Print Button
Professional Certificate in Pastoral Ministries

Program Overview

An experienced pioneer in pastoral education, the Institute in Pastoral Administration is a community of faithful learners.  The Institute serves pastoral practitioners, ecclesiastical administrators, and educationally-motivated Catholic adults. Our programs develop insight into Catholic wisdom, both pastoral and theological, as well as facilitate practical or administrative practices within each student's particular ministry.

View IPM Videos

The Institute offers five affordable programs to laity, deacons, and priests from throughout the United States and Canada:

Our three-year program in Pastoral Ministries strives:

  • to equip participants with a deep understanding of Roman Catholic doctrines, corresponding Christian theologies, and pastoral practices that clarify the Gospel for our culture and promote the care of persons in our Church;
  • to demonstrate academic practices of inquiry, discovery, and reflection relevant for professional employees in the Roman Catholic Church and church-related organizations: and
  • to inspire attitudes and skills that are compatible with Roman Catholic ministerial service, especially facilitating personal transformation in Christ, building faith-community, and developing a pastoral presence grounded in awareness of one's gifts and limitations as a minister.

Program Structure

The course of studies for the Professional Certificate in Pastoral Ministries begins after Easter and concludes before Advent.  Studies proceed in three phases, within a learning community that travels together through three years, each with a summer residency:

  • reading and writing to be completed at home in preparation for the summer-residency;
  • 10-day summer-residency in Winona where students and faculty immerse into critical dialogue, liturgical prayer, and friendships; and,
  • (graduate certificate and master of arts only) post-residency assignments at home  that include additional reading and writing with reference to the pastoral context of participants’ local churches.

The curriculum for a Professional Cerfiticate in Pastoral Ministries offers a combination of  theology and pastoral skills courses for a total of 30 CEUs.

Program Delivery

Creative and accessible professors lead by example and clarify by theory. Faculty are drawn from pastoral and academic environments throughout the United States and hold the highest academic credentials. Our faculty are active clerical and lay ministers in the Roman Catholic Church. Communication between students, professors and administrators is essential in all aspects of the program. Email, telephone, and the internet-based Blackboard Learning System™ provide an array of tools to sustain the learning faith-community established in summer residencies. Students gain access to Blackboard upon admission.

Dates for Summer Residency

  • June 14 - June 24, 2010
  • June 13 - June 23, 2011


Location

Winona


Admissions Contact

Jami Spitzer
(800) 635-5987 ext. 7500
(507) 457-7500

Institute in Pastoral Ministries
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
700 Terrace Heights #77
Winona, MN  55987
Toll free:  (800) 635-5987   ext. 7500
FAX:  (507) 457-1752
ipm@smumn.edu


 Course Information

    Curriculum

    The curriculum in Pastoral Ministries for the Master of Arts and Professional Certificate offers six theology courses, three pastoral skills courses (including two electives), and three integrated pastoral research (IPR) courses, for a total of 12 courses. During each of the three summer residencies, learners typically enroll in two theology courses and one pastoral skills course. Required only for the Master of Arts, the integrated pastoral research courses are registered in the three successive years and are self-managed, with completion between summer residencies. The mentorship of a professor and the associate program director are assets to insure each student's success.

    Sequence for the Professional Certificate in Pastoral Ministries (30 CEUs)

    Summer I (10 CEUs)
       PM 305 Human Relations in Ministry
       PM 340 Foundations in Theology, or
       PM 370 Liturgy, or

    Thus, one’s entry to pastoral studies in IPM is an academic spiritual exercise in three parts. The law of praying (lex orandi) is evident in Liturgy. The law of believing (lex credendi) is evident in Foundations. The law of living (lex vivendi) is evident in Human Relations in Ministry.

    Summer II (10 CEUs)
       PM 310 Leadership in the Faith Community, or
             PM 320 Church at Prayer, or
             PM 325 Christian Spiritualities, or
             PM 331 Canon Law for Pastoral Ministers, or
             PM 333 Social Action for Pastoral Ministers, or
             PM 334-339 Special Topics in Pastoral Ministry, or
             PM 380 Sacraments
       PM 350 Ecclesiology
       PM 360 Scripture

    Summer III (10 CEUs)
       PM 320 Church at Prayer, or
             PM 310 Leadership in the Faith Community, or
             PM 325 Christian Spiritualities, or
             PM 331 Canon Law for Pastoral Ministers, or
             PM 333 Social Action for Pastoral Ministers, or
             PM 334-339 Special Topics in Pastoral Ministry, or
             PM 380 Sacraments
       PM 332 Christ Yesterday and Today
       PM 390 The Church and Moral Issues


     

     

     

  • PM305 Human Relations in Ministry (2 CEUs)
  • PM310 Leadership in the Faith Community (2 CEUs)
  • PM320 Church at Prayer (2 CEUs)
  • PM325 Christian Spiritualities (2 CEUs)
  • PM331 Canon Law for Pastoral Ministers (2 CEUs)
  • PM332 Christ Yesterday and Today (4 CEUs)
  • PM333 Social Action for Pastoral Ministers (2 CEUs)
  • PM334_to_339 Special Topics in Pastoral Ministry (2 CEUs)
  • PM340 Foundations in Theology (4 CEUs)
  • PM350 Ecclesiology (4 CEUs)
  • PM360 Scripture (4 CEUs)
  • PM370 Liturgy (4 CEUs)
  • PM380 Sacraments (2 CEUs)
  • PM390 The Church and Moral Issues (4 CEUs)


Program Staff
Timpthy Backous, OSB, STD
Pastoral Ministries - Adjunct Professor
Graduate and Professional Programs - Coordinator
Benjamin Berinti
Institute for Pastoral Ministries - Adjunct Associate Professor
Nancy Dallavalle, Ph.D.
Institute in Pastoral Ministries - Adjunct Associate Professor
Lorraine Kilmartin, M.A.
Institute of Pastoral Ministry - Advisor, Theology - Adjunct Lecturer
Business - Assistant Professor, Pastoral Ministries - Adjunct Assistant Professor
Department Chair, Office of the President - University Dean for University Affairs, Theology - Associate Professor
Michael Shanahan, M.Div
Pastoral Ministries - Faculty
Pastoral Ministries - Adjunct Associate Professor
Winona Graduate and Professional Programs - Program Secretary
Pastoral Ministries - Adjunct Assistant Professor
Theology - Assistant Professor