Graduate and Students Celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving
Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
The Master of Divinity Degree is a professional ministerial
degree that prepares candidates for the Roman
Catholic priesthood. The degree is designed according
to the Program of Priestly Formation (2006) by the
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. (USCCB). The goals
of the degree program support the four pillars of priestly
formation: human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral.
The four pillars are integrated to form a comprehensive
program of formation. This integration means that the intellectual
coursework assists in developing the student’s maturity and
awareness of the human condition, in order to nurture the
student’s spiritual growth in his relationship with Jesus Christ,
the Word of God, and to effectively be a “bridge” between the
sacred mysteries and the world within pastoral activity.
Since most of our candidates come from other countries,
the acculturation process is a strong and important
dimension throughout the program.
Goals and Objectives
The Master of Divinity degree program is designed to guide the student in
developing the following attitudes and competencies:
Human — To integrate the intellectual, spiritual, pastoral, and human dimensions
of priestly ministry.
--To engage in the practice of self-assessment to ascertain growth in the areas needed
for effective ministry
--To develop emotional and psycho-sexual maturity, moral integrity, and social concern
for the people of God.
Spiritual — To grow in the practice of the art of spirituality for the Roman Catholic
ordained ministry
--To engage in reflection upon how God is working in one’s life.
--To develop a habit of prayer and participation in the sacramental life
of the Church.
Intellectual — To understand and communicate the Roman Catholic faith
tradition in the context of the contemporary world and society.
--To write an exegesis on a passage of scripture.
--To articulate and address the moral problems of society today
--To write a coherent thesis which demonstrates an understanding of the tradition
and magisterial teaching.
Pastoral — To develop responsible, collaborative, culturally sensitive pastoral
leadership in a variety of ministerial situations.
-- To communicate the faith through preaching, worship, and ministry.
--To minister effectively within multicultural faith communities.
--To collaborate with others in developing their gifts and ministries.
-- To demonstrate the ability to be a leader of public prayer and worship.