Hometown
Santiago, Chile

Current Position
Doctoral Candidate in Systematic Theology, Boston College Theology Department

I wanted to study a theology that would help me deepen my commitment to faith and justice, and would give me a strong intellectual and spiritual basis in order to be a woman in ministry. Also, I thought I needed some experience in another country, in order to broaden my knowledge and experience of the Catholic Church. At the CSTM, I found not only excellent teachers, but also an encouraging and diverse community of people who want to serve others inspired by their faith.

Being at CSTM was a constant reminder of how important it is to take your interests, hopes, and dreams seriously. In them, you can hear the calling of God to a more authentic life, that at the same time leads you to do better service in the Church and to the world.

Hometown
Pensacola, FL

Undergraduate Institute and Major
University of Notre Dame

Most Meaningful Course
Fr. Dunkle's Trinity in the Early Church course was fundamental to my academic formation. It was challenging and rigorous, but I was completely engaged in the material. Its intellectual rigor challenged my mind to its full extent; furthermore, the course reminded me that what the Trinity and other more "abstract" dogma should never be divorced from the lived experience of Christianity. This class and others have been an inspiration to pursue a doctorate in theology.

My Experience
The CSTM is a great fit for me because it emphasizes community without sacrificing any academic rigor. When applying for a MTS, a major priority for me was forming mentorships with faculty and students who take seriously their studies. In both respects the CSTM has fulfilled this desire. Faculty are strongly invested in the academic and overall career success of their students, and I have met wonderful students who inspire me to consider how my academic vocation will positively impact the life of the church. Along with this, the great breadth of courses available to students through the BTI, and especially the main campus, provide students many options for coursework. With this variety, students can tailor their degree to the theological interests and engage with doctoral classes and students, both at BC and across Boston.

Community
STM events, and especially the lunches following Thursday liturgy, have been a great way to foster community for me. Perhaps even more formative for me, though, are the casual and informal conversations and friendships I have formed in the classroom, walking by others in the library, and around campus. In these interactions, It is always encouraging to see familiar faces from the classroom in the library as we all try to journey in our learning together.

Hometown
Massapequa Park, NY

Undergraduate Institute and Major
University of Notre Dame, Theology

Current Positon
Ph.D. Student in Systematic Theology, BC Theology Department

Community
STM's Liturgy and Lunch is often the highlight of my week. I love praying together as a community of faith at St. Ignatius, witnessing the various gifts and ministries expressed in our worship together, and connecting with my classmates and professors over a shared meal afterward, celebrating who we are as the body of Christ.

Why CSTM?
STM takes seriously its mission as a school of theology *and* ministry in service of the global church. The community of scholars and ministers integrates rigorous intellectual engagement with pastoral experience, is rooted in the Catholic tradition and committed to ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, promotes intercultural learning and attention to social justice, cultivates Ignatian values and principles of discernment, and prioritizes spiritual formation, evident in the school's vibrant liturgical life. After my M.T.S., CSTM continues to nourish my deepening call to theological study and ministerial presence in service of the church. I am now pursuing the Ph.D.-S.T.L. as a joint program with the Theology Department, which will provide me with the theological background and pedagogical competence for teaching, research, and advising in various institutions of higher education and ministerial formation.

Most Meaningful Course
A highlight of my time at CSTM was a three-week summer course in the Holy Land called "In the Footsteps of Jesus" with other students from CSTM, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, and Boston University School of Theology. At École biblique et archéologique française de Jérusalem, we learned from renowned Scripture scholars, and we traveled across Israel and Palestine to explore the culture, history, and topography of the biblical landscapes. Now, I cannot read Psalm 121:1-2 without recalling the majestic, rolling hills of the Judean desert or John 21:15 without thinking of the rocky shore of the Sea of Tiberias in the morning light.

Home City and Country
Beijing, China

Undergraduate Institute and Major
Philosophy

Current Position
Project Manager at the China Historical Christian Database with Boston University

My Experience
My most meaningful classes are the ones through which I saw the beauty of the Catholic Church in a deeper way both in light of its respective historical context and of our global society today. One of my most profound experiences was when I was led to see the beginning of Genesis through a class on Buddhism that added greater appreciation of the Scripture and our Tradition. And I will be forever grateful for the many friends, especially the priests in formation, religious sisters and brothers whom I have shared a part of our journeys together. It is easy to take for granted a diverse student body in the U.S., but we shouldn't, especially not at CSTM, for we have so many totally consecrated lives to God from all over the globe. I've been greatly encouraged by how they have responded the callings and blessed to share prayers, liturgies and meals with them fostering our spiritual friendships.

Hometown
Dayton, Ohio

Undergraduate Institution
Boston College

Current Position
Senior Director Ethics, The Catholic Health Association of the United States

Most Meaningful
The most meaningful event was meeting my wife. The experience that helped me the most professionally was the willingness of professors to open my eyes to the wonderful ministry of Catholic health care.

Why CSTM?
CSTM does an outstanding job of building community for the students, faculty, and staff. The weekly Mass with lunch was an opportunity to break bread with one another and to have discussions that went beyond the syllabus of the classroom.

Hometown
Philadelphia, PA

Undergraduate Institute and Major
Fairfield University, American Studies and Religious Studies

Most Meaningful Experience
I took a class on theology, ethics, and race in the BC Theology Department with a group of students from the CSTM. The ability to study with world class scholars, to learn from master teachers, and to grow in relationship with fellow students is invaluable. In that class we built a community that extended beyond the classroom; we shared our hopes and challenges. We learned concrete lessons and reworked what we thought we knew previously through the lens of authors often overlooked in the academy. Studying with peers in dual degree programs, on the ordination track, and with a variety of lived experiences has enriched my learning experience and blessed me with a diversity of relationships that I cherish far beyond the classroom.

My Experience
The CSTM has provided a fertile ground for me to ask theological questions and to hone my sense of academic inquiry. The professors I've had have modeled what it means to "do" theology and encouraged me to do the same. They have mentored me and also urged me to develop a sense of collegiality. We learn together in the classroom- asking questions about theology and practice. Answering those questions is a community effort that draws off of varied sources. The CSTM works for me because it provides a space for growth on both ends of the theological spectrum. Students are encouraged to build relationships and to discover the answers that can be found in deep conversations and thorough study.

Community
The CSTM is a community growing and learning together. It is a community filled with support and striving to build relationships for the life of the world and for the future of the church. The community at the CSTM prays together, learns together, and ultimately grows together. It is a community with heart that enriches the mind and nurtures relationships of the soul.

Hometown
Middletown, Pennsylvania (PA)

Undergraduate Institute and Major
New York University (NYU), Philosophy Major and Religious Studies Minor

Most Meaningful Experience
My most meaningful experience at the CSTM has been the openness and availability of the faculty. Whether it is support during challenging times or a conversation about an interesting idea, the CSTM faculty wants to sit down with you about it. They want to hear your voice, get to know you, help you, see where a thought leads. With that, the CSTM has created a crucial space for the Church’s next generation of scholars and ministers to develop their self-confidence, maturity, and wit.

My Experience
The CSTM works for me because I feel free to pursue my intellectual and personal projects with the resources of the CSTM at my back. I feel comfortable to grow, ask questions, and entertain topics, knowing that my peers and professors will assist me in that venture. I know that I will be a better version of myself as a scholar at the end of my time at the CSTM. And this all occurs within a top-tier institution, at that.

Hometown
Milwaukee, WI

Undergraduate Institution and Major
Marquette University — B.A. in English/B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature (minors in Theology and Political Science)

Current Position
Associate Professor of Christian Ethics, Xavier University

Why CSTM?
STM opened my eyes to a depth and breadth of theological inquiry I never knew was possible. Each person I encountered was so deeply invested in serving the church. The diversity of the CSTM community helped me appreciate what it means to be catholic and Catholic; I learned so much from every classroom discussion, the feedback I received from professors, and the opportunity to work as a GA in BC Campus Ministry. My education at CSTM opened the doors that helped me pursue my deepest desires, personally and professionally, in service to the academy, church, and society. 

My Experience
Every professor invested in me; they showed me cura personalis, offered warm support, and meaningful challenges. They shared their passions with me and helped me discover new horizons in theology, moral formation, and its pastoral applications. I am still connected with many CSTM classmates, professors, and staff; one classmate is a godparent for my son. In addition to providing me an ideal preparation for my profession, my time at BC CSTM forged bonds that I will savor for the rest of my life. If pressed, I'd say my favorite class was Richard Lennan's course on The Church -- it almost made me want to be a systematician instead of an ethicist. My very first course was his Foundations of Christian Theology class and right away I knew: I am exactly where I want to be, doing exactly what I want to be doing. (It's also hard to pick against class with Dan Harrington. That was truly extraordinary.) 

Hometown
El Paso, TX

Undergraduate Institute and Major
Boston College, Philosophy and Political Science

Current Positon
Ph.D. Student in Systematic Theology, University of Notre Dame

Community
I experienced community at the CSTM in the classroom and in the chapel. I was always most struck and astonished by the way the community at the CSTM both studied and prayed together. Pope Francis says that the best theology is done on our knees and I think that the CSTM really embodies that on a communal level.

Why CSTM?
I knew I was considering a Ph.D. from before my time at the CSTM, but I was not sure how or what. The M.T.S. program at BC is flexible and allowed me to engage deeply with multiple different topics and subjects. I was able to build my own project that I was then able to use to get into Ph.D. programs, including Notre Dame. Professor Hosffman Ospino's mentorship on my Master's thesis is, to this day, one of the most important building blocks for me in my professional and personal vocation.

Most Meaningful Experience
My time at the CSTM was marked by a personal growth in my own vocation as a Latina Catholic minister and theologian. It was at the CSTM, through my relationships with peers and professors, both from Latin America and Latine from the US, where I came to understand the broader implications of my being bilingual and how that intersected with my interests in Theology and my own baptismal vocation. I worked at Formación Continua, the Spanish-speaking Continuing Education, and also got to engage in events such as masses for Our Lady of Guadalupe, altar building for Día de muertos, and bilingual preaching and liturgies.

Hometown
Los Angeles, CA

Undergraduate Institution and Major
Loyola Marymount University, Psychology & Theological Studies 

Current Position
Religious Studies Department Chair at Marymount High School, Los Angeles

Why CSTM?
There are countless reasons as to why the CSTM worked for me however what stands out is their practical approach to graduate studies in Theology. Especially with the M.T.S. degree, studying theology often times stays in the theoretical. Now as a high school teacher, I frequently hear my students comment on how Scripture and/or Tradition can at times seem obsolete. Therefore it is my job to challenge my students in seeing how compatible our Catholic faith is with what is transpiring in our world today. I owe this skill to what I learned back at the CSTM.

Community
Thursday liturgy and lunch! This would often times be the highlight of my week. It was both a formative and restorative time set aside as an opportunity for worship and connecting with my peers and of course, free lunch! Who doesn't love a free lunch?