Central to the Catholic Dominican tradition is the integration of mind and heart. Engaging questions about God requires a thoughtful study of the tradition, the culture and experience –the components of theological reflection. Faith impacts all of life, and the call to ministry through baptism is core in the Christian life. This call to ministry is expressed in all the areas of life, family, workplace, the political arena, parish and diocese, the environment and human suffering.

The discipline of pastoral ministry offers an opportunity to study the theological questions and to apply the learning in service to others.

The Pastoral Ministry Major

Initiated and designed in response to the growing reliance on lay leaders in the various ministries in the church, who require both ministerial skills and theological competence, the pastoral ministry program offers students preparation for parish or other ministries that is both innovative and comprehensive. Students of various ages come to this program from a range of backgrounds. Many are currently working in ministry. Others have been working in various fields and now wish to pursue ministry as a second career. Another group has raised families and now wishes to devote themselves to pastoral ministry, and still others are traditionalaged students who feel a call to service in the community, in particular the community of church. Students in the program develop a strong sense of community as they study and reflect on the Christian, particularly the Roman Catholic tradition, and integrate that study with their life experience and ministry.

Pastoral Ministry Minor

Twenty-four semester hours are required, including pastoral ministry and courses in theology. It also is strongly recommended that students who minor in pastoral ministry courses take one of the pastoral ministry courses and at least one service learning course in their general curriculum.

Double Major

A possibility for students is a double major. The curriculum design in the Rosary College of Arts and Sciences enables students to combine their major in pastoral ministry with other majors to enhance their ministry. Theology is one choice, particularly where students are interested in teaching. Communication arts, sociology and psychology provide useful skills for ministry and for students who are interested in parish or agency management, a minor in business administration is an option.

Required courses are:

• Introduction to Ministry
• Understanding the Bible (may be waived)
• Hebrew Scriptures I or Hebrew Scriptures II
• Christian Scriptures I or Christian Scriptures II
• Introduction to Theology
• The Church
• Jesus the Christ
• Sacraments in the Catholic Tradition
• Introduction to Ritual and Symbol or Worship, Liturgy and Prayer

With the aid of an adviser, students design programs suited to their own particular needs and have the opportunity to focus especially on specialization in care and bereavement ministry, family ministry, Catholic social thought, parish management, youth ministry, religious education, or liturgy and sacraments. These specializations are designed to be interdisciplinary, drawing on departments whose curricula help to round out their education.