STL CONCENTRATIONS IN LITURGICAL/SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY AND IN THE SPIRITUALITY OF DIOCESAN PRIESTHOOD

The Canonical Faculty, in collaboration with the Liturgical Institute at Mundelein Seminary, and with the Institute for Priestly Formation at Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, offers an STL concentration in liturgical/sacramental theology, and an STL concentration in the spirituality of diocesan priesthood, respectively.

 The core STL program remains the same for both concentrations.  It is comprised of the required courses in the history of Christian Thought, which allow the student an in-depth survey of the Catholic theological tradition from the New Testament to the present.  The STL comprehensive exam will continue to be rooted in the core courses taken by all STL students.

Liturgical / Sacramental Concentration  

Those pursuing the liturgical / sacramental concentration follow the core curriculum of the S.T.L. program with the following modifications: (a) The five S.T.L. electives are designated STL-LI, with content geared toward the concentration (they are open to any registered S.T.L. student); (b) HCT V is replaced by SY535 Sacramental Thought and Practice in the 20th Century; (c) The S.T.L. thesis topic must be in some area of liturgical / sacramental theology; (d) the oral exam includes themes and figures from sacramental / liturgical theology. For further information on the STL Sacramental / Liturgical concentration,  see the Bulletin of the Liturgical Institute.

Spirituality of the Diocesan Priesthood Concentration

N.B.: We have temporarily suspended admission to the S.T.L. with a concentration in the spirituality of the Diocesan Priesthood. Those currently enrolled will be able to finish, but new candidates will not be accepted until further notice.

For those currently enrolled, the following explains the spirituality concentration:

The Concentration in the Spirituality of the Diocesan Priesthood (in addition to ) consists of the core S.T.L. program and a cycle of three one-week intensives each year, for three years, for a total of nine.  At the end of three years, with a total of fifteen credit-hours, a student will have completed the STL electives required for an STL concentration.

Each intensive will begin on a Sunday evening and end at mid-day Friday.  The purpose of the intensive format is to foster the participation of qualified diocesan priests who have crowded pastoral schedules.

Each year’s cycle of intensives earns five credits.   Participation in all three years of course-work is required.  For this concentration, the STL thesis topic must also be in the area of “Spiritual Theology:  Spirituality of Diocesan Priesthood.”  The director of the thesis will be a member of the Institute Faculty.