Alumna

Anne Chrzan, D.Min, ‘24

How CTU’s Doctor of Ministry Program Transformed My Ministry Journey

CTU’s online Doctor of Ministry program provided the perfect opportunity to refresh my calling as a lay ecclesial minister, especially as I prepared for the next chapter in my career in higher education. I loved being in classes with students starting their ministerial journey and with people who had decades of ministerial experience and a desire to learn new approaches in ministry.

The writing of the D.Min project was a healing balm, as it gave me the tools to express what I learned about all four dimensions of lay ministry formation and their effectiveness. As a result of my Doctorate in Ministry, I am now the Director of the Online Theology Department at Saint Joseph College in Standish, Maine. This new position provides opportunities to plan and implement new online theology courses that form and equip the person called to serve the Church in numerous ways.

Participating as a professor, listening to students in classes, attending formation sessions, and sharing with others as a witness who loves this Church and wants to be God’s instrument in bringing souls to Jesus Christ completely changed me—even after all these years of ministry.

What an incredible opportunity! I could not thank the Catholic Theological Union and the professors enough, especially Dr. Angela Swain, Dr. Vanessa White, and Dr. Chrissy Zaker, who taught me that being a woman in the Catholic Church is an essential part of discipleship and adds immense value to our Church!

This is the message I bring to everyone I meet inside and outside the Church, especially the students I am honored to serve at Saint Joseph College.