April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
ST. BERNARD'S
Diocese's graduate school marks 25th anniversary
Diocese's graduate school marks 25th anniversary
One thing has definitely changed in a quarter-century: St. Bernard's has grown from two dozen students to about 130.
"There will always be a thirst for deeper theological education," Sister Kitty said; but "I think we'll always be small. I'd be happy to grow, but I don't think our goal is to get twice as big."
St. Bernard's started in Rochester as a Catholic seminary in 1893. It restructured into an institute for theological and ministerial studies there in 1981.
Bishop Emeritus Howard J. Hubbard of Albany and other diocesan leaders decided that opening an extension site in Albany would benefit the Diocese.
St. Bernard's first director, Sister Margery Halpin, RSM, recruited faculty and students, set up an advisory board, created a record-keeping process and worked on advertising.
"She literally built St. Bernard's," Sister Kitty said.
Master's classes
The school was initially called St. Bernard's Institute; the first classes - in Scripture, pastoral counseling, moral theology and spirituality - were held at a former Franciscan seminary in Rensselaer. Today, St. Bernard's offers 15-course master's degrees in pastoral studies and theological studies, as well as a 25-course Master of Divinity degree. Courses are held at the diocesan Pastoral Center in Albany.
Most students are working adults. Men in formation for the permanent diaconate in the Albany Diocese take about 10 courses at St. Bernard's; deacons in Rochester earn master's degrees at that campus.
Students - Catholics and Christians of other denominations - include people already in Church ministry or non-profit work, young retirees who want to get more involved with the Church or people who have always wanted to study the faith. Some take one course as an experiment and "get hooked," Sister Kitty.
Some St. Bernard's alumni go on to get Doctor of Ministry degrees from other schools; others enter parish leadership.
Student's view
Theresa St. Germain, who will graduate from St. Bernard's in May, hopes to lead a parish someday. She's currently the administrative assistant at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany and has also served as pastoral associate for faith formation for St. Patrick's parishes in Athens and Catskill and as director of youth ministry at St. Thomas the Apostle parish in Delmar.
Mrs. St. Germain said earning a master's degree in pastoral studies at St. Bernard's has been "a nice journey. The interaction with other students has enhanced my Catholic faith and what I know about Christianity. It has given me a different perspective on how I interact with other Christians and also people of different faiths. It really allows me to be a better Catholic."
At St. Bernard's, "nobody's looking at you like you have two heads," she explained, since she discovered "there's other people out there who are concerned about religion and want to take what we're learning and change the world, be the peacemakers."
Mrs. St. Germain's classes have been eye-opening. A course on the Bible taught her that "what Jesus was saying was really funny. [In] a lot of the parables, He was making fun of the Pharisees."
A three-credit course at St. Bernard's currently costs $1,700. The school has tried to keep tuition lower than area schools. Students can apply for state loans, and the Diocese and parishes offer financial aid.
Sister Kitty said St. Bernard's provides more than just an education.
Close to Jesus
"In most of the classes," she explained, "time is spent in prayer. "If you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus, your ministry would suffer. Theology is much more than an academic discipline. It's really a life choice."
Many alumni come back and audit courses. "They know they're not done" with lifelong learning, Sister Kitty explained.
The director succeeded Joseph Piccolino in 2005. She had previously been vocations director for the Diocese and for the Sisters of St. Joseph and taught at The College of Saint Rose for two decades.
Leading St. Bernard's "has been just a gift," she said. "Jesus spent His public ministry teaching adults and calling adults; Jesus' followers were all adults. I imagine it was His hope that they would form their children."
Looking ahead, Sister Kitty hopes St Bernard's will increase distance and online learning, reach out to rural areas of the Diocese, recruit more faculty and "keep adjusting as the needs of society adjust. We need to keep talking about justice and our responsibility to build a more just world."[[In-content Ad]]
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