Marge Kloos, S.C., D.Min., Dean of Arts & Humanities
John Trokan, D.Min., Chairperson of Religious/Pastoral Studies
The graduate program in Spiritual and Pastoral Care is built upon 25 years of expertise in pastoral education at the undergraduate and graduate level. Pastoral care is rooted in “caritas” or the charism of charity. This theological virtue is the core of our institutional mission as founded by the Sisters of Charity and the focal point of compassionate ministry in our world of diversity and complex systems interactions.
Catholic in tradition, Christian in environment and ecumenical in composition, the master’s program in Spiritual and Pastoral Care is designed to enhance and integrate the interpersonal, systems and theological skills of health care professionals, educators and ministers who serve within diverse populations and social contexts.
The Department of Religious and Pastoral Studies at the Mount retains nationally recognized experts from a variety of disciplines who bring their knowledge, skills and perspectives to the Spiritual and Pastoral Care program. Small classes, academic advising and personal attention provide an environment conducive to learning, the development of pastoral competence and a true sense of community.
The goals of the curriculum include:
- Students will increase their knowledge of self and their spirituality and be able to use that knowledge in providing competent pastoral/spiritual care.
- Students will be able to examine, assess and respond to a pastoral situation in terms of a systems perspective: individual, family, congregation, and community.
- Students will be able to think theologically about themselves as pastoral care providers and the nature of pastoral care.
- Students will demonstrate skills in research, expression, and assessment in a supervised pastoral care context and use those skills effectively in the practice of pastoral/spiritual care. Specifically, students will be able to complete a formal needs assessment in a particular context, conduct a professional literature review for a particular issue under investigation, and identify professional groups that focus on these contexts and issues.
- Students will deepen their understanding of their religious heritage and the Christian tradition and relate that understanding to critical issues in contemporary pastoral care.
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of the ethical implications of pastoral activity and be familiar with the code of ethics applicable to their ministry.