More students pursue vocations

A recent rise in applications to the School of Theology and Ministry (STM) could be proof that Boston College is on its way to accomplishing one of the major tenets of its Master Plan - to become the world's leading Catholic university and theological center. According to an article published by WBZ-TV on Feb. 19, the STM has already received 242 applications, a 70 percent increase from the previous year.

"So far this year, we're up 70 percent," said Sean Porter, assistant dean and director of admission for the STM. Porter said that he thinks there are a number of reasons that the school has experienced a rise in applications. He said that the combined resources of the Institute of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry (IREPM) and the Weston Jesuit School of Theology under the STM have made the school one of the foremost theological centers in the nation. "With the creation of the school of Theology and Ministry, Boston College has the most comprehensive Catholic education institution, certainly in the country," Porter said.

Porter said that the school is attracting people from all ages, occupations, and walks of life. "The largest part of the increase is from people who are coming right from their undergraduate years or from after a year of JVC [Jesuit Volunteer Corps] work," he said. "We tend to have fewer second career folks than other schools."

He also said that BC tends to attract more young students than other comparable programs. "The diversity in ages makes for a very dynamic classroom experience," Porter said. It is the interaction between old and young members of a class and their different experiences, he said, that make class discussions compelling. "It's very intentional here," he said.

Thomas Groome, professor and chairperson of the STM, also said that the growth in popularity is due to the strength of the merged schools. "I suppose when you put the two together, that's a winning combo," he said. "It was a pastoral initiative here for about 40 years when it grew and prospered and developed a national and international reputation." Groome said that the high quality of the faculties at the two schools led to the creation of one excellent faculty when they were combined under the BC name. "We had a very fine faculty and program and staff, but so did they," he said.

Both Groome and Porter said that there is a large number of second-career people who have shown an interest in pursuing further education for a career in ministry. He said that many people may find themselves saying, "I'm no longer happy or fulfilled selling real estate or managing someone's financial portfolio," and that they find a vocation in ministry. "The numbers here at St. John's seminary are up as well," Groome said, though this may be due in part to actions by Cardinal Sean O'Malley that have opened it up to a larger pool of applicants.

"A lot of second-career people, a lot of them are women who found themselves moving back onto the job market," Groome said. "They make great ministers; they have a lot of wisdom for ministry."

"There is definitely a group of people who are either returning to school or choosing to make some changes in their life," Porter said. "There are some people who are thinking this is just the right time." He said that there seems to be a larger trend at theology schools across the nation and that Harvard Divinity School has experienced an 11 percent rise in applications.

"Admissions people are usually quiet about their numbers unless they're up 70 percent," he said.

If there is a trend, it seems not to have affected all theology programs equally. "Fordham has a program like ours, but I don't have the impression that their numbers are up," Groome said.

He said that some other schools in the area that have struggled in past years are now experiencing better application numbers. "There are some schools in the area that have had drastically dropping numbers in the last year; they are now flat or slightly increased," he said.

Porter said that this trend may be due at least in part to current economic troubles. The last time there was a jump in applications this large was after Sept. 11, he said.

"I would anticipate that we would experience some positive enrollment effect from an economic downturn of this size," Daniel Aleshire, executive director of the Association of Theological Schools, told reporters.

Porter said that the school endeavors to teach both lay and ordained members of the church to better serve. "What we're trying to do here is teach people to be able to minister alongside each other," he said. "I think if you want to position yourself as the preeminent Catholic school in the country, you have to have a strong theology department. If you feel the like the University is to serve the church, you would train people to actually serve the church."

Groome said that a prominent school of theology is an important priority for the University and part of the University's priorities in its Strategic Plan. "Fr. Leahy always puts it out there as a central aspect," he said. "Preparing people for ministries in the church and in the world is certainly part of this."

Groome said that all of the students of the school need not be interested in pursuing ordained service in the church. "They don't necessarily all have to end up working for and with the church," he said. "You don't have to be a theology major." At the same time, lay people serve an important role in ministry, especially as the number of ordained priests and nuns continues to decline, Groome said. "The number of men going into the priesthood continues to decline, I think."

What great news!

Litany for Priests

For our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, Lord, give him Your Heart of the Good Shepherd

For the successors of the Apostles, Lord, give them father concern for their priests.

For Your Bishops chosen by the Holy Spirit Lord, keep them close to your sheep.

For Your Pastors, Lord, teach them to serve rather than to seek to be served.

For confessors and spiritual directors, Lord, make them docile instruments of Your Spirit

For those who announce Your Word, Lord, let them communicate Your Spirit and Life.

For those who help the lay apostolate, Lord, encourage them to give witness.

For those who work with the youth, Lord, may they commit the youth to You.

For those who work among the poor, Lord, make them see and serve You in them.

For those who care for the sick, May they teach them the value of suffering, Lord.

For poor priests, Help them, Lord.

For sick priests. Heal them, Lord.

For elderly priests, Give them joyful hope, Lord.

For the sad and afflicted priests, Console them, Lord.

For anxious and troubled priests, Give them your peace, Lord.

For the ridiculed and persecuted priests, Defend their cause, Lord.

For lukewarm priests, Inflame them, Lord.

For the discouraged priests, Give them courage, Lord.

For those who aspire to the priesthood, Give them perseverance, Lord.

To all priests Give them fidelity to You and to Your Church, Lord.

To all priests Give them obedience and love for the Holy Father, Lord.

To all priests, Let them live in communion with their Bishop, Lord.

That all priests, Be one as You and the Father are One, Lord.

That all priests, May promote justice with which You are just, Lord.

That all priests, Collaborate in the unity of the Presbyterate, Lord.

That all priests, filled with your presence, Live joyfully in celibacy, Lord.

To all priests, Grant them the fullness of your Spirit and transform them into Yourself, Lord.

In a special way, I pray for those priests through whom I have received your graces. I pray for the priest who baptized me and for those who have absolved me of my sin, reconciling me with You and Your Church.

I pray for those priests in whose Masses I have participated and who have given me Your Body and Blood as nourishment.

I pray for those priests who have shared Your Word with me, and for those who have helped me and led me to You.

For all priests, transform them into You, Lord. May the Holy Spirit possess them, and through them renew the face of the earth. Amen.

Divine Heart of Jesus, Heart full of zeal for the Glory of Your Father, we pray for all Your priests. By Your Holy Spirit, fill them with faith, zeal and love. Amen.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.