Gesu Parish Intern Program

Intended Audience: Undergraduate senior/junior* theology majors and minors *(sophomores exceptionally)

Duration: One semester (Spring/Fall) Credits: 3 Time Commitment: 8 hours a week (7 hours ministry, 1hour theological reflection)

Internship Coordinator: Dr. Derrick Witherington, PhD, STD

Compensation/Stipend: None Required

Training(s): site orientation and archdiocesan Safeguarding Gesu Parish is a vibrant and diverse parish which anchors the western edge of downtown Milwaukee as well as forming a spiritual heart for Marquette University. The parish also sees itself as a “ministry lab,” offering a variety of opportunities to student interns who wish to integrate their theological studies with concrete pastoral experience. Each intern will have the opportunity to craft his/her internship experience in such a way that it complements their theological interests and long-term professional-pastoral goals. This will also involve the collaborative involvement of relevant Gesu staff members. As a collaborative endeavor between the parish and the theology department, regular meetings with the departmental/parish intern coordinator will provide opportunity for theological reflection and integration.
  Before the start of the internship period, all new interns are required to meet with the internship coordinator, pastor, and head of parish operations for a short interview/discussion. For this meeting the prospective intern should already have a general idea of the type of ministry he/she would like to engage in. During this meeting various ministerial options will be discussed along with some practical matters. After this meeting, the site coordinator will contact the intern(s) in order to officially inform them which Gesu staff person will serve as their immediate supervisor. After this meeting and prior to beginning the internship, interns are also required to complete the archdiocesan Safeguarding training. During the first week of the internship, interns will be oriented to the facility. Throughout the internship interns will be encouraged to take part in occasional parish staff meetings, relevant committee meetings, and are invited to experience a parish council meeting. All interns will be assigned an immediate supervisor with whom they will determine a weekly schedule and other requirements/expectations which will vary by program area. The intern in collaboration with their immediate supervisor will determine and articulate a project proposal within their chosen area of ministry which will be the primary focus of their work as interns. All proposals must be submitted in writing to the pastor and internship coordinator within the first 2 weeks of the internship. The internship period formally begins on the first day of class and concludes on the last day of class in the Fall and Spring semesters. On the first Sunday of the internship period, all interns are asked to attend the 10:30am parish Mass where they will be introduced and commissioned. All interns are asked to keep a weekly journal wherein they engage in written theological reflection (exact parameters of this will be discussed during the first week of their internship). While the journal is intended to be a private document, interns will be asked to regularly present their ministerial experiences during theological reflection (see below). As a group, all interns will be required to take part in a weekly (60 minute) theological reflection meeting led by the coordinator. These meetings will provide opportunity for reflection, community building, as well as an opportunity for them to begin integrating their theological training with pastoral experiences. The timing of this meeting will be determined collaboratively during the first week of the internship. At the end of the internship period, all interns are required to meet with their immediate supervisor and the internship coordinator in order to assess the experience as a whole and receive final feedback. The basis of this discussion will be the project proposal submitted at the beginning of the internship period. • Youth Catechesis (elementary, middle, and high school)
• Adult Formation (weddings, Christian initiation, young adults, ongoing enrichment)
• Liturgy and Sacred Music
• Stewardship (fundraising, finance, and business administration)
• Community Building
• Human Concerns, Social Justice, and Outreach • To gain an appreciation for the opportunities, complexities, and challenges of ministry in a parish setting
• To gain the skills necessary to develop a collaborative ministerial project in a parish setting which bears fruit and relevance beyond the internship period itself
• To provide a community wherein the intern can wholistically integrate their theological training and Marquette experience as they discern God’s movement in their lives
• To provide interns with skills and experiences which will assist them in their future professional/ministerial goals