Community

Yes! Many CSTM students are involved with undergraduate ministry at Boston College. Campus Ministry is often seeking Kairos retreat directors, spiritual companions for students, and Christian Life Community leaders. Working with these programs gives our students the opportunity to develop their ministerial identity and remain connected with students in a pastoral setting.

Yes! CSTM welcomes students from all faith traditions and backgrounds. Currently, about one quarter of our students are from traditions other than Catholicism.The STM is also a proud member of the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium (BTI). As a student at the CSTM, you are able to take up to 50% of your courses at a BTI member institution to study with students in programs rooted in other faith traditions and to enhance your learning. 

As part of student formation and our commitment to community life, students are encouraged to participate in student organizations that match their interests. Students who are interested in multifaith work and interreligious dialogue may be interested in the CSTM Interreligious Engagement Group, as well as the Multifaith programs offered by Campus Ministry.

Boston Interreligious Consortium

Campus Ministry Multifaith Programs

Although CSTM is located on Brighton campus, students and faculty members have multiple opportunities to participate in courses and lectures on the main Chestnut Hill campus. CSTM students are welcome to take courses through the BC Department of Theology, located on main campus, and are always invited to different lectures and events happening campus wide. Many times throughout the year, CSTM professors will host their own lectures on main campus, giving students the opportunity to interact with the larger Boston College community. Getting involved with campus ministry and utilizing different libraries across campus are two great ways to make the trek over to Chestnut Hill campus with a bit more frequency!

CSTM is proud to be a welcoming, inclusive environment for students who identify as LGBTQ+. Gaudete, CSTM’s LGBTQ+ and ally student group, hosts safe-space brunches for faculty, staff, and students several times per semester, social events, LGBTQ+ workshops, and an annual academic gathering on gender, sexuality, and Catholic theology. In recent months and years, CSTM has welcomed supporters of the LGBTQ+ community to campus, including Fr. James Martin, SJ (a BC STM alumnus!) and Mike O’Loughlin of America Media. We are also excited to offer a summer course on ministering to the LGBTQ+ community.

We don’t really like those labels! CSTM works diligently to foster a culture of encounter and dialogue. One of the things we’re most proud of here is our unity in diversity. There is a diversity of opinion among our students, faculty, and staff, which is something we’re grateful for as we seek to represent a microcosm of the global church. Our primary task here is to accompany each other in our journey of discipleship and prepare one another for our work in service to God and the church. Getting wrapped up in labels can sometimes harm this work. We want to keep our eyes on our goal, which is a church that serves the people of God and God’s reign.

CSTM students are very active! Each semester, different student groups host events at CSTM and off campus. For example, in December, students host the Great CSTM Bake-Off, encouraging CSTM folks to show off their baking skills. These and other events are student-led, and the CSTM is always excited to support new projects/events to support our community.
There are also events all around Boston! The metropolitan area of Boston is home to wonderful theaters, museums, and eateries—all just a short public transportation ride away. Many of these destinations offer free or reduced admission rates for BC students. You will never be bored in this city.

Perhaps one of the best things about CSTM is the tight-knit community environment that the school offers both inside and outside of the classroom. One of the best demonstrations of this commitment is our Thursday “Lunch and Liturgy”.  Every Thursday, students, faculty members, and staff are invited to participate in Mass held in St. Ignatius Church, which is located right down the hill from Simboli Hall (CSTM's main classroom building). After Mass, everyone is invited back to Simboli Hall to enjoy a simple meal provided by the school. This gives everyone the opportunity to chat and interact on a deeper level outside of the classroom while enjoying breaking bread together.

CSTM is committed to the theological and spiritual education of lay, religious, and clerical leaders in the context of their vocational goals. We currently have a 95% placement rate six months after graduation (and 100% for master’s graduates!). Graduates serve in many different fields, including serving as: campus ministers, college/university faculty, hospital or hospice chaplains, social workers, school teachers, publishers, healthcare coordinators, spiritual directors, and more. Some continue graduate education in doctoral programs at leading universities throughout the country while others choose to pursue further studies in different disciplines, including attending medical or law school.

Career Development

Lots of places—you can find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook through our social media handle, @bcstm, where we regularly share news, programs, and special posts like our “Humans of CSTM” series.