Program Information

 

             Are you called to serve?

 

         If you volunteer in your parish community by…

              

               catechizing children

               working with youth

               serving on the RCIA team

               visiting the sick

               planning and celebrating liturgy

 

                                     …the Ministry Certificate Program can help you!

 

The Archdiocese of Portland sponsors a Ministry Certificate Program (MCP) designed to provide Catholics who wish to serve the Church community with background and expertise. Two certificates are offered:

 

Basic certificate

 

Two components enable participants to meet two of the five Certification Standards.

 

1.  Personal and Spiritual Maturity

Weekend Retreat: Growth in the Spirit

Students devote the weekend at the Griffin Center to preparing a personal plan for ongoing spiritual development.  This retreat is offered on an annual basis.

 

 2. Lay Ecclesial Ministry Identity

(This standard is part of Advanced Certificate)

 

 3. Catholic Theology: Core Competencies

Seven 15-hour courses

Seven courses are designed to cover the “fundamentals” of the Catholic faith.

Church: Its Nature and Mission*

Christian Moral Life

Jesus Christ: God and Man

Liturgy and Sacraments*

Scripture I: Hebrew Scriptures

Scripture II: New Testament*

Vatican II: Its Impact and Direction

 

These courses are offered twice within a three-year cycle of annual summer intensive Study Weeks at the Griffin Center.  Courses indicated by * are also available in an online format.  Additional online options are under development.

 

Advanced certificate

 

Persons who wish to volunteer for various ministries can continue their studies toward a certificate in specialized ministries:

  • Parish Liturgist

  • Catechetical Minister/DRE

  • Care Minister

  • Pastoral Associate

 

These courses are offered in cooperation with related Archdiocesan Departments and are designed to meet the other required National Standards.

 

 2. Lay Ecclesial Ministry Identity

Weekend Retreat:  Called to Serve

This retreat will be offered beginning in the 2005-06 academic year.

 

 3 Catholic Theology: Specialized Competencies

Parish Liturgist

  • Elements of Celebration

  • Christian Initiation

  • Eucharist

  • Sacraments and Rites

  • Liturgical Year

Catechetical Minister/DRE

  • Foundations of Catechesis

  • Catechetical Content and Methodology

  • Role and Ministry of the Catechetical Minister

  • Christian Initiation

  Care Minister

  • Principles of Home Visitation and Interaction

  • Mental Health Issues in Ministry

  • Care for the Chronically and Terminally Ill

  • Sacraments of Healing/Eucharistic Ministry

  • Principles of Aging

  • Ministry to Persons with Disabilities

  Pastoral Associate

  • Pastoral Administration and Supervision

  • Pastoral Counseling

  • Select a specialization (Liturgy, Care, Catechetical/DRE); take  coures:

  • Choice

  • Choice

  • Choice

 4. Pastoral Praxis

Practicum

Working with the appropriate department, the student develops a project based on content of the specialized courses, and cooperates with an on-site mentor to carry it forward.

 

 5. Professional Practice

Workshops

Students choose from a series of workshops offered by various Archdiocesan Departments and covering topics of leadership, ethics, administration, church systems.

 

 Note:  The Youth Ministry Department also offers an Advanced Certificate utilizing a different format.  Contact 503-233-8395 for information.