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For Annette Brooks. a date with her husband led to a master's degree in pastoral studies from St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry in Albany.

"I started taking classes a while back for date night with my husband," the parish life director of St. Gabriel's in Rotterdam said. "He had been a theology major in college, and both of us had a desire to learn, so we decided to take some classes. It was a joint experience."

Mrs. Brooks is one of about 150 people to receive a master's degree from St. Bernard's in the 20 years the extension program has been operating in Albany. The main campus is located in Rochester.

St. Bernard's celebrated 20 years in the Albany Diocese with a prayer service March 16. Sister Patricia Schoelles, SSJ, president of St. Bernard's, and Marcus Gigliotti, one of the first teachers in Albany, spoke at the event, as did Bishop Howard J. Hubbard. 

Broad mandate
According to Sister Kitty Hanley, CSJ, associate dean of St. Bernard's, the school educates and assists people in academic, ministerial, interpersonal and spiritual formation to serve the Church through lay and ordained ministries, for theological scholarship and for Christian service in society.

Having a graduate school of theology located in the Diocese is a plus for the local Church, Sister Kitty said. "The Diocese is different because we have these individuals who are unusually well prepared for ministry," she said. "The depth of their knowledge allows them to spread the Good News with credibility."

If there were not the Albany wing of St. Bernard's, Catholics in the Diocese who wanted to pursue a master's degree in theology would have to travel to Montreal, Boston or New York.

Within the Diocese, many of the students who attend St. Bernard's still must travel a distance to participate in classes. "It's always amazing to me the frequency of students coming from Cherry Valley or Bolton Landing," Sister Kitty said.

All God's people
Non-Catholics wanting to pursue a master's in theology also have turned to St. Bernard's because of its location. Many are training to be ministers in Protestant denominations, which adds to the ecumenical ferment of St. Bernard's.

Rev. Eleanor Stanton, associate pastor of the Presbyterian-New England Congregational Church in Saratoga Springs, received her master's degree at St. Bernard's in 2008 and was ordained in November 2008. Attending St. Bernard's allowed her to continue her day job in Saratoga Springs and take evening courses in Albany, rather than commute to Boston.

Rev. Stanton said her classmates included Quakers, Lutherans and Episcopalians. 

"It was a great education," she said. 

Deacon Michael Melanson of Immaculate Conception Church in Glenville also found getting a master's degree at St. Bernard's to be a positive experience. "It was an absolute phenomenal experience," he said. "This was a goal for me since I graduated high school."

The road to Deacon Melanson's master's degree was long. After graduating from high school, he went into the military. He then worked his way through college, attending classes at night. A career as a computer programmer followed before retirement. Now, a new career beckons. 

"I've now got the credentials to teach as well as the knowledge on the subject," he said.

Many roads 
Deacon Melanson completed his master's program in two years. He said this involved taking three classes each semester during his last year. "This was hard work," he said. "There were many nights of research and homework. Nothing is impossible with God."

Sister Kitty said that students can choose to take just a class, go part-time or full-time. Students can get their master's in as little as two years, with most attaining it in three years. Some have taken as long as seven.

Those who have attended St. Bernard's suggest people explore whether they are being called to get a master's degree from St. Bernard's.

"It's a great opportunity to have a deeper level of understanding of Christianity," Mrs. Brooks said. "Try auditing a class or sit in on a class."

Rev. Stanton agreed. "St. Bernard's offers 'Sit in on a Class Night,'" she said. "You can see the marvelous instructors."

For more information on St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry contact Sister Kitty at 453-6760 or visit their website at www.st bernards.edu/ albany.htm.[[In-content Ad]]

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