New Technology for the New Evangelization
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.
