Master's Degree in Vocational Discernment and Pastoral Care

The program covers two areas of formation: theory and practice. The first is studied over three consecutive summers during a six-week program each summer. It covers the corresponding courses, including advanced psychology and other Humanities subjects. The practical formation, supervised by one of the lecturers, takes place during the rest of the year, being compatible with other activities.

This Master’s Degree is designed for priests, religious brothers and sisters and laymen and laywomen who have or plan to take on a direct role in vocational promotion, formation or care.
It can also be of use for educators of the Faith or people who are involved in personal formative processes through leading Spiritual Exercises, offering spiritual direction or providing formation in pastoral care.

Candidates must hold a university degree or diploma and have experience in spiritual direction or guidance through formative processes.
Preferred age: between 25 and 35
Study background: licentiate (five-year) degree or diploma (three-year degree) with proven experience of at least two years of work
That the candidate commits to three consecutive years of study.

Students must complete and send in their applications to the Registrar’s Office of the School preferably before the end of October each year.
Application forms are provided by the School and include an application sheet and two letters of reference:
One letter should be written the Major Superior, recommending the applicant for working as a formator of the Faith, and the other should be written by someone who knows the applicant well and can attest to their suitability for the program.
The applicant should also include a copy of their CV.
Applicants will perform the personality evaluation and colloquia on vocational growth with a lecturer from the School. Completing the evaluation and beginning the colloquia is not a guarantee of admission.
Successful candidates will be chosen by a committee of lecturers, taking into account all the relative information. The number of students will be capped each year, given that each student will be personally guided through their vocational growth and in their practical activities.
Students will be informed of the Admission decision before the end of April each year. At that same time, successful candidates will be informed of the fees and the immediate preparation required for the course.
As candidates accepted onto this course will go on to assume a delicate task and a great deal of responsibility working in the area of formation and personal and vocational guidance, the School reserves the right to reconsider if any given student should continue onto the next year of the course