The Boston College School of Theology and Ministry (STM) prepares leaders to serve communities of faith in the area of total community catechesis through its Master of Education in Religious Education  - Parish Catechetical Leadership program.

Parish Catechetical Leadership
As a Catholic theological institution in the Jesuit tradition, the STM is committed to meeting the needs of the Church by preparing individuals for service to the Church. For the past decade and under the direction of Thomas H. Groome and Jane E. Regan, Boston College has helped define and shape an innovative approach to religious education and faith formation called Parish Catechetical Leadership (PCL).

Grounded in theology and Church tradition, PCL educates Christians for life across the spectrum of school, parish, community, and family. PCL meets the growing need of parishes, dioceses, and other faith communities by preparing ministers and educators to create and implement life-long, intergenerational faith formation programs for the whole parish community.  Specifically, the Parish Catechetical Leadership program embraces a total community catechesis approach to religious education in which the entire parish – not just children and youth - is involved in learning and sharing about the faith.  Faith formation begins and continues at home, while at the same time being supported by the parish through Catechesis classes, liturgy, and the daily life of the community.

M.Ed. in Religious Education with a concentration in Parish Catechetical Leadership
Along with foundational courses in theology and education, M.Ed. students take pastoral studies courses and a seminar focusing on total community catechesis . Students also participate in meetings with colleagues and leaders in the field to share ideas and be exposed to communities that integrate the “best practices” of PCL. Additional elements of the program include:

1. A weekly 10-hour placement in a yearlong Contextual Education practicum site that supports the implementation of a PCL approach.
2. Mentoring through relationships with faculty, student colleagues, and placement supervisors.
3. A vibrant liturgical life and a diverse community of students and faculty from around the world.

Courses are offered during both the academic year and the summer and students have the option of  completing their entire degree over the course of five summers through our Summer Institute.

The School of Theology and Ministry is located in the Archdiocese of Boston – the fourth largest archdiocese in the United States and home to over 1.8 million Catholics.  The archdiocese is spread across 144 communities in eastern Massachusetts and is an ethnically diverse and spiritually enriching faith community, giving our students a wide-array of opportunities for parish ministry.

Financial Assistance
The School of Theology and Ministry has received a generous grant from the Henry Luce Foundation to fund fellowships in total community catechesis through our Parish Catechetical Leadership (PCL) program. PCL candidates of the highest promise will receive fellowships of 70 to 100 percent of tuition. These limited fellowships will be awarded to students with excellent academic standing and with the experience and leadership capacity to help propel the total community catechesis movement. Additionally, students presently employed or volunteering in a New England diocese are given special funding consideration.