Welcome to the new on-line pages for the recently-partnered Benedictine College Institute for Religious Studies (IRS) and Holy Family School of Faith…now able to serve Archdiocesan (KCK) Catholic school teachers, catechists, and interested adults as the newly formed Benedictine College School of Faith. Put simply, the IRS has been subsumed into School of Faith in view of School of Faith partnering with Benedictine College.
Please tour the links on the left-hand side of the screen beneath our main link. There you will find additional “General information”, "KSDE Endorsements", our updated “Course Catalog” with syllabi, current “Offerings” (intensive regional courses), and a link to “Pre-register” for our ‘intensive’ regional courses. ‘Intensive-courses’ meet less than six times a semester in contrast to ‘extended-courses’ which meet more than six times (or more than 12 hours of contact time). ‘Extended-courses’ and their locations can be found at www.schooloffaith.com along with directions for ‘extended-courses’ registration.
Full continuity of records and past course work with the Institute for Religious Studies will be maintained and continue towards completion of the 18 and 30-Course certificates in this merger. The merger is an organic development. We are simply taking the best of the old and the new and making it available to work better for everybody in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Holy Family School of Faith maintains its independent status as a canonical public association of the faithful within this partnership. Its faculty has received a special partnership status with Benedictine College as visiting scholars due to their advanced degrees in theology and years of service training and forming teachers and catechists.
The dedicated work of those following Archdiocesan guidelines will continue to be honored and the 18-Course (considered equivalent to a minor in religious/Catholic studies) and 30-Course (considered equivalent to a major in religious/Catholic studies) certificates will continue to be awarded. Past and future work will continue to lead to completion of the certificates. While these continuing education courses are one-college-credit undergraduate level courses, they terminate only in a certificate and not an undergraduate degree. The institute is not part of the undergraduate Theology Department of Benedictine College and the chair of that department would need to be contacted if someone wanted to take courses towards an undergraduate degree.
Please be sure to browse the additional general information links on the left side column of the screen and pre-register for courses.
ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE AND INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Executive Director, Benedictine School of Faith
(matters related to ‘extended-courses’ in schools and parishes)
Mike Scherschligt, M.A. (Theology, Franciscan Univ., Steubenville), STL (Marianum, Rome)
Office 913.991. 2424
Business Office Support
or call 913.991.2424
Academic Director, Benedictine School of Faith
(matters related to alternate ‘intensive-courses’ & certificate completion)
Matthew Tsakanikas, STL (John Paul II Institute, Pontifical Lateran University, Rome)
Office 913.360.7562
Administrative associate:
Pat Asher
Office 913.360.7571
Fax 913.360.7584
Mailing address:
Benedictine School of Faith
1020 N 2nd Street
Atchison, Kansas 66002
Holy Family School of Faith Faculty appointed
“Visiting Scholars at Benedictine College”:
Troy Hinkel, M.A. (Theology, Franciscan Univ., Steubenville), A.B.D. (Modern European History, KU)
John-Mark Miravalle, STL (Domician House of Studies, D.C.), STD (Regina Apostolorum, Rome)
Mike Scherschligt (see above Executive Director information)
Leon Suprenant, M.A. (Theology, Franciscan Univ., Steubenville), J.D. with distinction (UMKC School of Law, Kansas City). President-Emeritus of Catholics United for the Faith.
ADDITIONAL FACULTY
Additional instructors are drawn from the full-time faculty of Benedictine College, Archdiocesan priests, religious, and Archdiocesan consultants. They are listed at the time of course offerings.
