CERTIFICATION IN YOUTH MINISTRY STUDIES
Program Overview
Successful Certification in Youth Ministry Studies includes 12 courses (11 online and 1 in service).
All courses are five-week modules unless otherwise stated.
Year One (2024-2025)
Year Two (2025-2026)
- 01
A Vision for Catholic Youth Ministry is a five week course introducing students to the vision and principles for developing a comprehensive framework for youth ministry. Students will explore the historical development as well as contemporary models of the Catholic Church's efforts to reach out to young people and their families. Finally, students will be introduced to a leadership system for creating a stable, vibrant, and lasting ministry within their ministry setting.
- 02
As central to the life of the Christian person, liturgy engages the heart, body and soul in praise, thanks and worship of God as Trinity. In this course, participants will study the ritual and symbolic meaning of liturgy, its structural elements and its importance to Christian worship and life.
- 03
This course provides an introduction to the stage theories of human development and spiritual growth. Participants will explore the maturation of human beings from a holistic perspective. The works of Fowler, Erikson, Kohlberg, Gilligan, Piaget and others will provide the foundation for examining the psychological, physical, and spiritual growth over the course of a human's lifetime. Particular attention will also be given to family systems theory to provide the wider context shaping the faith development of human persons. Finally, these theories will be applied to the particular age cohort of the student in effort to promote self-understanding.
- 04
This course provides an introduction to relational ministry with youth. Participants will examine a mindset for relational ministry and its place relative to the Vision of Youth Ministry in the U.S Catholic Church. Specific attention will be given to theological reflection on the Incarnation of Jesus Christ as the staring point for building relationships with youth.
- 05
This course will provide an introduction to the theology of prayer and worship, and will explore practical methods and techniques for leading prayer and worship with young people. There will be a special emphasis on the value of a multi-cultural perspective in all opportunities for engaging young people in prayer.
- 06
Please click here for a total list of courses offered.
- 01
This course will look at some of the major doctrines of the Catholic Church. Participants will come to a better understanding of the Trinity, original sin, church, salvation history, and the communion of saints. Participants will be asked to identify the meaning of magisterium, ecumenism, eschatology, and other Catholic terms.
- 02
The Directory for Catechesis, presented to the universal Church on June 24, 2020, was developed to address the current needs of catechesis such as the globalization of culture, the rise of a digital culture, the need for the “way of beauty” in catechesis, and other pastoral needs and opportunities for catechesis.
- 03
In this four-week seminar, we will take the opportunity to reflect on our role as catechists through the example of Jesus. Following the twelve lessons of Bill Huebsch, we will gather a greater understanding of how to integrate Jesus’ gospel message into our identity as catechists and then apply this learning through practical resources for ministry. This course will strengthen one’s understanding of vocation as a catechist as well as provide helpful takeaways for future ministerial application.
- 04
The sacraments of initiation draw us deeply into Christ's life and life within the Christian community, and through them we are sent out in mission in Christ's name. This course will provide a foundational study and reflection on the history and theology of these key sacramental moments.
- 05
Ministry around the world is often to and with persons of different cultural backgrounds. What may work for one group in a particular cultural setting, may not work for another cultural setting. Thus, there is the need to understand the skills needed to reach across cultures and build bridges even as ministry takes place. A careful reflection on the Canadian mosaic is presented by Mary Jo Leddy and her work, “Why Are We Here? A Meditation on Canada”.
- 06
Please click here for a total list of courses offered.
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