The Pastoral School of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America is now accepting applications for the coming fall semester. In addition, scholarship applications are also being accepted for two separate scholarship tracks: Need-Based Scholarships and Academic Scholarships. The Pastoral School would like to thank the Fund for Assistance to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia for supporting our scholarship program.

We are pleased to announce that His Eminence Metropolitan Jonah has joined the faculty and will be teaching Dogmatic Theology this year in the Pastoral School.

This year, the Pastoral School is pleased to offer a Catechist Training Program – the first of its kind available in English in the Russian Orthodox Church. This program was created in response to a summons by the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church, which met in Moscow in February 2013. At this Council, the bishops called for the training of catechists and the educational institutions to be created to carry out this training. The Orthodox Studies major in the Pastoral School offers a one-year catechist training program. Those who successfully complete the one-year program are eligible to participate in a second-year advanced catechist training program. Catechists will be certified to prepare catechumens and sponsors for baptism, as well those seeking to be wed in the Church. The second year of the program examines these and broader Orthodox theological issues in greater depth, and prepares the catechist to be an even greater aid to the parish rector in his work with the flock.

This year, the Pastoral School is also pleased to offer a loan program to its students to assist them in completing their studies in as timely a manner as possible. It is hoped that this program will make financial issues less of a hindrance to Pastoral School students in their studies preparing them to serve the Holy Church.

More information can be found on the Pastoral School website here.

PLEASE NOTE! Deadline for admission is September 1. Deadline for scholarships is August 15.