CSTM students complete supervised ministry placements in in diverse real-world settings—parishes, nonprofits, schools, prisons, and religious organizations. Supported by expert supervisors and peer discussions, they deepen their pastoral skills and explore the richness of ministerial practice.
The Supervised Ministry program guides students in choosing ministry placements that reflect their personal and professional interests. Faculty directors and placement supervisors work with individual students to help them form, develop, cultivate, and deepen their pastoral skills.
Supervised ministry is a core component of our master's degree programs. For information on its role in a particular program, please visit the respective program's page.
“What we strive to do in our program is encourage students to ask how they are being called into service, what they need to be faithful in that work, and how to name—with nuance!—the parts of their journey they see as marked by God. We want them to be able to leave their time with us better able to explain their call, explore how to serve with skill, and excite others with their stories of God's work in their life.”
Babson College
Boston College
Boston College High School
Emmanuel College
Holy Cross
Regis College
St. Anselm College
St. John's Preparatory School
St. Brigid/Gate of Heaven Parish, South Boston
St. Columbkille Parish, Brighton
St. Ignatius, Chestnut Hill
St. Leonard of Port Maurice, North End
St. Mary of the Assumption, Brookline
St. Patrick Parish, Lowell
Sacred Heart/Our Lady’s Collaborative, Newton
EV Kids
Massachusetts Correctional – Concord
The Welcome Project
The Manna Community
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Cleveland Clinic
Havenwood Heritage Heights
Hebrew Senior Life
McLean Hospital
St. Elizabeth's Medical Center
Clinical Pastoral Education
Students can also fulfill their supervised ministry requirement through Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), an interfaith professional education for ministry. CPE brings students and ministers of all faiths into intense involvement with persons in need, with the support of supervisors who have undergone professional training beyond hospital chaplaincy. Email Marcia Ryan to learn more.
The SHIFT Foundation is located at Sophie’s Farm in the Northern Samar region of Catarman where Executive Director, Sr. Lydia Collado, RSCJ oversees several ministries, including the new Summer Institute that provides faith-based leadership skills and training to Catholic educators in the Philippines. Under Sr. Lydia’s mentorship CSTM students will facilitate summer modules on Retreat and Recollection, Ministry and Management, and Spirituality and Service.
"My days at Sophie's Farm were full of hearing and sharing stories, facilitating Bible sharing with students, singing and dancing, working in the farm, getting to know folks from local villages, and sharing simple meals with the community. I also got the chance to hone my skills giving theological lectures and talks during the Summer Institute seminars. Most powerfully, I had the privilege of living in a community in which Christ felt ever-present."- Sam Schelble, (M.A. '23)
The Kino Border Initiative in Nogales, Arizona supports the dignity and value of migrants at the border by offering humanitarian assistance and accompaniment as well as engaging in advocacy and educational efforts. Their vision is ‘migration with dignity’. This pastoral care experience requires proficient Spanish speaking skills in addition to some coursework completed in pastoral ministry.
