Oblate School of Theology
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OBLATE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY 2013-2016 CATALOG OBLATE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY 285 Oblate Drive San Antonio, Texas 78216-6693 Tel (210) 341-1366 Fax (210) 341-4519 www.ost.edu The statements set forth in this catalog are for informational purposes only and are not intended as a basis of a contract between a student and Oblate School of Theology. The School reserves the right to change provisions in this catalog without notice. Any student whose program is interrupted by an absence of one year or more may incur the obligation of meeting changed requirements as printed in the current catalog. Student Nondiscriminatory Policy The Oblate School of Theology does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, handicap, gender or age in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, or other school-administered programs. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Oblate School of Theology enjoys a long and a rich history. Founded as a tiny school on a barren hill outside the city of San Antonio more 100 years ago, it has grown up along with the city. Today the San Antonio metropolitan area numbers over two million persons and Oblate School of Theology sits near its geographic center. Like San Antonio, it too has grown. A hundred years ago Oblate School of Theology was a small enclosed Scholasticate training only Oblate seminarians. Today it is one of the 10 largest Catholic graduate schools of theology in the United States. It still trains seminarians for ordination, more in fact than it ever did before, but those seminarians today come from all over Texas, from all over the United States, and various foreign countries, and they share classrooms with lay students who too are preparing for ministry in the Church. However, inside all of this growth and change, Oblate School of Theology has remained solidly rooted in its original mission. It is still concerned with reaching out in a special way to the poor; it is still concerned about creating new church life and not just in sustaining what is; it is still concerned about who is falling through the cracks in our society; and it is still concerned with giving witness to simplicity of life. The words that undergird the charism of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate also undergird the ethos of the Oblate School of Theology: We are missionaries for the poor, particularly sensitive to the struggles of those who are being excluded, all the while trying to witness to simplicity of life. In fidelity to this, along with two of its historical partners, Assumption Seminary and the Mexican American Catholic College, Oblate School of Theology is trying to develop more programs that recognize the growing Hispanic religious and cultural influence in the United States in general and in San Antonio in particular. As well, to express its firm belief in its future, Oblate School of Theology has launched an ambitious, $30 million, capital and endowment campaign. This catalog lays out how Oblate School of Theology has tried to concretize its mission in terms of the various degree and certificate programs it offers. That, of course, is an ongoing process, but the programs listed in this catalog are where 100 years of effort has brought us. We are proud of our past and confident about our future. Come join us! Yours in Christ, Fr. Ronald Rolheiser OMI President CONTENTS GENERAL INFORMATION 6 Admissions and Registration 12 Academic/Professional Information 19 Student Life 26 Financial Information 27 ACADEMIC PROGRAMS 32 Master of Arts (Theology) 33 Master of Arts (Spirituality) 35 Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry 36 Master of Divinity 38 Certificate of Pastoral Studies 43 MA (Theology) and MDiv Dual Program 44 Baccalaureate of Sacred Theology 45 Doctor of Ministry 46 Doctor of Philosophy (Spirituality) 50 OTHER PROGRAMS 54 Pre-Theology Studies 55 Pastoral Lay Ministry 57 Lay Ministry Institute 58 Instituto de Formación Pastoral 59 Continuing Education 59 Permanent Deacon Programs 60 Hispanic Summer Program 60 Renewal Ministries 60 Oblate Renewal Center 60 Ministry to Ministers 61 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS 62 Undergraduate Courses 63 Master Level Courses 67 Doctoral Courses 85 BOARD OF TRUSTEES 94 ADMINISTRATORS 95 FACULTY 96 GENERAL INFORMATION GENERAL GENERAL INFORMATION Statement OF PURPOSE Roman Catholic Bishop, to preach Oblate School of Theology, founded Christ’s message and to serve the and sponsored by the Missionary People of God, especially the poor and Oblates of Mary Immaculate, is a marginalized. Catholic graduate and professional Oblate School of Theology was school which provides education for founded in San Antonio in 1903 the church’s mission and ministry in as the San Antonio Philosophical the world. and Theological Seminary. The The institution prepares persons for School’s initial goal and mission was pastoral ministry through academic to educate young men to serve as study and supervised practice. Oblate missionaries in Texas, New Through degree and certificate Mexico, Louisiana, Mexico and the programs the School strives to educate Philippines. and form candidates for priestly Today, Oblate School of Theology ministry as well as lay ministries. prepares men for priesthood from The School offers opportunities for many dioceses across the United professional continuing education and States and a number of religious personal spiritual renewal to those communities. Roman Catholic men serving in church and society. and women and those from other Oblate School of Theology models Christian traditions are present on and fosters collaboration in campus as the School also prepares ministry. It accomplishes its mission men and women religious as well as in cooperation with formation laity from Catholic and other Christian communities and other ecclesial and traditions for a variety of ministries. societal institutions. The early spirit and motivation of The pastoral orientation of the School the pioneering missionaries to be of requires practical and reflective service to the church in the cultural engagement with the multi-cultural, context where faith is lived and global reality of church and society. expressed is still a driving force Drawing upon Oblate School of for Oblate School of Theology. It Theology’s location and historical understands preparation for mission dedication to the Mexican-American and ministry as the actual integration presence in the Southwest, the of pastoral experience and theological learning, teaching, and research of the study. School pay particular attention to the In 1981, Oblate School of Theology diverse and rich Hispanic reality of the began the Ministry to Ministers Americas. program. The program is a four month intensive spiritual and theological History sabbatical experience for priests and The Missionary Oblates of Mary religious men and women who have Immaculate came to Texas in 1849, been in ministry for a number of at the urgent request of Texas’ first years. The Lay Ministry Institute opened its doors in 1982, and the THE CAMPUS Instituto de Formación Pastoral in Oblate School of Theology is located 1985. These two programs prepare in San Antonio, Texas, a city of rich candidates theologically and cultural heritage. The Gayle and Tom spiritually in certificate programs for Benson Theological Center houses the pastoral lay ministry. In 1992, the business offices, classrooms, a large Oblate School of Theology assumed lecture hall. The beautiful grounds the responsibility for the Oblate including the Merium Study Garden Renewal Center (formerly Casa San provide ample space for enjoying the José). Through its facilities, the Center outdoors and finding a quiet place offers a variety of programs to respond for study and reflection. A large to the needs of the local church. swimming pool is available during the The School recognizes the many warm months of the year. ethnic groups present in the The Donald E. O’Shaughnessy Southwest and the United States Library (DEOL) is a resource as a whole, reflecting the reality of center that acquires materials in those the world church. In the Southwest, areas which relate to the curriculum understanding ministry within its and programs of Oblate School of proper cultural context is particularly Theology (OST), as well as materials relevant to the Mexican-American designed for scholarly research community and heritage. There are in theological subject fields, and distinct challenges, for example, of the organizes those materials for efficient Mexican-American in predominantly intellectual and physical retrieval. Anglo-American institutions Through the provision of its as well as those of the Anglo- collection development and database American preparing for ministry to subscriptions, DEOL provides for the predominantly Mexican-Americans. informational needs of the students, The School’s programs utilize the faculty, administration, and staff of Hispanic cultural environment of the School in matters relating to the San Antonio to learn from and to performance of their functions at OST. prepare students to minister effectively among peoples of diverse cultural To assist those it serves in obtaining backgrounds. access to informational resources which are not a part of its collection, In addition to a commitment to the the Library participates in resource- Hispanic/Latino population, Oblate sharing activities in both a local and a School of Theology has opened its national level, including the utilization doors to a diverse student population of computerized bibliographic from all over the world. The school services. also is a center where students from a number of religious denominations The Donald E. O’Shaughnessy complete a degree in theology and Library holds approximately 85,000 ministry. plus volumes in its 17,000 square-foot facility, which consists of three floors in its west wing and three floors in its The Lebh Shomea Project entails north wing. incorporating the library holdings at The north wing consists of the main the Oblate Lebh Shomea House of entrance, the circulation desk, a Prayer in Sarita, Texas into the DEOL patron-resource center, and reading catalog.