Bishop Robert Barron by Saint Joseph / Flickr
Bishop Robert Barron’s Word on Fire Institute has partnered with The Catholic University of America (CUA) to offer a Master of Arts degree in evangelization and culture.
The new program aims to “form the next generation of Catholic evangelists and cultural leaders” by providing “rigorous engagement with the key thinkers, ideas, and methods necessary for proclaiming the Gospel in a secularized and tech-saturated world,” according to Word on Fire.
According to program details, the degree will combine theological study with pastoral formation. Faculty, who will include instructors from CUA’s School of Theology and Religious Studies and fellows from the Word on Fire Institute, will deliver instruction primarily online. Students can, however, choose to attend in-person sessions during the summer.
The curriculum is based on eight principles central to the Word on Fire movement, with an emphasis on recognizing elements of truth and beauty in contemporary culture — what the program refers to as “seeds of the Word.” The aim is to train students to engage with philosophical, theological, moral, and artistic traditions of the Church while addressing modern challenges.
Word on Fire described the program as unique among existing Catholic master’s degree offerings due to its specific focus on evangelization.
“Whether students are preparing for formal ministry, professional work, or simply seeking a deeper participation in the Church’s mission,” the organization stated, “the Master of Arts in Evangelization & Culture provides the intellectual and pastoral formation needed for all to participate in the Church’s evangelizing mission with clarity, creativity, and joy.”
