Notre Dame Seminary Graduate School of Theology (NDS) and leadership at the Archdiocese of New Orleans are excited to announce that the application period for its lay ministry programs is now open. The programs include a Master’s Degree Program and a Commissioning Program for Lay Ecclesial Ministers. Both programs offer an opportunity for everyday Catholics to become lay leaders in their parishes and workplaces. The application for enrollment in the program is open now through April 13, 2018.
"The Seminary is excited to begin its next cohort this summer for Catholics that would like to be trained as lay leaders in our local churches," said Caroline Butterworth, who is part of the lay programs development team at NDS. "The archdiocese is focused on making it easier for all Catholics to learn more about their faith, and training them to be Catholic leaders in their field.” The lay programs are designed for those working full-time and offer courses in a Saturday and weeknight format.
“I am grateful to be taught by so many anointed professors, and to make friends with seminarians, and lay students!” said current student, Mary Lou McCall. “My studies at NDS are transforming my personal life as a mom and my professional career as a substance abuse prevention specialist. As I study the intellect of God and learn the truth about my Catholic faith, I am now incorporating the Church’s wisdom into the brain science of addiction programs that I am delivering to Catholic school students and their parents.”
One of the obstacles NDS will have to overcome is the general but false perception that the seminary is strictly an institution for men studying for the priesthood. “Some have perceived Catholic seminaries as exclusive, spiritually gated communities,” wrote Fr. James Wehner, Rector of Notre Dame Seminary. “Yet this perception misses the mark. At Notre Dame Seminary our goal, guided by our Chancellor, Archbishop Gregory Aymond, is to be an apostolic community where all of God’s people—seminarians, deacons, religious and laity—are able to learn together.”