Certificate in Asian and Pacific Islander Catholic Ministry

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The objective of this program is to provide a culturally focused formation of pastoral leaders, both professional staff and volunteer lay, who serve the growing number of Asian Pacific Islander Catholic communities around the United States.

We will look at immigration histories, cultural and religious practices, and Catholic teachings and traditions, from the API perspective. We will also unpack the US Bishops’ document, Encountering Christ in Harmony: A Pastoral Response to Our Asian and Pacific Island Brothers and Sisters, to see what practical guidance it offers for those working on the ground with API communities.

Upon successful completion of the certificate, students will:

Know the immigration history, religious practices, and sociological challenges of API Catholics in the US;
Have a broad overview of Catholic teachings and theology as well as church history and structure, scripture, liturgy, catechesis, and API immigration history in the US;
Be able to more effectively understand the needs of API Catholic communities;
Be better equipped to implement culturally effective ministerial strategies for various API communities.

Program Dates: January 2025-November 2025

Course Modality: Online meetings twice per month + one in-person closing session in Oceanside, California in November 2025.

Certificate Completion Requirement:

Attend the in-person gathering
Attend all on-line meetings
Complete all course assignments. Assignments will include short reflection papers and a final pastoral project proposal, addressing a topic of API ministry, to be chosen by the student and approved by the program directors.

Tuition:

$1,200 (includes accommodations for the in-person gathering in November)

Scholarships are available thanks to the generosity of our supporters.

Schedule:

Thursdays @ 5-6:30pm (PT)/8-9:30pm (ET)

Topic 1: Thursday January 9 & 16
Topic 2: Thursday February 6 & 20
Topic 3: Thursday March 6 & 20
Topic 4: Thursday April 3 & 10
Topic 5: Thursday May 1 & 15
Topic 6: Thursday June 5 & 19 (no July meetings)
Topic 7: Thursday August 7 & 21
Topic 8: Thursday September 4 & 18
Topic 9: Thursday October 2 & 16
Topic 10 will be during our mandatory IN-PERSON gathering on November 2-5, 2025 at Mission San Luis Rey Retreat Center in Oceanside, California.

Click here to view last year’s topics and course schedule (2023-2024)

Program Directors:

Fr. Linh Hoang, OFM, PhD
Ms. Eunice Park, MTS, MAMC

Certificate in Asian Pacific Islander Catholic Ministry

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If you are requesting a scholarship, please write a short paragraph explaining:(1) How much are you requesting? (2) Do you already have a specific ministerial project or API community you are interested in developing a project for? Or have you already developed one? (3) How might this certificate program benefit your own ministerial work as well as benefit the API community you are currently/plan to minister with?

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