PROGRAMS OF STUDY
PRE-THEOLOGY PROGRAM
Saint Joseph Seminary offers an integrated two-year program of spiritual and academic formation for students who are preparing to enter a Roman Catholic theologate but who have never participated in a seminary formation program.
The Pre-Theology program offers the basic requirements in philosophy and undergraduate theology necessary for entrance into the theologate and provides students with supplemental academic formation, based on the four parts of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, that will develop their appreciation of the Catholic heritage while deepening their own spiritual journeys. Designed primarily for the needs of second-career candidates and other college graduates, the program is flexible enough to accommodate the specific needs of individual students.
Before beginning theological studies, the candidates must fulfill certain academic requirements. But the candidate must also make a transition from previous commitments, routines and concerns if he is to enter fruitfully into the total formation program of the theologate. Such a transition is not merely academic but also has broader intellectual, spiritual, human, and pastoral aspects.
The academic requirements set by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Program of Priestly Formation (a minimum of 30 semester hours in philosophy and 12 semester hours in undergraduate theology) cannot be accomplished in a single year.
Thus, Saint Joseph Seminary College, with an academic curriculum set within the context of holistic priestly formation and an atmosphere of reflection, offers an ideal setting for the total process, which enables the candidate to stabilize his decision to follow Christ as a priest.
Because of the varied cultural and educational backgrounds of such candidates, the Pre-Theology Program is both structured and flexible, fulfilling the necessary prerequisites while still addressing individual needs. At the same time, it serves as a further screening process, so that the focus of the candidate, his diocese, and the theologate will be more clearly defined when theological formation begins.
The Pre-Theology Program is an integrated whole that allows the candidates to spend energy and quality time on the multifaceted issues of ministry and of personal dedication to Christ and His Church:
COMPONENTS OF THE PRE-THEOLOGY PROGRAM
Spiritual Formation: Special consideration is given to the age and individual needs of the candidate. As a rule, he participates in the regular Seminary Spiritual Formation Program: daily Eucharist and Morning and Evening Prayer; weekly formation discussion groups, under a formation moderator; semi-annual days of recollection; annual Holy Week retreat and participation in the Paschal Triduum; personal contact with a spiritual director and availability of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Many religion courses in the Pre-Theology curriculum also pertain to spiritual formation.
Pastoral Formation: This element is integral to the two-year program and is carefully moderated so that the student does not become overly absorbed in pastoral concerns to the detriment of other aspects of the program. In order to help the candidate to adjust to a new way of life, few individual outside activities are scheduled during the first semester; candidates are however, encouraged to engage in regular apostolic assignments. In the three final semesters, candidates may participate in a supervised program.
Human Formation: Participants in the Readiness for Theology Program live in a separate residence (Borromeo Hall) under the moderation of a Dean of Students. They are active members of the Student Government Association and participate in all its activities and events.
Intellectual Formation: The basic curriculum has been established to help the candidate acquire a philosophical mindset adequate for the study of systematic theology. Undergraduate theology courses are designed to answer the demands for in-depth formation in the Catholic tradition while preparing the candidate for theological study and for further priestly formation. Latin and Greek are offered in accordance with directives from the Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education, which stress the need for theology students to have tools for the study of patristic literature. Spanish is also offered as an introduction to the language and culture of the growing Catholic Hispanic community in the South.
PRE-THEOLOGY CURRICULUM
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PRE-THEOLOGY PROGRAM
Saint Joseph Seminary offers an integrated two-year program of spiritual and academic formation for students who are preparing to enter a Roman Catholic theologate but who have never participated in a seminary formation program.
The Pre-Theology program offers the basic requirements in philosophy and undergraduate theology necessary for entrance into the theologate and provides students with supplemental academic formation, based on the four parts of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, that will develop their appreciation of the Catholic heritage while deepening their own spiritual journeys. Designed primarily for the needs of second-career candidates and other college graduates, the program is flexible enough to accommodate the specific needs of individual students.
Before beginning theological studies, the candidates must fulfill certain academic requirements. But the candidate must also make a transition from previous commitments, routines and concerns if he is to enter fruitfully into the total formation program of the theologate. Such a transition is not merely academic but also has broader intellectual, spiritual, human, and pastoral aspects.
The academic requirements set by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Program of Priestly Formation (a minimum of 30 semester hours in philosophy and 12 semester hours in undergraduate theology) cannot be accomplished in a single year.
Thus, Saint Joseph Seminary College, with an academic curriculum set within the context of holistic priestly formation and an atmosphere of reflection, offers an ideal setting for the total process, which enables the candidate to stabilize his decision to follow Christ as a priest.
Because of the varied cultural and educational backgrounds of such candidates, the Pre-Theology Program is both structured and flexible, fulfilling the necessary prerequisites while still addressing individual needs. At the same time, it serves as a further screening process, so that the focus of the candidate, his diocese, and the theologate will be more clearly defined when theological formation begins.
The Pre-Theology Program is an integrated whole that allows the candidates to spend energy and quality time on the multifaceted issues of ministry and of personal dedication to Christ and His Church:
- It acquaints the candidate with the basics of Catholic culture and tradition.
- It allows him to participate actively in ordered liturgical prayer, while cultivating private prayer and devotion.
- It furnishes him with a community context while guiding him into the solitude of a celibate life style.
- It engages him in basic pastoral activity.
- It challenges him with serious academic responsibilities.
COMPONENTS OF THE PRE-THEOLOGY PROGRAM
Spiritual Formation: Special consideration is given to the age and individual needs of the candidate. As a rule, he participates in the regular Seminary Spiritual Formation Program: daily Eucharist and Morning and Evening Prayer; weekly formation discussion groups, under a formation moderator; semi-annual days of recollection; annual Holy Week retreat and participation in the Paschal Triduum; personal contact with a spiritual director and availability of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Many religion courses in the Pre-Theology curriculum also pertain to spiritual formation.
Pastoral Formation: This element is integral to the two-year program and is carefully moderated so that the student does not become overly absorbed in pastoral concerns to the detriment of other aspects of the program. In order to help the candidate to adjust to a new way of life, few individual outside activities are scheduled during the first semester; candidates are however, encouraged to engage in regular apostolic assignments. In the three final semesters, candidates may participate in a supervised program.
Human Formation: Participants in the Readiness for Theology Program live in a separate residence (Borromeo Hall) under the moderation of a Dean of Students. They are active members of the Student Government Association and participate in all its activities and events.
Intellectual Formation: The basic curriculum has been established to help the candidate acquire a philosophical mindset adequate for the study of systematic theology. Undergraduate theology courses are designed to answer the demands for in-depth formation in the Catholic tradition while preparing the candidate for theological study and for further priestly formation. Latin and Greek are offered in accordance with directives from the Sacred Congregation for Catholic Education, which stress the need for theology students to have tools for the study of patristic literature. Spanish is also offered as an introduction to the language and culture of the growing Catholic Hispanic community in the South.
PRE-THEOLOGY CURRICULUM
| FIRST YEAR | ||||
| FIRST SEMESTER | CREDIT | |||
| PHI 441 | Philosophy and the Theological Endeavor | 3 | ||
| PHI 301 | Ancient Philosophy | 3 | ||
| THE 451 | The Catholic Profession of Faith | 3 | ||
| THE 201 | Old Testament | 3 | ||
| LAT 101 | Latin I | 3 | ||
| Total Semester Credit: | 15 | |||
| SECOND SEMESTER | ||||
| PHI 202 | Philosophy of Nature | 2 | ||
| PHI 302 | Medieval Philosophy | 3 | ||
| PHI 304 | Metaphysics | 3 | ||
| THE 452 | Celebrating the Christian Life | 3 | ||
| THE 202 | New Testament | 3 | ||
| LAT 102 | Latin II | 3 | ||
| Total Semester Credit: | 17 | |||
| SECOND YEAR | ||||
| FIRST SEMESTER | ||||
| PHI 401 | Modern Philosophy | 3 | ||
| PHI 403 | Epistemology | 3 | ||
| PHI 303 | Logic | 3 | ||
| PHI 305 | Ethics | 3 | ||
| THE 453 | The Catholic Moral Vision | 3 | ||
| Total Semester Credit: | 15 | |||
| SECOND SEMESTER | ||||
| PHI 402 | Contemporary Philosophy | 3 | ||
| PHI 404 | Philosophical Anthropology | 3 | ||
| PHI 406 | Natural Theology | 3 | ||
| THE 454 | The Catholic Tradition of Prayer | 1 | ||
| Elective | 2 | |||
| Total Semester Credit: | 14 | |||
| Total Program Credit Hours: | 61 | |||
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