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Online M.A. in Pastoral Ministry for the Laity and Permanent Deacons

- Watch this Short Video for a Summary of Our Program
- Overview of Our Pastoral Ministry Degree
  
  St. John’s Seminary offers an online Catholic Master of Arts in Ministry for directors of religious education, youth ministers, campus ministers, catechists, K-12 theology teachers, and anyone else interested in receiving formation for ministry, such as permanent deacons.
  
  This program helps students improve their knowledge of the Catholic intellectual tradition and improve their ministerial skills for the life of the Church in California.
  
  Learn how you can enhance your faith and further your divinity education with our Master of Arts in Ministry.
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- Our Online Model
  
  Students will read the best texts that the Catholic Tradition has to offer, including St. Augustine’s Confessions, St. Francis De Sales’s Introduction to the Devout Life, documents from Vatican II, and many others.
  A studio with professional video, audio, and lighting equipment has been built to produce visually stunning content by our world-class faculty.
  Students will meet with the professor and other students on Zoom for discussion in the evenings once per week.
- Curriculum: Our Pastoral Ministry Courses
  
  The M.A. in Pastoral Ministry’s curriculum is grounded in the 2005 document from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord. The twelve required courses for this program are:
  
  The Old Testament and Its Interpretation
  
  The New Testament and Its Interpretation
  
  Dogmatic Theology
  
  Church History
  
  Moral Theology
  
  Catholic Social Teaching
  
  Pastoral Ministry in Theory and Practice
  
  Liturgical and Sacramental Theology
  
  Spiritual Theology and Practice
  
  The Nature and Order of the Church
  
  Pastoral Care for Marriage and Families
  
  Practicum
  
  For more details on the curriculum: click here!
- Sample Lecture from Fr. Tim Peters
- Sample Lecture from Dr. Stuart Squires
- Participation Options
  
  Students called to pursue their Catholic master’s in pastoral ministry can expect the following program features:
  
  Students may join the program full time (three courses per semester) and complete the program in two years.
  
  Students may join the program part time (one or two courses per semester) and complete the program at a pace suitable to them.
  
  Students may take courses without pursuing the entire graduate program.
- Skills Developed in Our Pastoral Ministry Program
  
  There are many different skills that students will develop during their time in the Catholic pastoral ministry master’s program that can be applied to a variety of professional fields. In our courses, you will learn how to:
  
  Form the hearts, minds, and souls of K-12 students
  
  Develop youth, young adult, and college ministry programs
  
  Run a RCIA Program
  
  Prepare couples for Pre-Cana
  
  Guide parents on the baptism of their children
  
  Lead a Bible study
- Student Testimonial from Rosario G.
  
  What drew you to the MAPM program at St. John's?
  For years I had wanted to enroll in a master program but had not found one that was a good fit, mostly because of working a full-time job and the cost I looked into it, and it was exactly what I had been looking for. Accessible, affordable and well-organized courses.
  
  What aspect of the program did you find most fulfilling?
  Our Catholic faith is so rich and has so much history; learning about it in a formal and structured process has helped me gain a better understanding of the gifts that God gives us. The Church needs educated Pastoral Ministers that can explain Catholic history, dogmas, doctrine, and so much more.
  
  What is your current path within the Church and how did the MAPM help prepare you for it?
  My husband is a deacon and he and I lead Hispanic Ministry at our parish where we teach the faith. I am optimistic that my education in the MAPM program will make me well rounded Pastoral Minister.
  For More Student Testimonials: click here!
- The Director: Dr. Stuart Squires
  
  Dr. Stuart Squires earned his Ph.D. in historical and systematic theology with a focus on St. Augustine of Hippo from the Catholic University of America in 2012. His M.A. in theology is from the University of Chicago Divinity School, and his B.A. in comparative religious studies is from DePaul University.
  
  Dr. Squires has published extensively, including two books: The Pelagian Controversy: An Introduction to the Enemies of Grace and the Conspiracy of Lost Souls (2019) and You Will Be Changed Into Me: The Fruits of the Eucharist (2024).
  
  For more information on seminary faculty: click here!
- FAQs of our Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry
  
  What are the admission requirements for the M.A. in Pastoral Ministry program?
  Applicants must have an interview with the director of the program; a completed application form; A written essay; One letter of recommendation; undergraduate transcripts; be a resident of California.
  
  Can I take individual courses without enrolling in the full program?
  
  Students may take individual courses that interest them or complete all twelve courses for the M.A. degree.
  
  What career opportunities are available for graduates of the M.A. in Pastoral Ministry program?
  
  Graduates from our program can secure a variety of potential jobs, such as a pastoral associate, director of religious education, school teacher, campus minister, and others.
  
  How do the online pastoral ministry courses work, and what technology is required?
  
  Classes are hosted on Zoom one evening per week. Students need a computer, internet connection, microphone, and camera.
- Catholicism and Culture Podcast
  
  The online M.A. in Pastoral Ministry program has a podcast called Catholicism and Culture!
  
  In these bi-weekly episodes, Dr. Stuart Squires interviews theologians, philosophers, poets, artists, architects, filmmakers, street evangelists, and many others about the ways that Catholicism and culture come together in their lives.
  
  Episodes have explored a variety of topics such as the crisis in the domestic Church, faith and science, and the future of Catholic education.
  
  You can listen to the episodes here, or find them on any podcast platform such as Apple podcasts, Spotify, or Anchor.
- Application
  
  Only students who live in California are eligible for this program due to restrictions from the state of California. To apply for the Online M.A. in Pastoral Ministry Program for the Laity and Permanent Deacons:
  
  Click Here!
- Why We Are Your Choice for Your Catholic Master’s of Pastoral Studies
  
  At St. John’s Seminary, we are blessed with a dedicated faculty and staff who have devoted their lives to the Church, so students considering the Catholic Master of Arts in Ministry can trust they are in the hands of men and women called to form the next generation of lay ministers.
  
  It is also important to note that our Catholic master’s of pastoral studies is a program that can completed 100% online, giving students the freedom to pursue and achieve their degree at their own desired pace. This means pastoral ministry master’s students can complete their degree in as little as two years or extend their studies and finish the program in six years.
  
  When choosing our seminary for your Catholic Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry, our mission is to help our students improve their ministerial and leadership skills—as well as their knowledge of the wisdom of the Church—in order to be pastoral ministers for the 21st century.