Seminary and Graduate School of Theology - Mundelein Seminary

Pre-Theology Program
THE PRE-THEOLOGY ACADEMIC
PROGRAM
The study of Philosophy is important not only
as a preparation for Theology but also as a
needed element in the life of those who would
accept leadership in the Church of the twentyfirst
century. Critical reflection helps focus the
issues of a complex world and sharpen the wisdom
of the preceding ages. An understanding
of the culture and ideas of the world today
strengthen the priest’s ability to preach the gospel
and to clear the path for God’s invitation to
faith.
The Pre-Theology program provides fortythree
quarter hours of philosophy: The History
of Philosophy (Ancient, Medieval, Modern, Contemporary),
as well as courses in Logic, Metaphysics,
Epistemology, Anthropology, Philosophy
of Nature, Natural Theology, Ethics, and
Political and Social Philosophy. In addition there
are twenty-six quarter hours in religious studies.
The Pre-Theologians will study Latin, (three
quarters) and Greek (three quarters) as well as
offerings in the humanities (two courses). There
will also be opportunities for the study of Spanish,
both language and culture. A limited selection
of electives, depending on the student’s
interest and time, is available.
THE PRE-THEOLOGY FORMATION
PROGRAM
Equally important is the Pre-Theology formation
program. The future priests must “make
his own” the gospel values he preaches. He
must be committed to the mission of the
Church, and he must be a man of spiritual insight
and prayerful faith. To achieve this, the
student will be in regular spiritual direction; he
will also have a formation advisor. He will join
the whole community for daily Mass, daily prayer
(especially the Liturgy of the Hours), for retreats,
mornings of prayer, class formation sessions,
devotions and Eucharistic adoration. He
will also have a weekly pastoral experience
along with time for reflection on his ministry. All
these create the atmosphere in which the students
can develop as men of faith and hear
more clearly the call to priesthood.
THE PRE-THEOLOGY MISSION TRIP
Pre-Theology II Field Education focuses on
social justice. Provisions are made to ensure
prolonged and meaningful contact with the
poor, the marginalized, the sick, and the suffering
so as to better understand not only their
immediate needs but also the social contexts
and cultural structures that contribute to injustice
in our world. The weekly field education
experiences of the first and second quarter
prepare the students for work with the poor
and marginalized. But participation in one of
the two extended mission trips is essential to
the realization of this goal for the individual
students. Students will choose to participate in
one of two mission trip options: an international
Catholic Relief Services Global Fellows Trip or
a mission trip within the U.S. Both trips occur
at the beginning of the final week of the winter
quarter and last for 10-14 days. The trips are
designed to provide effective mission experiences
for the men that will illuminate for them
the Church’s call to justice and their own responsibilities
to others based on the dignity of
the human person and the role of servants to
Christ and His Church. From within the experiences
shared with poor and marginalized, the
men will be called to live the love of Christ expressed
in their prayer and theology.
THE GOALS OF THE PRE-THEOLOGY
PROGRAM
The goals of the two year Pre-Theology program
are to introduce the students into seminary
life and to provide the foundations for their
development in priestly formation.
Specifically:
1. To assist the students to enter into seminary
life and to adjust themselves to a new
lifestyle;
2. To take the required academic courses
that will prepare them to start theological
study;
3. To encourage a realistic appreciation of
the mission of the Church today and to help
them understand the role of “priest and pastor”;
4. To teach them methods of prayer and devotion,
meditation and spiritual reading as
well as opportunities to engage in faith sharing;
5. To provide an opportunity for further vocational
discernment;
6. To set the groundwork for ongoing human,
academic, spiritual and pastoral formation in
the years ahead.
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