School of Theology and Ministry

Sabbatical Program

school of theology and minsitry

GIFT FOR A SEASON
The Shakers have a saying, that “all of life is gift… but gift for a season.” The School of Theology and Ministry (STM) Sabbatical Program is an opportunity for individuals to experience the gift of a season of Sabbath time steeped in the Jesuit tradition and the Roman Catholic faith. in the context of a vibrant community.  It offers a basic structure, but with the freedom and flexibility to accommodate a wide array of personal interests and desires.

STM sabbatical participants come from around the world and from diverse backgrounds in church ministry.  The sabbatical community is small, comprised of religious, clergy, and lay ecclesial ministers, but offers immersion in the larger community life of the STM and Boston College.  With a rich University environment of academics, faith enrichment, and the arts, an exciting city, and scenic areas such as Cape Cod, the Maine Coast, and Vermont all close by, the STM is a great place for renewal, rest, intellectual enrichment, and envisioning one’s future.

Sabbatical Students

PROGRAM DETAILS
Religious, clergy, and lay ecclesial ministers are eligible to apply to the STM Sabbatical, a full-time, non-degree program available during the Fall Semester. Special arrangements can be made for an independent sabbatical for those participants who wish to stay on for the Spring Semester.  To make the most of this experience, participants should be in reasonably good health.

The program includes:

  • Option to audit up to three courses (STM course offerings) with our world class faculty, offering the opportunity to participate fully in class but without the expectation of exams and papers.  Sabbatical participants are an integral part of the STM community and are valued by students and faculty for the insight they bring to class discussions born of their years of ministerial experience.  In most cases, students are expected to keep up with reading assignments.  In addition to the extensive course offerings available across this University (Boston College courses), participants also have the option to take courses through the Boston Theological Institute (BTI), the area consortium of theological schools throughout the Boston area. 
  • Academic advisement is available to support the choice of courses that will meet each individual’s unique needs while on sabbatical.  Many Sabbatical participants come to the STM for theological updating; however, this might be a time to study something you’ve “always wanted to learn about” (such as art and music), rather than staying with what you “should” be studying.
  • The Colloquium on Ministry and Life, designed specifically for sabbatical participants, is the foundational integrative component of the STM’s sabbatical program.  It is a spiritually formative discussion in a collegial and participative atmosphere that seeks to meet the individual spiritual and ministerial interests of participants while looking toward their next steps on the journey.  The Colloquium offers mutual support and an opportunity to enjoy the best wisdom of its participants, thereby leading to new learning and personal and professional transformation.  It meets weekly for 2 hours on a day and time that fits with participants’ course schedules.
  • A diverse and global STM student community, including Jesuits and other candidates approved for ordination studies, women and men for lay ecclesial ministries and for service rooted in faith.   The STM has a large number of younger students, a source of energy and hope for many Sabbatical participants.
  • The opportunity for regular spiritual direction.  The STM provides a listing of seasoned spiritual directors in the vicinity of Boston College with the availability to see Sabbatical participants as frequently as desired.  If a participant feels that she/he would benefit from engagement in counseling or pastoral counseling, this too is available. 
  • The opportunity for an extended retreat.  There are several fine retreat houses located in scenic areas around Boston, offering a variety of retreat options from a guided weekend format to an 8-day silent directed retreat.  The STM provides a list of local options that fit well within the semester schedule.
  • Periodic social, cultural, and/or spiritual outings as determined by the interests of the Sabbatical group.  These have included a Duck Tour of Boston, lunch with various members of the faculty and staff, concerts and the theater, dinners, museums, and days of reflection.
  • Full participation in the STM events, including special lectures and workshops as well as liturgical, service, and social events.  Mass is available at the STM Monday through Friday at 12:15 pm, with an all-school Mass and luncheon weekly. 
  • Opportunities offered by the University, including liturgical, cultural, and educational events. (Liturgy Schedule, Arts Calendar, University Calendar, Church in the 21st Century Center)
  • The opportunity to explore New England in the Autumn!  Boston is a cultural and artistic center of world renown.  From the Museum of Fine Arts, to the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the American Repertory Theater, there are numerous ways to experience New England’s rich historical and cultural heritage.  And there’s no place like New England in Autumn, with our crisp, cool, sunny days and magnificently colored foliage!  Sabbatical is the perfect time to drink in this beauty.

SUMMER SABBATICAL

Consider a Summer Sabbatical!  Available for 2, 4, or 6 weeks within the STM Summer Institute, beginning in June, 2010.  Details to be announced.

COSTS
Cost per semester: $5,628 (billed at the rate of 7 credits, which is $804 per credit for 2009-10)

Includes:

• Audit 3 Courses
• Colloquium on Ministry and Life
• Allowance for Spiritual Direction (if needed)
• Allowance for Retreat (if selected)
• Sabbatical Group Outings
• STM Continuing Ed Lectures and Workshops

Additional Individual Expenses:

• Application Fee:  $70
• Student ID:  $30
• Graduate Student Activities Fee:  $45
• Parking (if needed):  $135
• Books and course supplies
• Boston College recreation facilities (RecPlex) if desired: $135
• Housing:  Sabbatical participants may explore Boston College Graduate Housing options or Off-Campus Housing Services through the Office of Residential Life http://www.bc.edu/offices/reslife/. Housing costs will vary according to individual arrangements. The STM Associate Dean for Student Affairs will assist with housing needs and facilitate arrangements for men and women religious seeking placement in local rectories and convents.

*Limited Financial Aid may be available to those demonstrating financial need.


ADMISSION

• Religious, clergy, and lay women and men engaged in full-time professional Church-related ministry are eligible to apply.
• The Sabbatical Program is a full-time program, and admission is only considered for full-time participants. All participants enroll in the weekly Colloquium.
• All sabbatical participants are accorded full-time student status, regardless of the number of courses they audit. As full-time students, sabbatical participants enjoy full privileges, including access to the libraries of the STM, Boston College and BTI schools.
• At the completion of a semester, a certificate is awarded which attests to an individual’s participation in the program. No academic credit is awarded. 
• English proficiency:  If an international applicant is from a non-English speaking country, an acceptable TOEFL score is 213 or above on the computer-based exam, or 79 on the new Internet exam.
• Apply

For more information about the STM Sabbatical Program, contact:
Melinda Brown Donovan, Associate Director, Continuing Education
Boston College School of Theology and Ministry
melinda.donovan@bc.edu
Phone: (617) 552-0185 (direct) or 1-800-487-1167