University degree programme "Pastoral Care"

Pastoral workers today face a variety of social, spiritual, theological, practical and institutional challenges in the face of a pluralistic, individualising and constantly changing society. They are confronted with questions to which their studies do not always provide answers. The four-semester university degree programme is at the transition from theological studies to professional activity.

The USG Pastoral Care aims to support a learning process that enables prospective pastoral workers to become capable of judgement and action in today's changing situations. It provides an introduction to pastoral care in various "places" and promotes pastoral competence through personal and theological reflection on the experiences gained.

In a personality-orientated learning process, the participants should

• experience the concrete pastoral situation in various selected church fields of action in all its diversity and complexity
• get to know, test and develop their own skills for pastoral and catechetical professional practice in more detail
• personally apply the knowledge acquired during their studies
• reflect on these processes personally and in the group
• practise working together with full-time and voluntary staff in the spirit of synodality on the basis of Vatican II's view of the Church
• be empowered to help shape a church of the future
• and thus qualify for a future pastoral profession (priest/pastoral assistant, etc.).

The Pastoral Studies programme lasts four semesters. Participants can start the programme every year in September.

The curriculum (2024) for the USG Pastoral Care at the University of Innsbruck can be found at here.

The organisational implementation of the Pastoral Studies course in its practice-oriented structure is carried out in cooperation between the Faculty of Theology and the respective diocesan personnel managers as well as the training supervisors "on site" in the dioceses. The two pillars of the degree programme are parish work and the university course.

Parish work (34 hours per week)

The most diverse people and groups, initiatives and generations, spiritualities, lifestyles and situations come together in the (territorial) parish and form the "humus" for the experience that God acts and is present in and through the parish. We see the pastoral co-organisation of parish life, which is characterised by diversity and contrasts, as a preferred place of learning for future pastoral workers. In cooperation with the pastoral care team, the committees, councils and groups and under the guidance of the parish counsellor (pastor / curator / pastoral assistant), the participant is introduced to pastoral care work. The practical pastoral work (in parish(es), categorical pastoral fields and, if required, additional school commitments) amounts to an average of 34 hours per week.

University course (5 hours per week)

The university courses accompanying the parish assignment (perception of places of life, topics on liturgy, diaconia, martyria, coinonia, spirituality and life culture in pastoral ministry, ...) are offered as part of the university degree programme. These correspond to an average of 5 hours per week. The dates of the accompanying courses must be kept free of parish commitments from the outset. Enrolment in the university degree programme with the code number 992-753 is mandatory for all participants. No tuition fee is charged for enrolment on the Pastoral Care degree programme (only the ÖH contribution).

• Completion of theological studies at a recognised domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution with at least 180 ECTS credits by 31 July before the start of the course. The decision on admission is always the responsibility of the programme director.
• Fulfilment of the diocesan employment requirements (vocational preparation course, internships, ...). Confirmation of the diocesan-specific study-related vocational preparation for participants from the dioceses of Innsbruck and Feldkirch by the B3 - Begegnung, Berufung, Beruf - centre for theologie students. You can find more information at here.
• Willingness to engage in a personality-orientated learning process.
• Willingness to engage with the people and the concrete life of a parish or a categorical pastoral care centre and to work alongside a pastor in a pastoral team.
• Willingness to participate in all accompanying events. Secondary employment and employment parallel to the USG Pastoral Care requires prior consultation with the programme director.

In addition, persons may be admitted to the university degree programme who

• 1. have an academic degree (at least Bachelor's level and at least 180 ECTS-Credits) in a pedagogical, cultural, social science or related field and
• 2. completed theological training at least to the extent and content of the distance-learning theological course offered in Vienna or the Brixen theological courses or comparable training programmes and
• 3. can provide evidence of at least three years' employment in a pastoral field for an average of at least 15 hours per week. In the event of a minor deviation, the programme director may approve admission.

Admission to the university degree programme requires the allocation of a practical placement by the dioceses.

Programme Director: Johannes Panhofer

Programme Coordination: Raimund Eberharter

At the Department of Practical Theology with the course coordinator Raimund Eberharter. Information and registration dates for the USG Pastoral Care take place at the beginning of the summer semester at Department of Practical Theology (Department of Pastoral Theology) - the current dates are announced at the Institute and in B3 - Begegnung, Berufung, Beruf - centre for theology students. Registration for the USG Pastoral Care is done via Form.

Application for diocesan employment: In order to select suitable practice parishes and fields, it is recommended that you contact the persons responsible at diocesan level from January of the relevant year if possible!

Diocese of Innsbruck
Information and application
Julia Schneitter
6020 Innsbruck, Riedgasse 9, T: +43 676 87302430
E: julia.schneitter@dibk.at, personalreferat@dibk.at

For candidates for the priesthood and members of religious orders
Reverend Roland Buemberger
6020 Innsbruck, Riedgasse 9, T: +43 676 87304701
E: priesterseminar@dibk.at

Diocese of Feldkirch
Information and application
Hans Rapp
6800 Feldkirch, Bahnhofstraße 13, T: +43 676 83240 2213
E: hans.rapp@kath-kirche-vorarlberg.at

For candidates for the priesthood and members of religious orders
Reverend Roland Buemberger
6020 Innsbruck, Riedgasse 9, T: +43 676 87304701
E: priesterseminar@dibk.at

Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone
Reinhard Demetz
I-39100 Bolzano, Piazza del Duomo 2, T: +39 0471 306210
E: seelsorge.pastorale@bz-bx.net

For candidates for the priesthood and members of religious orders
Reverend Markus Moling
I-39042 Brixen, Seminarplatz 4, T: +39 0472 271011
E: markus.moling@hs-itb.it