‘Church and Homosexuality’ among classes offered

This program would consist of 30 college hours to receive a degree in Pastoral Ministry. Twenty-four of those hours would be required core courses: Old Testament Literature, The Church, Christian Morality and Social Issues, Sacramental Theology, Christology, Theology of Ministry, Creeds and Faith. The remaining six hours could be selected from electives. The electives are developed according to need and interest. Thus far, the diocese has offered the following classes as electives: R.C.I.A.: Theological Considerations, Liturgy, Canon Law, Stewardship as a Way of Life, Introduction to Doctrine, The Book of Revelation, Prayer, Church History, Celebrating the Liturgical Year, Mary in the Church, Foundations for Catechesis, Spiritual Companioning, Philosophical Issues in Pastoral Ministry, Issues in Hispanic Ministry.

Together, the Diocese of Dodge City and Newman University envisioned the delivery of the program by means of Interactive Television. Today, seven sites throughout the diocese and one site in the Wichita diocese are used on Saturday mornings and Tuesday evenings for the Pastoral Ministry Formation Program.

The sites are located in the following locations: Dodge City – Hennessey Hall; Garden City – St. Mary Parish Center; Great Bend – St. Rose Auditorium Hugoton – St. Helen Parish Center; Liberal – St. Anthony School; Marienthal – St. Mary School; Pratt – Sacred Heart Rectory basement; Hutchinson - Trinity High School.

The Pastoral Ministry Formation Program continues to be a blessing for the Church and its people. Many gifted priests, sisters and lay people from our diocese have shared their talent of teaching and love for Jesus Christ through the Pastoral Ministry Formation Program. These leaders of our diocese not only share their knowledge and wisdom, they pass on the faith by sharing their dreams.

The people in the diocese taking the Pastoral Ministry Formation classes become a small faith-sharing group within a scholarly setting. The students build relationships and share a compassion for learning more about our faith on a scholarly level.

Classes for the 2004 Fall Semester will begin on August 21. Msgr. Brian Moore will be teaching the core course, "Sacramental Theology," and a one-hour course titled, "Church and Homosexuality." Father Robert Schremmer will be teaching a one-hour course titled, "Doing Church: Modeling Church Life and Ministry." Last spring 77 people from throughout the diocese enrolled in the course, "The Book of Revelation," taught by Father Henry Hildebrandt.

For more information on the Pastoral Ministry Formation Program contact Coleen Stein, Coordinator of Pastoral Ministry Formation Program and ITV at (620) 225-2156.