Hometown
Santiago, Chile

Current Position
Doctoral Candidate in Systematic Theology, Boston College Theology Department

I wanted to study a theology that would help me deepen my commitment to faith and justice, and would give me a strong intellectual and spiritual basis in order to be a woman in ministry. Also, I thought I needed some experience in another country, in order to broaden my knowledge and experience of the Catholic Church. At the CSTM, I found not only excellent teachers, but also an encouraging and diverse community of people who want to serve others inspired by their faith.

Being at CSTM was a constant reminder of how important it is to take your interests, hopes, and dreams seriously. In them, you can hear the calling of God to a more authentic life, that at the same time leads you to do better service in the Church and to the world.

Hometown
Newtown, CT

Current Position
Transformation Social Worker for Boston Public Schools

My faith is the reason I engage in social work, so the ability to study both at the same time through the CSTM and the School of Social Work is unlike any other graduate program I have seen. Throughout my studies, I was able to apply the theological foundation I developed at the CSTM into my practice as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and it is something I will be forever grateful for!

Hometown
Gonzales, LA

Undergraduate Institution and Major
Spring Hill College, Theology

Experience
The most meaningful experience I have had in my first semester at the CSTM is singing in the choir with my fellow classmates and colleagues for our Thursday Liturgy. It is beautiful thing to hear and be part of many voices from all over the world creating harmonies and a unique sound praising and worshiping the Lord.

Why CSTM?
The CSTM atmosphere is open, welcoming, and there are so many opportunities for us to meet new people not only in our cohort. There are many socials throughout the semester, whether a Thanksgiving gathering or a bakeoff. Each weekend it seems like we go hiking or go to each other's apartments to watch a game, or play soccer, cricket, football, spikebill, etc. In the classroom, I am able to give my thoughts on any topic, which I really appreciate and many discussions are filled with questions, potential answers, and dialogue. I did not want to come to a school where professors talked at me and here at the CSTM professors really do walk with us with our conversations, discussions, and papers. For that I am grateful.

Community
Since I am the Liturgy GA for the CSTM, Thursdays are quite hectic for me, with Mass at St. Ignatius and making sure we have all of the supplies and resources to celebrate together as a whole community. Thursday nights are the time for me to relax and reflect through Praise and Worship. There are spontaneous conversations and prayer, laughter, dancing, and whole lot of singing. Building a community through Praise and Worship is truly one of the most important aspects of my time here at BC.

Hometown
South Bend, IN

Undergraduate Institute and Major
University of Notre Dame, Program of Liberal Studies

Most Meaningful Course
Popes and the Papacy with Professor Cathy Mooney and six other students. It was a challenging and fast moving class. I'm grateful I took the class during my first semester at the CSTM because it offered invaluable context and perspective on the Church and the way it has transformed over its 2000 year history. Additionally, our small class allowed us to get to know each other and develop a great rapport. Each of us were encouraged to explore our interests and share them with each other, and we built a learning community of curiosity and healthy skepticism. I also have some great Cathy-verified dinner party anecdotes about the papacy ready to pull out whenever the need arises.

My Experience
Everyone at the CSTM comes with unique experiences and goals, but the desire to do good in the world and continue to discover our vocations is there for everyone. The students, faculty, and staff share a common goal of discovering, recovering, and reimagining what the Church can be. 

Community
Before applying to the CSTM, I had never been to Boston and had one friend in the city. I anticipated that my first semester would be lonely and that I would primarily spend time with those in my MDiv cohort and my housemates. To my surprise, I was also welcomed by professors, administrators, and students from every degree program and graduation year. This spirit of hospitality continued throughout the semester, in and out of the classroom.

Hometown
Cleveland, OH

Undergraduate Institute and Major
Saint Louis University; majors in English and Spanish; minors in Urban Poverty Studies and Latin American Studies

Most Meaningful Experience
My MDiv cohort retreat this year was incredibly meaningful and formative. In graduate studies, I am so often stuck in my head, and so taking an afternoon to be with God in my heart and in community. One of the gifts of the CSTM is the opportunity to study and be in community with Jesuit, religious, and lay students. This cohort retreat, in which my Jesuit and lay classmates and I had the opportunity to pray and faith-share together, was an invaluable break from the busyness of everyday life. I'm grateful that my spirituality is constantly being enriched by the diverse members of this cohort and the life experience they bring to the table.

My Experience
The CSTM works for me because our professors not only allow, but actively encourage my classmates and me to bring our previous experiences into dialogue with our theological and ministerial studies. I have been able to try to make some sense of the experiences of suffering, poverty, community, and hospitality I experienced during my year of service in Ecuador in my studies of scripture, Christology, pastoral care, and ecclesiology, to name a few. Theological studies at the CSTM are grounded and enfleshed in lived human reality.

Community
I have been so blessed by the community of wonderful people that beholds me here at the CSTM. Countless classmates have become close friends throughout my time here, as we've bonded over shared experiences of faith-based service, international encounters, and genuine passion for ministry in the Ignatian tradition. Students, faculty, and administrators at the CSTM really want to get to know you and hear your story, which is reflective of the caring and close-knit nature of this environment.

Hometown
New Orleans, Louisiana

Previous Institutions
Undergraduate: Communication (Advertising), Masters: Pastoral Studies

CSTM Community
I really appreciate how the community (both staff and students) supports each other. I have found the CSTM to be a space filled with smiling faces, encouraging words, and thoughtful prayer and reflection. It is a space that does not simply focus on grueling academics, but it also knows the importance of joy and laughter.

Why CSTM?

The CSTM offers a unique opportunity to study the past, present, and future of the Catholic church with exceptional theologians.

In addition, as a woman with a focus on preaching, I was drawn to the CSTM’s wider Catholic imagination. This goes beyond scholars with deep knowledge and appreciation for the Church's history to those with a practical and intentional awareness of the Church's present needs.

The CSTM reminds me daily that God's revelation is upon us, not behind us.

Hometown
Co. Tyrone, Ireland

Undergraduate Institution and Major
University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, Hospitality Management

Current Position
Task Group, Irish Synodal Pathway, Youth Coordinator for the Archdiocese of Armagh
Assistant for Formación Continúa Courses

My Experience
The CSTM and the community there has opened doors, created a global network and community that has helped me carve out a pathway that I could never have imagined. Synodality and formation in practice of Synodality is central to my vocation and Ministry.

Why CSTM?
The CSTM has given a world class education and widened my horizons. The community at the CSTM and it’s multicultural community has challenged me to look at who I am and discern how I can serve the Church.

Hometown
Cleveland, OH

Undergraduate Institution and Major
Xavier University, Theology and English

My Experience
The opportunity to bond with my M.Div. 1 cohort has been very meaningful to me as we explore our vocations together and challenge each other spiritually and intellectually. Members of my cohort created a day-long retreat for us during which we spent time in reflection and shared intimate details of our lives for the sake of growing together in faith and resilience. I treasured that opportunity.

Why CSTM?
STM works for me because I get to study what I love while building intentional community and also being critically formed as a minister, a friend, and a person of faith.

Hometown
Atlanta Georgia

Undergraduate Institution and Major
Saint Mary's College, Philosophy and Political Science

My Experience
So far, my most meaningful class has been Politics and Spirituality in the United States with Callid Keefe-Perry, where we studied public theology. We had conversations in that class that I am still sitting with and I am confident will influence me for the rest of my life. We were able to explore ideas and events, and ask questions, that were challenging and immensely important to figuring out how one can fully and authentically live out their faith today. The class dealt with the very questions that brought me to the CSTM in the first place, and I'm grateful for the safe space to fail out loud and wonder together with other people who are passionate about the intersection of faith and public life.

Why CSTM
I quickly got the sense that the CSTM is full of individuals, both professor and student, lay and clergy, Catholic and Protestant, who have a deep love for the Church and are therefore willing to dive into difficult issues and histories in order to help the Church and its people better embody Christ's love. It's really inspiring to be surrounded by people who are so committed to their faith and serving others.

Hometown
Maynard, MA

Undergraduate Institution and Major
Boston College, English and Secondary Education

Current Position
Assistant Director of Boston College's Church in the 21st Century

CSTM Community
I experienced community with my classmates through the CSTM retreats, study sessions, group projects, ice cream outings, and most especially the El Salvador Immersion program.  We were able to not only learn alongside one another, but also celebrate our successes and walk together through our struggles. The CSTM community gave witness to our greater faith community and how we can live alongside one another!

My Experience
Working on my creative thesis on The Spirituality of Children's Literature became an extremely communal experience. My advisors, Colleen Griffith and Tom Groome guided and encouraged my vision, my friends at the CSTM read my work and inspired me to keep going, and my family and now wife were supportive as well. What started as a personal idea became a mission in light of a greater need and showed me how connected we all are with one another.

Why CSTM?
CSTM affirmed my desire to work with students and others, and I was fortunate enough to do the program as a full-time student while having a graduate assistantship. The placement program had me serve with Emmanuel College, which expanded my work with students from a ministry lens. Overall, the program taught me more about my faith, how to walk with others experiencing their faith, and the many ways in which we can serve one another.