This past summer, the Office of Admissions at Sacred Heart Major Seminary conducted parish visits at St. Juan Diego and Most Holy Redeemer parishes to provide information about their Certificate in Catholic Theology (CCT) offered in Spanish. It was an opportunity for their parishioners to learn more about the certificate and get in-person assistance in completing the application process for admission and financial aid.
Patrick Cassady, the Director of Admissions, coordinated the visits with Fr. Jaime Hinojos, pastor at St. Juan Diego parish and current STL student at Sacred Heart, and Marcela Solis, the Religious Education Director at Most Holy Redeemer and CCT graduate. The visits were conducted on weekday evenings and were an opportunity for those interested to have their questions answered and bring transcripts and other application materials so students could enroll for the upcoming Fall semester.
Marcela Solis (CCT ‘14) was able to schedule time for two parishioners from Most Holy Redeemer and two parishioners from the Shrine of the Little Flower to meet with Patrick on the evening of July 1st.
“I grew a lot through the courses,” Marcela said, “It helped me go beyond my limits as a catechist and it provides a special formation.” Marcela was taught by Bishop Arturo Cepeda, auxiliary bishop of Detroit, and other faculty who offered clarity on church teachings. “When a student goes to the seminary and finishes, you can see the confidence in their teaching,” Marcela continued, “It makes a big difference to have the courses in their language because they learn more and they can then transfer that knowledge and formation to others in their families, communities, and parishes.”
“I had the opportunity to meet with both current students who had questions about the upcoming semester and their progress toward completing the Certificate in Catholic Theology, as well as prospective students interested in learning about how coursework at Sacred Heart can enrich their faith and equip them to be greater missionary disciples within their parish community,” shares Patrick Cassady. The Certificate in Catholic Theology course of study is available in a traditional classroom format in English and Spanish. This course of study also may be completed in its entirety in an online format (English language only).
One of the students Patrick met with was Maria Manzanares Leyva, a parishioner of the Shrine of the Little Flower. Maria is enrolled in Introduction to Liturgy and Sacraments, her first course this Fall semester. Maria was grateful for the opportunity to meet in person to go over the application and enrollment process because it allowed her to get the information in Spanish and converse in Spanish. “I wanted to enroll so I could learn more about my faith and hopefully begin to serve the church in a ministerial way more effectively,” shared Maria. “The class is great and it is really helpful that it is in Spanish. This allows me to make sure I am understanding all of the content and interact with others who experience the Mass in Spanish.”
The Certificate in Catholic Theology is one of many educational and formation opportunities for the laity to learn more about their faith or to equip themselves for ministry within Families of Parishes and beyond. Sacred Heart also offers Undergraduate and Graduate level diplomas and degrees to all laity seeking to enrich their faith and equip themselves for ministry. If you are interested in learning more about the course offerings for lay adult Catholics, or if you would like to schedule a parish visit for the Admissions team to share information and provide assistance to those interested, please contact them at (313)-883-8696 or admissions@shms.edu. You can also request more information here. The Winter semester begins in January and they are currently accepting applications for admission until Friday, December 10, 2021!