Weston Jesuit School of Theology: Academics: Courses of Study: Contextual Education

Based on the conviction that a meaningful mentoring or supervisory relationship contributes as much, if not more, to the professional ministerial identity of the student as the experience of the ministry practicum itself, the faculty and administration of Weston Jesuit rely upon the ongoing collaboration of skilled supervisors and committed mentors. In an effort to provide students with a broad repertoire of pastoral skills, ministerial competencies, and styles of leadership, a high priority is placed on partnering students with suitable supervisors and mentors.

In brief, supervisors share with the faculty the task and privilege of accompanying students in the formative process of developing habits that ground the lives of ministers in a faith that is characterized by compassion and justice. Among these habits, the following have particular significance for students involved in practicum experiences:

Becoming at home in the world

Engaging with people who are significantly different

Practicing systemic and integrated thinking

Creating a responsible imagination

Knowing the complexity of the human heart

Sustaining hope and commitment

Fostering a passion for the Gospel and its proclamation.

Three of the principal credentialing and networking organizations for lay ecclesial ministers are the following:

National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry
National Association for Lay Ministry
National Conference for Catechetical Leadership

Since 1999, these three organizations have worked to develop “a common set of competency-based certification standards for lay ecclesial ministers represented by the organizations”. These standards have recently been completed and approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Commission on Certification and Accreditation. These standards are also informing the new USCCB document on lay ecclesial ministry (currently in draft).

Supervisors are encouraged to draw on these “National Certification Standards for Lay Ecclesial Ministers” as a template and guide for working with students of Weston Jesuit. While these standards specify ministerial competencies toward which lay ecclesial ministers ought to strive, by and large these standards are a helpful template for those pursuing ordained ministry as well. (Copies of these national certification standards are made available to approved supervisors of WJST. The standards may also be ordered from the website of the National Association of Lay Ministry.)

Professional Responsibilities of Supervisors

In accepting a Weston Jesuit student for a practicum placement, supervisors assume responsibility for providing appropriate guidance, direction, supervision, and ongoing evaluation. Specifically, the supervisors assume responsibility in five areas:

The student and supervisor collaborate on establishing the practicum contract at the beginning of the practicum.
Typically, supervisors meet with students weekly to discuss the student’s involvement at the site. In addition, these conversations should encompass opportunities for theological reflection and discussion of ministerial, vocational, and/or professional matters.
At mid-term and end-of-term, the supervisor completes an evaluation of the student and discusses the evaluation with the student.
Supervisors are asked to participate in gatherings for orientation, reflection, and professional development in supervision sponsored by Weston Jesuit School of Theology (typically, three gatherings per semester).
Supervisors are asked to consult the code of ethics of the Archdiocese of Boston as a template and guide for appropriate supervisory relationships.

Approval of Supervisors

Prospective supervisors are asked to submit a professional resume to the Professor of Contextual Education. As a rule, prior training and experience in the supervision of ministerial candidates is required. In some cases, the training may be concurrent with supervising a student from Weston Jesuit. The formal approval of supervisors is based upon their professional qualifications, ministerial expertise, participation in supervisory orientation and training at Weston Jesuit, and/or recommendations from administrators or faculty of Weston Jesuit, the rector of the Jesuit community, the Jesuit Formation Conference, or other ministry formation personnel associated with Weston Jesuit.

Primary Supervisor

The primary supervisor is the person responsible for the direction or administration of a ministry practicum site. In general, students engaged in a ministry practicum will negotiate the terms of their ministry contracts with the primary supervisor. Approval of a ministry practicum site is dependent upon the qualifications and experience of the primary supervisor. Ordinarily, any correspondence between Weston Jesuit and the practicum site is directed to the primary supervisor.

Secondary Supervisor

Under certain circumstances, a primary supervisor will appoint a secondary supervisor to be responsible for the orientation and direct supervision of a student engaged in a ministry practicum at a given site. As a matter of policy, Weston Jesuit requests that the primary supervisor advise the student of such an appointment at the time the ministry contract is negotiated.

Summer Supervisors

In some cases, Weston Jesuit students complete ministry practica over the summer at a distance. In these cases, the Professor of Contextual Education will be in contact with supervisors regarding practicum requirements and expectations.