Diaconate & Lay Ecclesial Formation

Ministry Formation and Adult Religious Education Courses

General Information.

For On-Line course on "The Psalms" click here

Click below on each ministry to learn more about what is required.

Deacon  

Pastoral Life Coordinator  

Liturgical Coordinator  

Director of Religious Education

Parish Administrator   

Parish Manager.  

Builders of the New Earth.

Beginning September 1999, the Diocese of Gallup began offering courses in preparation for the following ministries:

Permanent Deacon

Parish Administrator

Pastoral Life Coordinator

Liturgical Coordinator

Director of Religious Education

Parish Manager

Builders of the New Earth Program

Preparation for the permanent deacon will take four years, parish administrator requires three years and the remaining four are two year programs.

Adults who wish to participate in a course or courses solely for personal enrichment without intending to complete training for a particular ministry may do so.

Ministry Formation Team

Director of Diaconate Formation:

Co-Directors of Diaconate Formation:

Deacon Frank T. Chavez

Deacon Richard Conn

Director of Academic Formation:

Dr. Emerine Glowienka, Ph.D.

Director of Lay Ministry Formation:

Sister Rose Marie Cecchini  

Director of "Builders of the New Earth":

Rev. Blane Grein, O.F.M.

All classes are held at the Sacred Heart Retreat Center south of Gallup.

The intent of these courses is to provide academic training and adult religious education.  

They are not intended as a means of earning academic credits.

The detailed schedule of classes is as follows:

Current Moral Issues:

Christian sexual ethics, marriage, lifestyles, bioethics, and Church teachings.

Old Testament Survey:

Review of the historical, didactic, and prophetic books of the Hebrew Scriptures.

Creed:

An explanation of the Nicene Creed and the Apostles Creed, together with these

philosophical concepts as used in them; being, essence, existence, causality, creation.

Psychology of Religious Development:

Contributions of Theology and Psychology that aid in human and spiritual growth.

Church History:

An overview of the Church from the post-apostolic age through post-Vatican II events. Special emphasis is placed on its development in southwestern U.S.A.

Methods of Youth Catechesis:

Methods of catechetical instruction appropriate to various ages of young people.

Models of Church:

An outline of the various perceptions of the Church as found in the New Testament and highlighted in the documents of Vatican II.

History of Philosophy:

Brief surveys of ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary philosophers.

Parish Programs:

An exploration of the variety of programs that can involve parishioners as active members of their Church, e.g., youth ministry, women's groups, and men's groups.

Components of the Ministry Formation Program

Courses:

Philosophy

Doctrine

Liturgy

Catechesis

Homiletics

Canon Law

Moral Theology

Ascetical Theology

Ecclesiology

Scripture

Church History

Parish Administration

Communication

Pastoral Life

Formation:

A process of information, personal awareness, and spiritual development designed to enhance the participants readiness for leadership and ministry.

Builders of the New Earth:

Is a spiritual formation program of our Catholic Faith whereby Spiritual leaders are formed by small group sharing of their experience of God, their incarnate faith and their prayerful reflection of Scripture.  In the process they learn and grow from one another and deepen their respect for each person's journey.

Expenses:

The participant will assume the cost of the courses.  However, financial aid is available.

Cost per course:

Ministry Program-$10.00 per course.

Adult Religious Education-$25.00 per course.

For those in the Ministry Program, staying over for the Formation Component

on Sunday morning is necessary; therefore, food and lodging expenses

at the Retreat Center are as follows:

Breakfast $ 6.00

Lunch $ 8.95

Supper $ 8.95

Single room per night $25.00

Double room per night $20.00

Books:

Cost varies from course to course.  Participants may purchase books at the first class.