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Research & Consultations
The Seminary Department sponsors many research projects related to seminaries, the priesthood and church life. We work with other church organizations in a consulting role to support their research projects.
CATHOLIC DISTANCE LEARNING NETWORK
The department received $70,000 to fund a two-year project to develop a network of seminaries offering distance-learning courses. The program helps seminary professors use instructional technologies and distance learning strategies within and between seminaries. The project grew out of the workshop offered before the 2006 Seminary Convocation. To learn more, visit: http://www.catholicdistance.org/
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT PROJECT
A grant of $100,000 was given in 2006 to study the psychological assessment practices of dioceses, seminaries and religious communities of men. A Consultor’s Committee met in May 2007, with represntatives from the bishops, priest organizations, psychologists, formators and others. The project is collecting data and a final report will be issued in late 2008.
TO PREACH THE GOOD WORD WELL
The department received $100,000 to improve preaching in the church. The project will develop a DVD and booklet showcasing good preaching, with interviews of preachers and the findings of research on what lay people say makes for good preaching. The project team has developed a rating scale based on input from lay people, along with a survey of preaching characteristics important to laity. A written report will be issued in Fall 2008.
TRANSITIONS PROJECT
The USCCB asked the Seminary Department to organize a national gathering for seminarians. The theme of “transition,” from seminarian to priest-pastor, is guiding the planning process. Still under discussion is the idea of matching mentors with a small group of new priests and linking them by technology. The mentor would focus on helping new priests solve ministry problems and adjust to parish life.
EXPERIENCES OF PRIESTS ORDAINED FIVE TO NINE YEARS
In Spring 2004, the Department received a Lilly Endowment grant to update its 1990 study on ongoing formation needs of priests ordained five to nine years. The pretest was completed during summer 2004 and data collection began in January 2005. Following the release of the report, the Seminary Department and St. Meinrad School of Theology held a symposium on the findings called "Making Connections: A Symposium on Priests Ordained Five to Nine Years." Seminary Journal published the proceedings of this symposium in Spring 2007. The research report is entitled Experiences of Priests Ordained Five to Nine Years by Dean Hoge and is published in book form. The cost is $17 for members, $25 for non-members, plus $6 shipping and handling. To order, go to our online store. For additional information, contact seminary@ncea.org.
CATHOLIC EVANGELIZATION AND DISCIPLESHIP
The pretest phase of the Seminary Department’s study of Catholic evangelization and discipleship was completed in May 2005. It is on hold until we gain more funding.
INTERNATIONAL ENROLLMENTS
In October 2004, the Seminary Department received a grant from the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion to study the implications of International Enrollments on theological education and pastoral formation. Approximately 25% of the seminarians currently in theological programs were born outside the United States. Bryan Froehle (Siena Center, Dominican University) and Rev. James Schuerman (St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee) are members of the project team. Marianist Brother Bernard Stratman of the NCEA Seminary Department directs the initiative.
The project's focus is the impact this is having on seminary life and priestly formation programs and will identify best practices as well as areas where remedial action may be needed. Phase One activities included research, site visits to seminaries, personal interviews at all levels, and roundtable discussions on various themes. Phase Two activities included the development of in-service programs for seminary persons based on the outcomes of the prior phase.
A two-part report appears in the Winter 2005 and Spring 2006 Seminary Journal. The documentation generated by the project will also be published in the Core Elements Series. For additional information, contact seminary@ncea.org.
We are glad to be able to present the articles generated by the International Enrollments Study. To view these six documents, click here.
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National Catholic Educational Association
