Add an Endorsement to your Certification or Renewal
Ministry specific endorsements can be added to Lay Ecclesial Ministry Certification when you apply for your Staff, Coordinator or Director level certification, or any time after by renewing your certification and adding endorsements.
There is no separate application for endorsements. You simply add them when you apply for your certification or renewal.
Intellectual Formation
Standard: Complete the 6 hours of ministry specific course work at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. There are also some non-credit equivalents from various institutions which can be taken in lieu of the credit courses when available.
To see what SHMS classes are required for each endorsement, click on each endorsement type on the list below, or CLICK HERE for a spreadsheet which shows all of the current endorsement requirements. For more information about equivalencies, contact us at [email protected]
You will be asked to submit an unofficial transcript for your courses, or documentation of completion for pre-approved equivalencies when you apply for your certification or renewal.
- EV 680 — Pastoral Care Across Cultures (2 cr)
- ST 5351 — Human Person and Grace (2 cr)
- AOD/SHMS- Introduction to Our Brothers and Sisters (30 hours — new course coming soon!)
- For non-credit equivalency options CLICK HERE
- MNS 271 — Pastoral Catechetics (2 cr)
- MNS 329 — Catechetical and Faith Development (2 cr)
- MNS 375 — Catechetical Administration (2 cr)
- For non-credit equivalency options CLICK HERE
- SOC 101 — Sociology of Religion (3 cr)
- THE 310 — Apologetics 1 (3 cr)
- For non-credit equivalency options CLICK HERE
- THE 300 — Catholic Social Teaching (3 cr)
- MNS 415- Pastoral Care of the Sick (3 cr)
- For non-credit equivalency options CLICK HERE
- MNS 228 — Introduction to Pastoral Counseling (2 cr)
- MNS 300 — Canon Law for Parish Ministers (2 cr)
- MNS 360 — Marriage and Nullity in Canon Law
- For non-credit equivalency options CLICK HERE
- THE 360 — Sacraments of Initiation (3 cr)
- MNS 300 — Canon Law for Parish Ministers (2 cr)
- SHMS Equip Course — Current Guidelines for OCIA and Process Assessment (15 hours) — Coming in 2026
- For non-credit equivalency options CLICK HERE
- MNS 315 — Liturgical Prayer of the Church (2 cr)
- MNS 389 — Liturgical Catechesis (2 cr)
- THE 210 — Introduction to Liturgy and Sacraments (2 cr)
- For non-credit equivalency options CLICK HERE
- MNS 373 — Catechesis & Youth Ministry (2 cr)
- MNS 374 — Evangelization in Youth Ministry (2 cr)
- MNS 375 — Catechetical Administration (2 cr)
- For non-credit equivalency options CLICK HERE
