Celebrating Lay Formation at MTSM

By Eileen Connelly, OSU

Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and School of Theology (MTSM) is celebrating 50 years of lay formation, as well as the deep faith and many gifts the laity bring to the Church. Their celebration encompasses all forms of lay formation offered over the decades, including the former Lay Pastoral Ministry Program (LPMP), the former pastoral counseling program, and other degrees and certifications.

According to Samuel Johnson, Dean of the School of Theology, this opportunity reminds “all of the Cincinnati faithful and beyond that we exist for everyone who is looking to more fully understand and serve in their faith.”

Fr. David Endres, Dean of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and a professor of Church history and historical theology, explained that lay formation evolved as the number of Catholics entering the priesthood and consecrated life declined and opportunities for lay leadership emerged, especially in parishes. In his A Bicentennial History of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, he noted that in 1973, several senior class members of the then College of Mount St. Joseph approached Fr. Robert Hater, then archdiocesan director of religious education, regarding creation of a formation program for laity who wish to serve the Church.

The follow-up meeting at Holy Family Church in Price Hill attracted two dozen participants, mostly young women eager to commence formation for ministry. After discussions with Cincinnati Archbishop Joseph Bernardin and Fr. J. Raymond Favret, the rector of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Fr. Hater oversaw the pilot program that enrolled six women in courses at the seminary (then located in Norwood). In 1975, the one-year initiative’s success led Archbishop Bernardin to authorize the formation of the LPMP, one of the nation’s first seminary-based lay formation programs.

Today, Johnson explained, the School of Theology offers two main tracks—academic and the Lay Ecclesial Formation program (formerly LPMP)—providing certificate and master degree programs in various fields, such as theology, Scripture, ministry, and more. The academic programs include the Certificate (and Graduate Certificate) in Catholic Theology, Master of Arts in Biblical Studies, Master of Arts in Catholic Studies, Master of Arts in Theology, and offer classes that enable students to better understand and engage with the Catholic faith.

The Lay Ecclesial Formation program’s mission is to “provide participants with the experiences they need to become more effective ecclesial ministers, to encourage others to grow in their faith and minister to others, and to minister with creativity and adaptability to the evolving needs of Church and society.” The program components include academics, field education, theological reflection, and a project in ministry. There are three tracks available, which lead to a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry, a Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Ministry, or a Certificate in Pastoral Ministry.

Accessibility to School of Theology programs is a priority, noted Aimee May, northern area coordinator for lay ecclesial formation. Graduate courses meet at the main campus on Beechmont Avenue in Cincinnati on weeknights, while certificate classes are held both there and at satellite locations in the archdiocese on Saturdays. The satellite site for 2025-26 and 2026-27 is Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in McCartyville (part of St. Joseph, Pillar of Families Family of Parishes).

“Many people think that formation is just for those pursuing ordination to the diaconate or priesthood, but it’s for everyone—male or female, all of the baptized—to strengthen their call to serve in their own family and communities,” May said.

“I’m so very grateful to Fr. Hater and that our archdiocese was one of the first to begin lay formation so quickly after Vatican II. Our local leaders were at the forefront of acknowledging the gift that lay people are to the Church and the gifts that God gives each of us to share,” she added.

School of Theology staff emphasize that there is no such thing as a “typical” student. “We have young people fresh out of college pursuing master’s degrees, people who don’t have any formal ministry experience who want to enter more deeply into their faith, [and] those who are professors at other institutions who aren’t fully formed in their faith,” said Johnson. “A significant pocket of our demographic are people who have entered into a new season of life; having raised their children, had a full professional life, [they] are now interested in turning their gifts back to the Church and service to others.”

“The whole of our faith seems to turn on the mystery of a love that loves until the end,” he continued. “It’s a call that reaches into every corner of the world. We’re here to accompany people as they make God’s love present to everyone. That’s the way we view education and evangelization and where we see the whole life of the Church reflected in what we do.”

Alison Estes is just one School of Theology alum whose faith deepened and desire to serve strengthened. As a longtime parishioner at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Milford (part of St. Mary Magdalene Family of Parishes), she became aware of the “treasure” of MTSM  through the priests that served as weekend Mass celebrants.

Already active in the parish, Estes said, “As our sons became independent and I thought more about what the future held, I prayed, reflected, and decided to explore going deeper in the faith to help discern my next chapter. My pastor assisted me in registering for a first class to test the waters.”

As her confidence grew and her interest deepened, Estes eventually applied for a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry “because I wanted to serve the Church in some capacity, to give back and be involved in evangelization wherever the Lord placed me.”

Encouraged by May and her advisor, Fr. Ryan Ruiz (vice rector and director of formation), to stretch into unknown areas, Estes applied for a role in prison ministry to gain pastoral field experience. She has now served for three years at Lebanon Correctional Institution, teaching Catholic instruction, OCIA, and Bible study with other volunteers from the archdiocese.

“I think what’s most impactful is just being among 30 to 40 brothers and sisters in Christ—both inmates and volunteers—every week, all striving to know and love the Lord more,” Estes said. “Together, we meet Him there and learn more about ourselves.”

So moved was Estes by the experience that she approached her pastor, Fr. Del Staigers, about sharing her ministry with the parish. The result: 50 plus members are active in the parish prison ministry.

Expressing her gratitude for her time at the School of Theology, Estes said, “The education, the opportunity, the practice are excellent, and what you receive can be taken anywhere to serve God and others, whether in your family, work, parish, or countless ministries of the Church. My only regret is not experiencing it firsthand sooner, but we trust in God’s timing.”

The timing of the MTSM lay formation program’s anniversary provides “an opportunity to look back, but also look forward,” Fr. Endres said. “This is an opportunity for our faculty and administration to consider what the next decades look like, how we can fulfill the needs of the Church and meet individual interest. When you think about the gifts the laity bring to the Church, there’s the recognition that they can bring the Gospel to their communities, their workplaces, every corner of society.”

“It’s such a gift to walk with people as they encounter Christ in new ways,” said May.

For more information visit www.athenaeum.edu/school-of-theology.