Opportunities for Salesian studies at Berkeley

With Gael Sullivan, Michael Sweeney and Al Vu, I met with the provincial council during their meetings at Richmond. Gael and Michael wanted to present some ideas to enhance the relationship between the ISS and DSPT, in line also with the expansion of programs that may well connect us with the Angelicum and the UPS in Rome. Key to this is the proposal for an aggregation of DSPT with UPS at the level of schools (faculties) of theology. This would not only mean that our degree programs would be recognized: they could actually integrate.

For the ISS/DSPT, students could frequent courses in Rome or Berkeley and these could work toward degrees in either faculty. The same would apply to UPS students.

Added, we could contemplate an exchange of professors for specific courses to be held during specific times. Thus, besides myself, other professors might be able to offer courses in both faculties. Much of this could take place during January or Summer Sessions; eventually, this could take place also through online courses and distance learning.

In the last month the Team at ISS, together with Michael Sweeney, has also gone through the courses of the the Department of Youth Pastoral of the UPS to ascertain what the requirements are for degrees in Youth Pastoral/Catechetics. We saw that many of the courses on offer there have similar courses on offer at DSPT and GTU. What needs to be added is the youth pastoral courses, which we believe that we can must Salesians to offer, either during the regular scholl year, or during the down season as a summer intensive.

We are at the preliminary stages of discussion, but Fr Michael Sweeney is very interested in launching a collaborative effort to bring a moral pastoral element into the school. We at the ISS are interested because this may make our own Salesian offerings more viable for the Salesian family members who may attend ISS, and who could use the experience as a way of launching graduate studies and ministry formation in the pastoral area so close to every Salesian's heart. The UPS shows itself to be interested, at least among the members of the Institute of Spiritual Theology and on the council of the Theology faculty. Preliminary stages, but in an area that offers great promise.

The provincial council listened to the presentation, took the materials, asked clarifying questions, and showed themselves favorable to the project.

Now for the next step.