Specialized Certificate in Christian Spirituality
Extension Model
A Professional Credential for Christian Ministry
“ Stronger church communities through continuing education . . .”
- Description of the Program
- 7 Great Reasons Why You Should Take This Program!
- Goals of the Program
- Who Should Participate?
- Admission to the Program
- Certificate Curriculum (6 Courses)
- Learning Plan for Extension Courses
- Credits Needed for the Specialized Certificate
- Instructors (Adjunct Faculty)
- Extension Site Coordinators
- Extension Course Schedule
- For More Information
Description of the Program
This dynamic program offers specialty-level ministry education courses, interesting readings, and integrating project work, on the subject of Christian spirituality, for persons currently engaged or soon to be engaged in ministry leadership and other types of service leadership roles in local communities – such as Catholic parishes, school systems, and other ecclesial and secular (marketplace) organizations. This certificate program leads toward continuing education credit hours (c.e.u.) of specialized- or upper-level ministry studies. Successful completion of all six courses in this program results in the student’s reception of the professional ministry credential called the Specialized Certificate in Christian Spirituality from the Loyola Pastoral Life Center (LPLC), of Loyola University New Orleans.
7 Great Reasons Why You Should Take This Program!
- Nationally-acclaimed instructors for every course
- Integrate key aspects of Christian spirituality into your ministry
- Improve your ministry skills and leadership ability
- Great readings on theology, spiritual growth, psychology, and human development
- Integrate previous ministry studies and/or ministry experiences
- Fulfill professional continuing education requirements
- Acquire a valuable ministry credential from a respected Catholic university
Goals of the Program
The Need
In recent decades, church and society have been undergoing profound changes. The church has been rediscovering its mission of service in the wider world. A corresponding change among many persons -- the ordained, the laity, and many in religious communities -- has awakened the awareness that skilled and inspirational leaders in ministry, in local faith communities, and in the wider civic communities of the worlds, are much needed in these times of change.
In particular, contemporary ministry leaders, of today and tomorrow, will need a grounding in Christian spirituality, practical theology, pastoral vision, professional competence, and a grasp of the emergent, pressing pastoral issues in contemporary local churches, in order to respond in very meaningful ways to the people of God.
Goals of the Specialized Certificate Program
(1) The Loyola Pastoral Life Center seeks through the Specialized Certificate in Christian Spirituality program to serve many people --laity, religious, and the ordained -- who are engaged at a professional or paraprofessional level in the church's work of nurturing the spiritual growth of human beings. A person who expects to work at the highest possible levels of proficiency in contemporary pastoral leadership must achieve an integration of theological vision and knowledge; a deep sensitivity to the dynamics of the church's institutional life; a critical awareness of and appreciation for the times and cultures within which one works; some specialized knowledge and skills about Christian spirituality; and an awareness of the emerging pastoral issues in Christian life today. This Certificate program seeks to directly address the adult learner’s continuing ministry education need for this type of dynamic integration.
(2) The Loyola Pastoral Life Center seeks also to serve the many people -- laity, religious, and the ordained -- who are engaged, currently, in ministries in the marketplace and the wider world (leadership service roles), but who are qualified for Specialized Certificate admission. Again, an integration of many skills and knowledge areas (described above), through a dynamic and challenging program of continuing ministry education, is required for active Christian service in civic communities today. Persons who want to undertake the challenge of continuing education on the subject of Christian spirituality are invited to seek admission to the Specialized Certificate program.
Who Should Participate?
This study program is ideal for ministry leaders – such as pastors, pastoral associates, and deacons; experienced parish DREs and Coordinators; school administrators, campus ministers, and guidance department members; RCIA teams; retreat staffs; religious community members; counselors; and experienced volunteers who have service leadership roles in ecclesial and marketplace contexts. Program participants include those looking to gain unique information and skills related to Christian spirituality; to integrate previous ministry studies and ministry experiences; to become updated on current ideas and materials on spirituality; and to integrate knowledge from the disciplines of theology, spirituality, psychology, and human development.
Types of Participants –
Certificate students – participants who take all six courses, and may begin the Specialized Certificate program with any of the six certificate courses offered at an LPLC extension studies site. Courses are generally offered at each extension location on an ongoing basis.
Non-credit (workshop) participants -- anyone who cannot meet any of the basic admission requirements (below) may take part in any course as a non-credit, workshop participant.
Admission to the Program
Admission to the Certificate program requires at least one of the following:
- A Masters degree in pastoral studies, theology, religious studies, religious education, divinity, spirituality, or a closely related field;
- A bachelors degree, plus three years of documentable leadership-level experience in local faith communities;
- A certificate awarded by the LIM on-campus or the LIMEX programs (C.P.S. or C.R.E.) of
Loyola University New Orleans. or - No academic degree, but five years of documentable leadership-level experience in local faith communities.
Certificate Curriculum (6 Courses)
Christian Spirituality Through the Ages (2 c.e.u.)
This course provides a dynamic overview of the major periods and key movements throughout the history of Christian spirituality, from its foundations in Hebrew and Christian Scriptures to modern, holistic spiritual themes and modern spiritual literature.
Spirituality, Prayer, and Everyday Life (2 c.e.u.)
Participants learn about the nature and purposes of prayer, and the dynamic relationship between prayer and spirituality. Particular attention will be paid to various forms of personal prayer and communal prayer -- including liturgical prayer and liturgical spirituality -- and to the effects of spiritual growth on personal and communal well-being.
Discernment Skills for Christian Life and Ministry (2 c.e.u.)
Participants examine the relationship between spirituality and the process of discernment. Guidelines for the discernment of spirits, based on the teachings of St. Ignatius Loyola, will be considered, as will the critical lifeskills of Christian conscience formation, spiritually prudent decision-making, and witness to gospel values in the world.
Spiritual Companionship: Methods and Approaches (2 c.e.u.)
The practice of becoming a spiritual companion, or soul-friend, is ancient and valuable -- with roots that stretch to the monastic period of Christian history. During this course, contemporary models of spiritual companionship will be discussed. Distinctions between companioning, spiritual direction, mentoring, and the counseling process will be explored.
Spirituality, Discipleship, and Justice (2 c.e.u.)
This course explores the challenges associated with linking Christian spirituality and discipleship with the gospel call to justice, action, and peace-making. Essential church teachings and church documents will be discussed, as will practical implications for daily spiritual life and models for individual and corporate social action.
Emerging Forms of Christian Spirituality (2 c.e.u.)
This course will overview a number of emerging forms of Christian spirituality, some traditional and some non-traditional – and some of which are being actively reclaimed today from the church history. With each form named, a discussion on the practical implications, for the individual believer and for the communal life and well-being of the church, will be undertaken.
Learning Plan for Extension Courses
The Specialized Certificate in Christian Spirituality curriculum is composed of six (6) continuing education courses.
- Christian Spirituality Through the Ages
- Spirituality, Prayer, and Everyday Life
- Discernment Skills for Christian Life and Ministry
- Spiritual Companionship: Methods and Approaches
- Spirituality, Discipleship, and Justice
- Emerging Forms of Christian Spirituality
Ordinarily, each of these distance education courses is presented over two days in a seminar (or workshop) format by a member of the LPLC’s instruction team. These two days of presentation are then followed by a 45-day period devoted to required readings pertinent to the topic of the course and completion of short, written summaries of what one has learned.
In order to successfully complete each course in the Specialized Certificate curriculum (via distance education), a course participant must do each of the following:
- Attend and actively participate in all class sessions (usually 15 contact/class hours,
often taught over a two-day schedule) - Complete a post-class, directed reading assignment
- Complete a brief written response to the readings
- Turn in written work in a timely manner to the LPLC
Successful completion of an individual Certificate program course, by a properly enrolled continuing education student, will result in the reception of two (2) c.e.u. -- i.e., two (2) continuing education units. (Note: In the C.S.S. extension program, twenty (20) contact hours per course -- the equivalent of 2 c.e.u. -- will normally be calculated by combining fifteen (15) contact/class hours, plus five (5) contact hours for supervised, self-directed study through reading assignments and written responses.)
Credits Needed for the Specialized Certificate
Each of the six continuing education courses in the Specialized Certificate program leads a participant toward reception of 2 continuing education credits (2 c.e.u.). A total of 12 c.e.u. -- representing the successful completion of all six courses as specified in the Certificate curriculum -- are required for the award of the Specialized Certificate in Christian Spirituality, from the Loyola Pastoral Life Center of Loyola University New Orleans.
For More Information
For more information, contact an extension site coordinator or the Loyola Pastoral Life Center.
E-mail: lplc@loyno.edu
Loyola Pastoral Life Center
Attention: LPLC Coordinator
6363 St. Charles Avenue
LIM -- Campus Box 67
New Orleans, LA 70118
Phone: 800.777.5469
Ph: 504.865.3728
Fax: 504.865.2066