圣母大学

The Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry prepares you for professional roles of Christian service within a faith community or in other settings where people are in need. Pastoral ministers are privileged to walk with people at significant moments of their lives – sacramental preparation, the passages of youth and young adulthood, illness, bereavement, trauma, loss, birth, and death. They serve in parishes, hospitals, hospice centers, nursing facilities, prisons, and on campuses. A great need going forward, especially as our society ages, is for certified lay chaplains to bring the presence of Christ to the aged, the imprisoned, the dying – all those facing the great mysteries of life’s journey. If you feel the call to offer your gifts and talents in order to make a difference where there is great need, consider Pastoral Ministry at Madonna.

PROGRAM FEATURES

Receive a solid theological education joined with Catholic social teaching designed for those entering full time religious or lay ministry.
Be part of a unique learning environment that combines current theology with pastoral counseling, ethics, and cultural studies.
Engage in lively debates in the "classroom" (both onsite and online), with the availability of technology for sharing your work and your ideas with others.
Develop your pastoral skills through an internship where you will work alongside others in the field you are pursuing, whether it be parish work, hospital chaplaincy, prison ministry, college or high school campus ministry, or hospice care.
Prepare for practical aspects of ministry.
Specialize in chaplaincy preparation, pastoral/parish ministry, or hospice, bereavement, or criminal justice ministry.
Network with professionals and resources available through the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), and through Madonna University’s Department of Hospice and Palliative Studies and Department of Criminal Justice.
Meet the academic requirements for Catholic professional chaplaincy certification.
Availability of CPE programs at local hospitals.
Small student to faculty ratio; small class sizes allow for exploration of religious diversity which is paramount for ministering in today’s world..
Engaging faculty -- well-versed in their fields and dedicated to student success -- who will challenge you to think outside the box.
Courses can be taken on campus, online, or in a combination of both.

Careers

Chaplaincy: Hospital; Prison; Military
Parish Ministry
Youth Ministry
Campus Ministry
Liturgical Ministry
Parish Administration
Hospital/Hospice/Nursing Home Ministry
Prison Ministry
Bereavement Ministry
Catholic Charities
Protestant Social Services
Shelters/Soup Kitchens
Retreat Work
Spiritual Director