Date published: January 20, 2016
Certificate in Pastoral Theology Program expands online to Hispanic ministry leaders of the Diocese of Beaumont
Ministry leaders in the Hispanic community of Beaumont, TX gathered together last weekend under the auspices of the Most Rev. Curtis J. Guillory, S.V.D., D.D. and Jesus Abrego of the Diocese of Beaumont. Along with School of Ministry’s Director of Continuing Education, Pía Septien and Dean Theodore Whapham, Ph.D., they initiated a diocesan partnership with University of Dallas School of Ministry.
For the very first time in the Diocese of Beaumont, Hispanic ministry leaders—catechists, directors of religious education, lay pastoral ministers and those who serve the youth and marginalized will have the opportunity to participate in the Certificate in Pastoral Theology Program (Certificado en Teología Pastoral) online via Adobe Connect. School of Ministry is proud to offer the same rigorous faith formation taught onsite at University of Dallas in a way that now reaches beyond the DFW metroplex to communities like the Hispanic leaders of the Diocese of Beaumont, TX.
“After many conversations with Jesus, seeing and understanding the needs of the Beaumont diocese and learning how we could best facilitate the formation of the Hispanic lay leadership there, we are enthusiastic about the opportunity to form lay leaders for the New Evangelization, particularly in the ever-expanding Catholic Hispanic population,” shared Pía Septien.
There are two aspects to the Certificate in Pastoral Theology Program. One aspect is academic, and the other, pastoral practice. Students of the “CPT” take courses like church history, liturgy, sacraments, social doctrine; they also learn about methods of catechesis, youth ministry and evangelization. Theory and practice come together as students apply the truths of our Catholic faith to specific ministerial contexts to transform the world for Christ.
“I am very grateful to Bishop Guillory and Jesus Abrego for their confidence in the School of Ministry. It is our hope that this program will inspire its participants to make a meaningful impact on their communities, and that the knowledge of Christ transforms us all to go into the world to build up the church and the world through the New Evangelization” said Pía Septien.
The program—Certificado en Teología Pastoral—is still in pilot-stage, but is poised to expand. It will be taught by Sister Yolanda Cruz of the University of Dallas. The class in Beaumont plans to gather every Sunday, from 4:00-6:00 pm in the Catholic Pastoral Center via Adobe Connect.
On Thursday, Sept. 26, several members of the university community gathered to celebrate the completion of Course II of the Studies in Catholic Faith and Culture program, the first component of UD's Liberal Learning for Life initiative. The course is titled "The Person: Tradition and History."
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