Asculta Program

“Asculta” is the first word of the Rule of St. Benedict, it means “to listen.” The Asculta Program is a graduate assistant opportunity that Benedictine College is offering for priests and consecrated religious women to receive post-graduate degrees in School Leadership, Classical Education or Business Administration, while serving as an assistant chaplain and/or spiritual director with our dynamic, multifaceted College Ministry teams. The program is also available to clergy who would like first-hand experience with college ministry. Benedictine College Ministry has been named by the Newman Guide as the #1 Catholic college ministry program in the United States.

The Master of Arts in School Leadership (MASL), Master of Arts in Classical Leadership (MACL), Master of Arts in Classical Education (MACE), and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees are two-year programs.

The MASL is designed to form leaders for Catholic education including principals, headmasters, presidents, and superintendents of schools. To learn more about the MASL program, please contact Dr. Christi Adams (cadams@benedictine.edu).

Asculta Program Women Religious
The two Master of Arts in Classical Education degrees were recently accredited and are intended for teachers and administrators who aim to learn the what, the why and the how of classical liberal arts education. Professor Krystyn Schmerbeck, the Director of the Master’s Programs in Classical Education would be glad to answer any questions you may have in this regard. She can be reached via email at: kschmerbeck@benedictine.edu.

The MBA helps priests gain skills needed to be a pastor, leader in diocesan ministries, and/or members of curial staff. If you would like to receive more information about the MBA program, please contact Dr. Michael King (mking@benedictine.edu.

For more information:

Program Requirements

Asculta Program Chaplains and Spiritual Directors will be asked to serve 20 hours a week in the College Ministry Office or in chaplaincy duties. Possible ministries include:

Providing the Sacraments to students
Offering spiritual direction to students
Assisting with retreats
Assisting in student formation
Accompanying pilgrimage groups and mission trips
Participating in pro-life activities
Leading students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors in prayer
Assisting with FOCUS and St. Paul’s Outreach

Application Process

Benedictine Monks

To be considered for the Asculta Program, a priest or consecrated religious woman must be in good standing in his diocese/religious community, able to commit to two years of service at Benedictine, and a citizen of the United States (unfortunately we do not have the staff or resources to support priests and religious from foreign countries at this time). The priest must either be accepted first to one of the graduate studies programs, and/or his Ordinary, the Abbot of St. Benedict’s Monastery and the Dean of Students agree to his assignment as an assistant chaplain in training. Once the priest candidate has either been accepted into a graduate program or assigned for training at Benedictine College, he must complete an Asculta Program Application. A consecrated woman religious must be accepted to a degree program and then receive the approval of her superior before applying to the Asculta Program.

Apply to Asculta Program

Following the college’s reception of the completed Asculta application, an interview will be scheduled with the College Chaplain and Director of College Ministry. Final approval/acceptance will be made by College Administration.

Contact

During the academic year, please contact:

Sister Kathryn, M.S.
Administrative Assistant to the Asculta Program
913-360-7197

During the summer break, please contact:

Megan Ryan
Director of College Ministry
913-360-7195