Certificate in Diaconal Ministry

The College of Saint Elizabeth offers deacon candidates the best of its rich heritage and outstanding resources to help prepare deacon candidates for ministry in the Church. The goal is to challenge its students to cherish the tradition and create the future. The faculty prepares the candidates by educating them in the richness of the Catholic theological and spiritual tradition. This enables the men in this program to be able to serve the Church and its needs in today's world.

The College works in collaboration with various dioceses in creating a program that will meet the needs of each individual diocese. The course of study listed below is just one model that is currently being used. Others can be designed. Each diocese provides the spiritual and pastoral formation of the candidates, which supplements and enhances the theological formation offered by the College.

Requirements (32 credits)

REL105Pastoral Counseling for Ministry

4

REL110Hebrew Scriptures

4

REL113The New Testament

4

REL143Liturgy & Spirituality

4

REL220MPTheological Reflection

4

REL221Fundamental Moral Theology

4

REL250Controversial Issues

4

REL300Homiletics Art of Preaching

4

Related Requirements

Deacon candidates are required to participate in a series of preaching workshops and training over a four year period. In addition, three workshops on various pastoral issues and concerns are offered each year by experts in theology, spirituality, and liturgy. Additional topics, such as Canon Law, are provided by each diocese.