1. To provide culturally appropriate and/or academically certified courses.
2. To provide opportunity for formation through courses in spirituality and human growth.
3. To provide either a certificado in Hispanic Leadership or ministry certificates in catechetical, liturgical and parish ministry.
4. To provide guidance in discernment for program participants.
5. To network with Mount St. Benedict Center for academic resources and opportunities for continued formation.
   

1. Track A: Diocesan Certification
   Diocesan certification is recognition for compliance with professional ministry standards which include personal, theological and professional competence in a particular area of ministry. The areas of diocesan certification are:
   
   1. Catechetical Ministry with an Area of Concentration in one of the following:
      1. Adult
      2. Family
      3. Youth
         
   2. Liturgical Ministry with an Area of Concentration in one of the following:
      1. Liturgical Ministers
      2. Liturgical Music
      3. RCIA/RCIC
      4. Lay Leaders of Prayer
         
   3. Pastoral Ministry with an Area of Concentration in one of the following:
      1. Parish Administration
      2. Parish Outreach
         
2. Track B: Permanent Diaconate
   This program is designed to prepare a Catholic man (and spouse) for ordained ministry as a deacon within the Diocese of Crookston.
   
3. Track C: Hispanic Leadership
   The goal of the Hispanic Leadership Program is empowerment of the Hispanic people of the Diocese of Crookston to realize their vocation as leaders and evangelizers through a plan of studies leading to a diocesan Certificado in Hispanic Leadership.
   

(For additional information regarding core components of specific tracks, consult the respective handbook.)
 

1. Tracks A and B
   
   

   Year 1	Year 2
   Introduction to Christian Tradition Hebrew Scriptures Theology of Diaconate (deacons only) Introduction to Spirituality Human Growth (deacons only)	Christian Scriptures Sacramental Theology Human Growth (deacons only) Introduction to Spirituality
   Year 3	Year 4
   Christian Worship Synoptic Gospels and John Evangelization (deacons only) Human Growth (deacons only)	Church Social Teaching Moral Theology Canon Law (6 hrs) (deacons only) Liturgical Presiding (18 hrs) (deacons only) Parish Internship/Theological Reflection (deacons only)
   * Subject to minor revisions by Director as necessary for program integrity.

2. Track C
   Leadership Skills
   Challenges in a Multicultural Society: Caught Between Two Cultures
   Basic Christian Communities
   Biblical Themes from a Liberation Perspective
   Hispanic Church History
   The Hispanic Church Today: Celebrating the Presence of Christ Jesus
   

1. Common admission requirements
   1. Fully initiated members in good standing with the Church who are committed to leadership, service and evangelization.
   2. Registered participating member of a parish.
   3. Completion of personal interview with pastor/pastoral administrator/parish Hispanic ministry director.
   4. Written recommendation of the pastor/pastoral administrator/parish Hispanic ministry director.
2. Specific track requirements (Consult respective handbook.)
3. Special categories – persons who enroll in theology courses but are not participants of the Pastoral Leadership Program.
   1. Continuing Education – receives Clock Hours of Continuing Education/Faith
      Formation validated by a certificate of attendance; completion of assignments and tests is optional; pays tuition.
   2. Personal enrichment – fulfills requirements of attendance, assignments and tests; receives a grade; pays tuition.
   3. Audit – completion of assignments and tests not required. Wives of Track B participants and women religious - no credit or validation of attendance; no tuition. Other audit- no credit or validation of attendance; reduced tuition.
      

1. Attendance
   1. Tracks A and B participants are expected to attend every class in order to receive the 24 hours of instruction. In the event there is a need to miss a class, the participant is responsible for making up the class in the manner determined by the instructor.
      When a participant misses two classes, s/he is dropped from the course and no credit is offered.
      
      Participants in practica are expected to attend all the scheduled class sessions to earn credit. In the event there is a need to miss a class and there is no possibility of making up the time missed, the participant will be given a validation of attendance for the hours in attendance but will not earn credit.
   2. Track C - Attendance at all four sessions of a practicum is necessary to receive credit. If one class session is missed, the participant may count it as a workshop but not as a completed practicum.
      
2. Grading
   1. Grading for Tracks A and B will be required of all core curriculum courses except Spirituality (and some seminar courses required of deacons only) which will be graded on a pass/fail standard. Instructors will use a common letter grade system for final reporting of grades for each student not auditing the class. The letter grade system is as follows:
      A = Exceptional work; student has demonstrated a superior understanding of the course material
      B = Above average work; the student has demonstrated a command of the course material.
      C = Average work; the student has demonstrated a satisfactory understanding of the course material.
      D = Below average work; the student has not demonstrated a satisfactory understanding of the course material.
      F = Unacceptable work; the student has not grasped the fundamental elements of the course material.
   2. Grading for Track C will consist of a process of dialogue involving both the instructor and student, assessing the quality of the student’s engagement of the material and/or activities as well as the student’s grasp of the concepts. The instructor will be required to give this feedback orally to the student and communicate to the Director of the program in a pass/fail format the student’s completion of the practicum.
      
      Each practicum evaluates its personal and group participation. Grades are not usually assigned by the instructor alone.
      

1. Classes for Tracks A and B will be cancelled by the executive director for the following reasons:
   1. when an instructor cannot be there to conduct the class;
   2. when the weather and road conditions in the Crookston area are unsafe.
2. Classes for Track C will be cancelled by the Director of Track C for the following reasons:
   1. when an instructor cannot be there to conduct the class;
   2. when the weather and road conditions are unsafe in the town where class is to be held.
3. Instructors and participants will be notified of cancellations by phone with as much advance notice as possible. When possible, the local media of radio and TV will be used for such announcements.
4. Instructors are asked to notify the executive director at least 24 hours in advance if they cannot be present for class.
   
   Make-up Classes

1. To the extent possible, classes will be rescheduled so as to get in the required number of of hours.
2. Participants who cannot be present for the make-up classes are still responsible for the course work assigned.
3. Determination of make-up sessions will be done by the executive director who will consult with instructors and participants and the director of the Mount St. Benedict Center.
   

1. Track A
   Program costs include tuition and books; overnight accommodations when necessary. (Scholarships available.)
   
2. Track B
   Program costs include books. Costs for overnight accommodations are the responsibility of the candidate and/or the parish.
   
3. Track C
   Program costs include tuition, materials and coffee breaks. (Scholarships available.)
   
4. Persons who enroll in the theology courses and who are not participants in the Pastoral Leadership Program are responsible for all their costs.
   
5. A review of funding will be done in the final year of each track’s cycle.