Pastoral Ministry Faculty meeting, Thursday, March 10, 2016

Present: Vince Brady, Peggy Browne, Mike Chavez, Jim Smith, Rich Thibodeau, John Warren, Sr. Diane Koorie

Purpose of this special meeting was to discuss how we might add the element of pastoral formation to the PMP. At our January regular faculty meeting, the suggestion was made to perhaps use the electives to provide the focus on specific ministry areas.

General points of our discussion:

PMP provides the theological formation; more needed (along lines of elements of CoWorkers)

Aware of two types of persons who come to program: some interested in ministry, and others already active in ministry

What are the demands, that would drive the topics for electives?

How can we be more effective in getting the word out, about the program?

Better work with clergy

Possible first step: offer focused elective – Pastoral Care for the Sick

Great need for Catholics to be involved in pastoral care for the sick

Mercy has a program for volunteer pastoral aides, to assist the chaplains, be the eyes/ears for the professional chaplains

To be a chaplain at Mercy: requires appropriate degree and CPE.

This course would be preparation for volunteer pastoral aides; may or may not take other PMP courses? Would take for credit, for accountability, but not necessarily degree-seeking.

Would one course be sufficient? Make 2 parts, over 2 semesters?

Would Theology & Methods of Ministry be a prerequisite for this elective? What about the prerequisites we now require? i.e., need core PMP courses before Ministry course?

Rich will draft a potential course.

Other possible focused courses:

Social Justice ministry, for those working/interested in Justice, poverty, advocacy…

Liturgical ministries

RCIA

Adult Educators

Evangelization ministries

Other:

Need good PR, clarity as to why offering this “new” elective?

Get more rigorous about setting up goals/objectives? More formal accreditation process? For program credibility.

Juan Diego School: how relates to PMP? Differently structured; more like a secondary school level? Yet advertised as helping people minister?

How encourage/identify sense of being called and sent, to formation and to ministry?

How get the buy in of the Pastor, DRE, and/or other staff?

Offer both degree option and another model? Parallel programs? Many students come because it is a degree program. Can elective be taken and “count” if not part of degree program?

We are looking at coursework as more practical than theoretical, with a view towards ministerial formation.

…to be continued