Seminarians and CPE

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I thought that I’d start this thread to get opinions or experiences about CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education), which is offered at many larger hospitals and is required or encouraged for seminarians by many dioceses and religious orders. How has CPE helped or hindered your vocation or your seminary experience?
 
Cavaille-Coll said:
I thought that I’d start this thread to get opinions or experiences about CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education), which is offered at many larger hospitals and is required or encouraged for seminarians by many dioceses and religious orders. How has CPE helped or hindered your vocation or your seminary experience?
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I am offering my thoughts because my husband is presently in a CPE program going for chaplain certification. It is very time consuming. He has to intern at the hospital 3 days a week for 8 hours each plus attend classes two nights a week. I don’t know how one can do that if he is working or full time in a seminary. Granted he does get a stipend for interning at the hospital but it is not much. I do know that in our seminary the guys do go to the hospital once a week during their time in the seminary during their pastoral year, but that is only for a few hours.

Two priests in our parish are also in the program. One is simply a resident in our parish and has very little duties. The other is our associate pastor and, honestly, it has a big effect on his duties in the parish, he is never there becuase of his hospital work and studies with CPE. I think to do the entire CPE program requires a lot of time and that should be the main thing a person does at the time.
 
Most seminarians I know take CPE during the summer between semesters. It is usually a daily event and quite intensive, but others take extended units that meet a couple times each week for several months.
 
We do it during the summer, meaning that it is our primary focus. CPE is good in that you learn/hone good listening skills, you become more exposed to more ministerial opportunities, you get to work with Catholics and non-Catholics alike.

Since most programs tend to be ecumenical in membership, some difficulties can arise, depending on the program and supervisors. I know some people who had prayer services at theirs which included communion and the services were mandatory. Our faith does not allow us to participate fully, which can result in tension as well as pressure from supervisors. Also, while it is good to reflect in a group atmosphere, there also needs to be reflection with a Catholic supervisor, preferably an experienced priest, to explore more fully some of the Catholic components of this ministry which might be lacking in the ecumenical discussion.
 
Joannm said:
I am offering my thoughts because my husband is presently in a CPE program going for chaplain certification. It is very time consuming. He has to intern at the hospital 3 days a week for 8 hours each plus attend classes two nights a week. I don’t know how one can do that if he is working or full time in a seminary. Granted he does get a stipend for interning at the hospital but it is not much. I do know that in our seminary the guys do go to the hospital once a week during their time in the seminary during their pastoral year, but that is only for a few hours.
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In the seminary I went to the guys went in for a “6 to 6” 6pm to 6am, sleeping in a lay-z-boy style recliner until called, if called.

Some mornings they returned with VERY baggy eyes.
 
I just finished a unit of CPE and it was a decent experience. Nevertheless, I had a few people riding me to be in touch with my emotions. They did not take into consideration that people are different and minister differently. Not everyone cries all the time and reveals their most intimate feelings at the command of another. The final straw for me was when some pseudo resident criticized my style of ministry after only being around me a few times,and a fellow student had the unmitigated gall to refute my image of God as revealed in Scripture. So, what did I do??? I gave them the tongue lashing of their lives. I am a man and I demand to be treated as such.

Andrew Charles Smith Jr.
 
My pastor recommended that I take a unit of CPE because our diocese has no program for training lay women in pastoral ministry. I am exploring the chaplain ministry. He says it would be good for me even if I don’t do health care ministry.

This would be a total mid-life career change for me. Up till now, I have only done volunteer ministry in the parish; for example, with RCIA and being a catechist.

I want to know if you agree with my pastors opinion? If I don’t end up being a chaplain, what else can I do with a CPE? Do I have to get a masters in theology or pastoral studies to be a chaplain full time?

I am exploring getting a masters in pastoral studies via distance education. Other than the ones at St Mary of the Woods and Loyola of Chicago, there aren’t good ones in my area. Any recommendations on that?
 
Dear Bettyg51,

How about Catholic Theological Union.

Br Mark, OSB
 
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