A "Brilliant" Way to Learn

Twelve students complete first summer of new "blended format" STL.

Detroit earned a reputation as the place for innovation and technology during the industrial revolution when it put the world on wheels. It seems that pioneering efforts in innovation and technology is happening again in Detroit but not in the way you might expect.

For the first time, the Church has sanctioned a program for a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL) in which part of the credits for the degree is taken in courses offered online, and this program is offered at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. The seminary received approval from the Congregation for Catholic Education in Rome in 2013 to offer a licentiate degree in what is commonly known as a "blended" format, which combines traditional, face-to-face classes and the online course format that has become more prevalent in higher education.

Study, Prayer, Fellowship

Sacred Heart is an aggregate of the University of St. Thomas (Angelicum) in Rome, a formal arrangement between the two institutions through which the Angelicum confers pontifical degrees for students of Sacred Heart who complete approved programs for a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology (STB) or a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL). Sacred Heart offers its licentiate with a focus on the New Evangelization, which was the first of its kind when it began ten years ago. In keeping with the New Evangelization, which seeks new ways to present the gospel, Sacred Heart sought a new way to deliver the licentiate degree.

"Bishops really wanted to send priests to study the New Evangelization and obtain a licentiate degree from our program," notes Sacred Heart's rector, Msgr. Todd Lajiness, "but they could not afford to release them for two years to pursue the degree. We came up with this proposal to the Angelicum and the Congregation for Catholic Education to allow priests to learn about the New Evangelization and still work in their home dioceses."

This summer, twelve priests from all over the United States came to Sacred Heart as the initial cohort to begin the first blended licentiate program. For five weeks, they lived at the seminary, took intensive courses from Dr. Ralph Martin and Dr. Janet Smith, prayed, studied, and socialized together before returning to their ministries. This fall, they are taking the first online course while working full-time at home.

Initially, the Congregation has restricted this new blended program to priests only. Being the first of its kind in the Church, the Congregation wants to be prudent and evaluate this new format before opening enrollment to a larger number of students. If the first impressions are any indication, the program is off to an excellent start.

An "Organic" Format

"The STL program at Sacred Heart was and continues to be a truly fantastic and well organized program of academic study and spiritual growth," says Msgr. Mark Merdian, pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Rock Island, Illinois, who is also Episcopal Vicar for Health Care and Episcopal Vicar for Young Clergy in the Diocese of Peoria. "The priests in the program felt very much welcomed to Detroit and the seminary by the faculty and staff. They couldn't have been more hospitable in making sure our questions were answered and our needs were met."

This year's assemblage of STL students is the largest number of new students in the ten-year history of the program, due in no small part to blended format.

"The format of being able to split the program between summers and online courses is making it possible for me to be here," notes Fr. Jeffery Dobbs, Director of Spiritual Life at Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota. "Otherwise, I would not be in this program right now because of the demands as far as the number of priests in our diocese."

The blended format not only is about making this level of continuing education for priests possible. It has other benefits.

"I am going to have the unique opportunity to take the things I learn over the summer, ideas and new thoughts, and test them out and still be in contact with professors. So there is an ongoing theological reflection as well as a pastoral application," says Fr. Joe Kim, Director of Vocations and Director of Evangelization for the Diocese of San Jose, California. "I think that this is a brilliant way to combine learning and new initiatives with practical application in an organic way."

Inspired and Grateful

Many of the summer resident students expressed surprise and delight at how the program combines rigorous academic work with an emphasis of spiritual development, particularly their own. Father Dobbs especially appreciates the "great spiritual underpinnings" of the program and says that "the STL program is really a call to receive anew the graces of the Holy Spirit, how the Holy Spirit is equipping the Church and us individually as priests.

"The whole program has really been inspiring to me."

The success of the initial summer session has ignited hope that the seminary's mission to equip priests and lay ecclesial ministers for the New Evangelization will reach more people.

"One of the things that all of us noticed in the program was the spirit of camaraderie and spiritual unity which the faculty and staff exhibited together," Msgr. Merdian says. "I am so grateful for this opportunity and hope that others will experience the same joys we experienced."