Certificate in Diaconal Ministry

Saint Elizabeth University 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.

SEU 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 SEU.

Requirements (32 credits)

REL105Pastoral Counseling for Ministry

4

REL110God and the World Before Jesus

4

REL113The Jewish Life of Jesus

4

REL143Liturgy & Spirituality

4

REL220MPTheological Reflection

4

REL221Love and the Human Person

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.