Cultural Orientation Program
Designed primarily for international students who have recently arrived in the United States, the program is open to all international seminarians of our sending dioceses. In addition to providing assistance and support to our seminarians who are negotiating the move into a new culture, the program should be very helpful to them when they begin ministry in culturally diverse parishes.
The program consists of three two-day segments, each with its particular theme and content. The sessions, scheduled to fit into the flow of the seminary calendar, begin after the seminarians have had at least one semester to experience the US culture, allowing for more fruitful reflection upon, and understanding of, intercultural dynamics.
The program will be facilitated by Ms. Anne Grycz of the Diocese of San Jose and Fr. Myers. Both are adjunct faculty members at St. Patrick’s. Both are very familiar with the COPIM program and have participated in facilitator training.
More detailed information about COPS, including dates and cost, may be found in the enclosed flyer.
As you may know, we have added to our Orientation Program for incoming seminarians, an afternoon to provide our international students a brief introduction to the history of the Catholic Church in the United States and in California / Bay Area. The new cultural orientation program will provide the opportunity for careful reflection upon the experience of the interaction of cultures at a much more significant and integrative level.
We welcome the participation of seminarians from your diocese in the cultural orientation program. We believe that this new program complements well the formation we provide at the Seminary. For further information, or to enroll seminarians from your diocese, please contact Father Myers, or his administrative associate, Amy Yamamura, at the Vatican II office (650-325-9122).
Sincerely yours,
Fr. Jerry Brown
What is COPS?
COPS is a new initiative, developed and sponsored by St. Patrick’s Seminary, designed to assist our international servants in negotiating the move into US culture and to equip them for ministerial leadership in culturally diverse settings. Utilizing and adapting the method of Region XI’s Cultural Orientation Program for International Ministers (COPIM), COPS seeks to provide seminarians the opportunity for cultural dialogue within a supportive and affirming context, wherein they will learn more about the church, society, and culture of the United States, while also appreciating and affirming their own cultural heritage and values.
Description of the program
COPS consists of a series of three-day (48 hour) workshops, beginning in the evening of Day 1 and concluding in the afternoon of Day 3. Each workshop has a particular focus or theme. Session 1 will invite reflection upon “what is culture?” Session 2 will focus on “challenges of American culture.” These challenges include relationships with women, collaboration, sexuality issues, and ethnic conflicts. Session 3 will address “traditions and culture.”
Following the design and methodology of COPIM, COPS will encourage participants to reflect upon and articulate their own experience of culture and provide appropriate content in areas of culture, church, theology, and pastoral ministry.
When and where will the sessions be held?
All sessions will be held at St. Patrick’s Seminary. The sessions have been scheduled so as to fit well into the established seminary calendar.
- Session 1: January 18-20, 2008 (upon completion of Intersession)
- Session 2: May 12-14, 2008 (upon completion of the school year)
- Session 3: August 25-27, 2008 (during Orientation)
The cost of the program will depend on the number of participants.
- If 15 participants: $875 / person (or $292 / person / session)
- If 20 participants: $700 / person (or $234 / person / session)
- If 25 participants: $600 / person (or $200 / person / session)
- Note: the COPIM program costs $1,230 per participant
Dioceses may enroll their students by contacting Fr. Jim Myers, Director, or Ms. Amy Yamamura, Administrative Associate, at the Vatican II Institute. As all the necessary information about prospective participants is available through the Seminary, there is no application form for COPS. A non-refundable deposit of $100 / seminarian is due by October 15 to secure a place in the program.
For more information…
Contact Father Jim Myers, S.S.
Phone: 650-325-9122
Email: vat2ins@aol.com
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