PRIESTLY FORMATION
St. Peter’s Seminary has designed its priestly formation program with the expressed purpose of preparing its seminarians to assume greater and more demanding pastoral responsibilities immediately after their ordination. Community life, prayer, academics, pastoral experience, and spiritual formation all contribute in very specific ways to the formation of a priest who can be a good shepherd to his people. ADMISSION To be accepted at St. Peter’s Major Seminary, seminarians must:
Components of the Programme An academic year is divided into two semesters. Each semester consists of at least fifteen teaching weeks. The sessions of instruction are divided into courses and seminars. Writing of semester papers and class presentations, seminars and workshops are integral parts of the program. Formal Classes Students are obliged to attend all classes. If a student misses some classes, the classes missed should not exceed 1/4 of the classes allocated. If absences exceed one quarter, the student is not allowed to sit for exams in that particular subject. Since courses at this level are given through lectures, the lecturer is obliged to give the course through teaching or class presentation. That being the case, if the lecturer fails to lecture more than 3/4 of the periods allocated for his subject, he cannot administer exams. However, classes that have been missed may be recuperated by making use of the free periods in the daily programme after consulting the Dean of Studies and having alerted the students. Semester Papers Semester papers form an integral part of the academic programme and are therefore compulsory. Each seminarian is required to write one semester paper in each semester. Within the first month of each semester students shall submit to the lecturers the titles of their papers. They shall also submit a note of the papers they intend to write in that semester to the Dean of studies. The student and his supervising lecturer should meet at least once to discuss the progress of the paper. Semester papers during the semester, with careful marking, will help students to learn skills of composing good pieces of work before tackling a thesis in post graduate studies. Seminar/Workshop Week In order to make a lasting and decisive impact on the communities and the nation, theological students need to receive proper training in life skills, social analysis, management, primary reproductive health and other secular disciplines. In a country like Malawi, where people look up to priests for guidance even in social-developmental areas, it is crucial that seminarians are well trained and motivated to make constructive interventions that uplift and challenge communities to attain integral human development. Conscious that the formal seminary curriculum is inadequate to offer such training and animation, the seminary conducts training seminars and workshops twice a year (one in each Semester) facilitated by experts in such pastoral and socio-developmental fields as is determined from time to time. Examinations Examinations take place at the end of each semester. Examinations may be written, oral or may be conducted using other forms envisaged by the lecturer. Those who fail examinations are obliged to take supplementary exams. The arrangements for the supplementary exams will be made when all the examination results are available. Academic Assessment (Grading) For purposes of grading, the seminary has since 1988 been guided by the system employed by the University of Malawi. This system is based on the British University system which differs from the practice in third level institutions in other countries. In the British system, 85 would be a superbly high performance and, except for mathematical subjects, a student would never get 100 for an answer; it is jokingly said that ‘this is reserved for God!’ Grading is on the following scale: 0-34 Undoubted failure: Performance is exceptionally low for a tertiary-level student 35-39 Marginal failure: Significantly below minimum expectation for a tertiary level student 40-49 Bare pass: Performance is at the minimum level expected for an undergraduate student. 50-59 Pass: Performance is the expected average range for an undergraduate student. 60-69 Credit: Performance is considerably above the expected minimum level for an undergraduate. For an Honours or graduate student this is the expected level of performance. 70-74 Marginal distinction: Performance of the student is excellent. 75-100 Undoubted distinction: Exceptional performance. The student shows outstanding knowledge and superior ability. AWARDS Diploma in Theology The program is administered by the Board for Theological Studies composed of representatives of the University of Malawi and the participant theological institutions. As the university Department of Theology and Religious Studies is responsible for moderating the academic standards of the program, the award of the Diploma is recognized by the University of Malawi. The Diploma arrangements, having proved successful over the years, were formalized in the Constitution of the Board for Diploma in Theology which was approved by the University Senate in 1992. Regulations Entry: Candidates wishing to enter the Diploma in Theology program must:
All be presented to the Department of Theology and Religious studies for moderation. Results shall be approved by the Diploma Board and by the Senate of the University of Malawi. |
Award of the Diploma:
Bachelor of Divinity The introduction of the Bachelor of Divinity Degree, awarded by the University of Malawi, for students resident in some of the major Seminaries or Colleges of Theology in Malawi, is the culmination of efforts by the University to promote theological education in Malawi. In 1975, as a result of discussions between representatives of the University, the Roman Catholic Church, the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian and the Anglican Church, the program of a Diploma in theology was approved by the University. The aim of the Diploma was to foster and improve the academic standards of theological education in Malawi. The program was administered by a Diploma Board composed of representatives of the University and the participant theological institutions. The first Diplomas validated by the University of Malawi were awarded in 1979. Meanwhile, the Department of Religious Studies was developing its own curricula and in 1990 the University approved a full four-year degree program for a Bachelor of Arts (Theology). Students who had obtained a Diploma with Credit could be exempted from the first two years of this course and enter at the third year level. In 1997 the Board for the Diploma considered that the major colleges represented on the board were now in a position to develop a programme and syllabi for a degree in theology. Discussion between the colleges led to the development of such a programme and it was suggested that the name of the Board for the Diploma in Theology should be changed to The Board of Theological Studies. Finally in January, 2000, the University approved the affiliations of some of the Institutions (including St. Peters Major Seminary) involved in the Diploma in Theology. Seminary Study Timetable “He who loves wishes to know! A true love of Christ, therefore, expresses itself also in the will to know him and everything that pertains to him. Since the love of Christ necessarily becomes love of human beings, education to the ministry of Christ includes also education in the natural human virtues. Since to love Christ means to know him, it follows that a will that is eager to study carefully and diligently is a sign of a solid vocation.” (Synod of Bishops on Formation to Priesthood, Rosservatore Romano, No 44, 7) FOUR-YEAR CYCLE COURSES SACRED SCRIPTURE [SS] SS01 Introduction to the Sacred scripture SS02 The Pentateuch & Historical Books SS03 The Prophets SS04 The Wisdom and Poetical Books SS05 The Psalms SS06 The Synoptic Gospels SS07 Luke and Acts of the Apostles SS08 Pauline Writings SS09 Johannine Literature SS10 The Catholic Letters SS11 New Testament Greek I & II SS12 Introduction to Hebrew SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY [ST ST01 The Method in Theology ST02 Revelation & Fundamental Theology ST03 The Triune God ST04 Creation and Original Sin ST05 Pneumatology & Grace ST06 Christology ST07 Ecclesiology ST08 Eschatology ST09 Mariology ST10 Missiology ST11 Ecumenism ST12 Theology in African Perspective SACRAMENTAL THEOLOGY [SA] SA01 The Sacraments in General SA02 The Sacraments of Initiation SA03 The Eucharist SA04 The Sacrament of Orders & of Marriage SA05 Reconciliation & The Anointing of the Sick LITURGY [LT] LT01 Introduction to Liturgy LT02 The Liturgical Year LT03 The Liturgy of the Hours and of the Sacraments MT05 Divine Worship and Virtues MORAL THEOLOGY [MT] MT01 Fundamental Moral Theology MT02 Social Ethics MT03 Bioethics MT04 Human Sexuality and Marriage SPIRITUALITY [SP] SP01 Introduction to Spirituality SP02 Prayer and Liturgical Spirituality SP03 Spirituality of the Priests Religious and the Laity SP04 Spiritual Direction and Human Personality SP05 Spiritual Schools and Leaders CHURCH LAW [CL] CL01 Canon Law I CL02 Canon Law II CL03 Canon Law III PASTORAL STUDIES [PS] PS01 Pastoral Theology PS02 Pastoral Counseling PS03 Catechetics PS04 Homiletics PS05 The Ministry of Reader and Acolyte PS06 Parish Administration CHURCH HISTORY AND RELIGIONS [CH & RE] CH01 Church History I: Up to the Reformation CH02 Church History II: Reformation to Present CH03 Church History III: African Church History CH04 Church History IV: Malawian Church History RE01 African Traditional Religions RE02 Introduction to Islam PATROLOGY [PA] PA01 Ancient Church History and the Fathers PA02 Principal Fathers of the East and the West OPTIONAL COURSES X102 Computer |