people.
Sacramental/Liturgical Theology
This course is
designed to be pastoral and ministerial in its approach, providing a background
for authentic planning, preparation and celebration of parish sacramental life.
Participants come to appreciate the sacramentality of life, to understand
the Church as a Eucharistic community, and view the other sacraments in this
context. Participants study
principles of and acquire practice in leading communal prayer.
Christian
Spirituality and Prayer
This course
will examine the history and foundations of spirituality and prayer throughout
the history of the Catholic Church.
Participants will reflect on their own spirituality, analyze the role of
religious education in supporting and guiding spiritual formation and prayer in
the various cultural and age settings, and develop practical skills for
preparing liturgy and worship experiences.
Catholic
Morality
Based on
Scripture, Tradition and Magisterial teaching, this course will focus on our
call to holiness. It will explore
the teachings of the Church on freedom and moral decision making, human
sexuality, social justice and the applications of Christian morality to current
issues.
Ecclesiology
In the Nicene
Creed, which we recite at Mass each Sunday, we profess our belief in one, holy,
catholic and apostolic Church. This
course will examine the origin, purpose, nature and mission of the Catholic
Church. Participants will focus on
the doctrine of the Church presented by the Second Vatican Council and the post-conciliar
Magisterium.
Description of
Ministerial Courses
Human
Psychology, Faith and Moral Development
This course
will explore the historical and contemporary theories of human psychology, faith
and moral development. Participants
will reflect on their own faith and moral journeys through testimonies and
personal stories. As religious
Catholic educators, participants will explore the implications of these theories
for the teaching of the Catholic faith to people of all ages in the church.
They will also have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the
application of these theories to catechesis and youth ministry.
Foundations
for Religious Education, Learning and Curriculum Development
This course
will explore the psychological, philosophical and historical developments of
religious education and contemporary learning theories.
It will include the current theoretical and practical elements of
curriculum planning and design and their application to religious education
today.
Religion
Curriculum of Archdiocese of Chicago
This course
will introduce the CREs to the principles of curriculum development and the
Catholic elementary curriculum of the Archdiocese.
It will deal with the practical aspects of the implementation of the
Elementary Religious Curriculum of the Archdiocese and its application to the
various language and cultural settings.
Evangelization, Catechesis and Culture
This course
will begin to explore the concepts of culture, mission and inculturation,
particularly addressing the impact of culture on our own evangelization and
catechetical process and that of those we are called to serve.
This course will look at what the recent Catholic documents especially
the National Directory for Catechesis
tells us about this exciting and rapidly developing area of theology.
DRE/CRE
Catechetical Leadership Formation
Based on the
catechetical documents of the Church, this course will focus on the evangelizing
mission of the Church. It will help the participant to reflect on his/her
vocation to catechetical ministry, to develop through theory and practice the
abilities and skills necessary to be an effective catechetical leader, and to
familiarize the participant with Archdiocesan policies and procedures.
CYM – Youth
Ministry Leadership Formation
This course
will address the foundational understandings, principles and practices for
effective ministry with young and older adolescents.
Participants will reflect on their vocation to ministry, the skills
needed in various ministry settings, learn how to empower individuals and teams
of leaders for ministry with youth, and become familiar with the Archdiocesan
policies and procedures.
CSCRE-Catechetical Leadership Formation
CSCRE-History
and Mission of Catholic Schools
In this course
participants will become acquainted with the Church’s mission of education
within the context of Catholic schools as “authentic communities of faith and
centers of evangelization.”
Catholic school leaders will understand their role as faith leaders in the
school community.
To register
for theological courses, please e-mail Megan Deichl at
mdeichl@usml.edu or call 847.837.4558.
All rights
reserved
The chancellor
and officers of the University of St. Mary of the Lake reserve the right to
change information, regulations, requirements and procedures announced in this
bulletin; to change the requirements for admission, graduation or degrees; to
change the arrangements, scheduling, credit or content of courses, and to change
the fee charged.
The
administration of all academic norms is the responsibility of the Provost of the
University.
