Migration is a growing phenomenon in Asia and all indications suggest that it will remain an important aspect of the region’s landscape. The local Churches in countries of origin and destination in Asia are called to promote theological reflections and studies on this phenomenon.

The Instruction Erga Migrantes Caritas Christi states «Episcopal Conferences will likewise entrust to Catholic university faculties in their territories the task of studying the various aspects of migration more thoroughly for the benefit of concrete pastoral service for migrants. Compulsory courses of theological specialization could also be programmed for this purpose.» (EMCC, 71).

To answer this call, the Loyola School of Theology, the Episcopal Commission for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP-EMCI), and the Scalabrini Migration Center (SMC) have established a special program in Migration Theology. The program is tailored to meet the different needs of lay pastoral workers, religious, and ordained persons involved in this ministry. It also aims to train students of theology in addressing this important concern of the Church today.

THE CERTIFICATE

The requirements for enrolling to the Certificate Program are as follows:

a) Proficiency in English language through the LST English Proficiency Test;

b) Accomplished application and registration forms;

c) Personal letter of application or letter of recommendation from the superior, bishop or official of the applicant's institution;

d) At least 2 years of college (or its equivalent) and a basic theology course.

The required five courses for this program are offered during the fist semester of each academic year (from June to October). Four courses are compulsory (MTP 01, 02, 03 and 04); one subject is chosen from a list of elective migration courses. All courses are open to auditors.

LICENTIATE IN SACRED THEOLOGY (LST)

Application. For admission into the Licentiate in Sacred Theology Program with a field of specialization in Migration Theology, applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree in Sacred Theology (STB), issued by an ecclesiastical faculty of theology. They must also have at least a general average of 2.0 (B+). Those who have finished four years of theology from a school of theology that does not offer the S.T.B. may still qualify for the STL program provided they have the same average grade as above and can offer some proof of their capacity to write a tesina (e.g., a research paper they have written in their seminary course).

Licentiate applicants must pass an entrance Exam administered by the Ateneo de Manila and an LST English Proficiency Test. They are admitted to the STL program upon the recommendation of the Standards & Degrees Committee and the approval of the Dean.

Language requirements. Besides English, the licentiate student needs to have a reading knowledge of one modern language in which significant theological writing has been done (e.g. German, French, Spanish, Italia). He/she must also have a working knowledge of Biblical Hebrew or Greek, and Latin. The requirements may be satisfied either by (a) taking language courses of two semesters for each language in any language institute or university, or by  (b) passing a proficiency test administered by LST in any or all of these languages. The language requirements must be fulfilled before writing the tesina.

Curriculum. The program requires at least three semesters of course work in which the student must successfully complete seven courses on migration (21 units), two of which must be guided reading courses. Four other courses (12 units) on migration are taken by the student from a list of available migration electives to complete his or her studies. With the permission of the Dean, the student may take other courses closely related to the study of migration.

Apart from the courses required in the certificate program, the following courses are also offered at the Loyola School of Theology for licentiate students:

- Spirituality in an Age of Mobility

- Justice and Migration

- Ecclesiology and Ministries in Migration Context

- Pastoral Care of Migrants

- Body, Sexuality and Gender in Migration: A reading course

- The Human Rights of Migrants

- History of the Church in Asia

- Pastoral Psychology and Counseling

- Pastoral Counseling Practicum

The student must pass an oral comprehensive examination after the successful completion of all courses. The exam matter covers the course he/she has taken in his/her area of concentration. He/she must also write a licentiate tesina and defend it in public before a panel of professors.

MASTER OF ARTS IN PASTORAL MINISTRY

It is possible to attain a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry, with field of concentration in the Pastoral Theology of Migration, by taking:

* 5 Foundation Courses in theology;

* 5 Theology of Migration Courses:

- Introducing Theologies of Migration

- Migration in Catholic Social Teaching

- Justice and Migration

- Management of Pastoral Programs in Migration

- Pastoral Care of Migrants;

* 5 elective courses:

- The Bible and People of God on the move

- Ecclesiology and Ministries in Migration Context

- The Human Rights of Migrants

- Spirituality in an Age of Mobility

- Body, Sexuality and Gender in Migration

For more information on the Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry kindly inquire with the Dean.

FIRST SEMESTER 2011-2012  

MTP01 (Theo 236/363) Introducing Theologies of Migration

Emmanuel S. de Guzman, PhD

The course focuses on methodological approaches in doing a theology of migration. It begins with anthropological-sociological perspectives to understanding the migrants’ experiences, and then deals with samples of attempts at doing systematic theologies from the migrants’ contexts. Students will participate in the construction of theologies for and with the migrants.

MTP02 (Theo 222.1/322.1) The Bible and People of God on the Move (Reading Course)

Fr. Mariano Cisco, CS

The course explores some of the Scripture texts in which God's people are presented as descendants of outsiders. In the New Testament, Jesus comes as a "foreigner" and offers a new perspective to discover in every encounter with the migrants something unique of God's experience and to appreciate hospitality to the stranger as the pastoral challenge of our time.

MTP03 (Theo 276/380.2) MIGRATION IN THE CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING

Fr. Graziano Battistella, CS

The first part of the course intends to trace the historical development of the teaching of the Church on the pastoral care of migrants, with particular attention to the major documents issued by the Popes and the Roman Curia. The second part will focus on the teaching of the Churches in Asia and on some thematic aspects.

MTP04  Management of Pastoral Programs in Migration

Edwin Corros, cs

The course trains students in skills in pastoral planning, implementation and evaluation of programs with migrants and the families left behind. This would include as well training for advocacy and networking on migrants’ issues. The course will also offer possibilities of exposure to organizations involved in the migrant ministry.

MTP05 (Theo 281.1/399) SPIRITUALITY IN AN AGE OF MOBILITY

Fr.Victorino Cueto, C.Ss.R.

This seminar is an exploration of the multi-faceted "modalities of practices" in the emerging spiritualities among migrants - their sacred times and sacred spaces as well as their sources of strength as they navigate the contours of daily living. It will be a "meditation" on the life-struggles and faith-praxis of the (post) modern-day "pilgrims/wanderers," the "most lucid witnesses" of our era, to use Michel de Certeau's words. All these aim at configuring a liberating spirituality in the context of our hyper-globalized world.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarships are available to eligible applicants for any of the migration theology subjects or the Certificate in Pastoral Care of Migrants. Kindly inquire with Fr. Graziano Battistella (smc@smc.org.ph).

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Loyola School of Theology (LST)
Ateneo de Manila University
Katipunan Road, Loyola Hts, Q.C.
Tel: 4266430-35—Fax No. : 4265967

LST Secretariat: lst@admu.edu.ph

http://www.lst.edu/academics/downloads

Phone: 4367690