Pastoral Mission and Outreach in a Ministry Context (DP3005C)

Content

This is a Supervised Theological Field Education Unit: a practical unit in a supervised ministry context. This unit offers the opportunity for the acquisition and development of skills for ministry in an intensive pastoral/ministry placement of (a) 12 weeks in one semester or (b) 24 weeks in consecutive semesters. As such, it provides practical experience, reflection on that experience under supervision, and participative learning. The model proposed is action-reflection-integration, under supervision. Examples of such long-term pastoral placement would include parish ministry, youth ministry and ministry to Indigenous persons. Professional ministry standards including safeguarding underpin this unit.

Learning outcomes

Unit sequence

Prerequisite: Completion of two Field D units plus DP1/2001C and DP1/2002C. Corequisite/prerequisite: DP2/3015C Pastoral Leadership for a Safe Church. The unit also requires an interview with the unit coordinator before commencement.

All STFE students prior to commencing their placement will have completed a Learning Module about the University’s Code of Conduct as well as additional learning about Safeguarding, including safeguarding processes particular to their denomination (see corequisite/prerequisite above – Pastoral Leadership for a Safe Church).

Pedagogy

This unit, a practical unit, offers the opportunity for the acquisition and development of skills for ministry in an intensive pastoral/ministry placement (a) of 12 or (b) of 24 weeks, under supervision. It includes:

• a minimum of 192 hours placement;
• a minimum of 48 hours of theological reflection, integration and supervision, 12 of which is individual supervision;
• 24 hours planning and review of placement;
• 36 study hours.

The primary pedagogical framework is action-reflection-integration: in a given ministerial context, students are invited to reflect on their practice, through narrative/verbatim modes of presentation, pastoral journalling, and critically reporting on a pastoral project. Students are also invited to offer a review of a single academic text related to their ministry.

Indicative Bibliography

• Cullen, Philomena, Bernard Hoose, and Gerard Mannion, eds. Catholic Social Justice: Theological and Practical Explorations. Continuum, 2007.
• Fini, Christian, and Christopher Ryan, eds. Australian Catholic Youth Ministry: Theological and Pastoral Foundations for Faithful Ministry. Garratt, 2014.
• Garrido, Ann M. Redeeming Administration: 12 Spiritual Habits for Catholic Leaders in Parishes, Schools, Religious Communities, and Other Institutions. Ave Maria Press, 2013.
• Graham, Elaine, Heather Walton, and Frances Ward. Theological Reflection Methods. 2nd ed. SCM Press, 2019.
• Hilsman, Gordon J. How to Get the Most Out of Clinical Pastoral Education: A CPE Primer. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2018.
• Jewell, Marti R., and David A. Ramsey. The Changing Face of Church: Emerging Models of Parish Leadership. Loyola Press, 2010.
• Naughton, Margaret. Clinical Pastoral Education - Coming Home to Self. Peter Lang, 2025.
• Sofield, Loughlan, and Carroll Juliano. Collaboration: Uniting Our Gifts in Ministry. Ave Maria Press, 2000.
• Sofield, Loughlan, and Carroll Juliano. Principled Ministry: A Guidebook for Catholic Leaders. Ave Maria Press, 2011.
• Thompson, Judith, Stephen Pattison, and Ross Thompson. Theological Reflection. 2nd ed. SCM Press 2019.
• Westfield, Nancy Lynne. Thinking Teaching: Stories, Insights, and Strategies to Ignite Reflection, Discussion, and Imagination. Wipf and Stock, 2026.

Assessment