Advanced Ministry Studies
The Advanced Ministry Studies is a certification offered by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Office of Religious Education. It is offered to Parish Catechetical Leaders: religious education coordinators, youth ministers, catechists, OCIA teams, baptismal formation teams, etc., Catholic School religion teachers/campus ministers, lay or religious ministers and to anyone working in any ministry or apostolate in the Church. This program will help participants to advance in their understanding of the teachings of the Catholic Church and be prepared for roles in different areas of church ministry.
Formation Components:
- Catholic Spirituality
- Catholic Theology
- Evangelizing Catechesis
- Pastoral Ministry
- Pedagogy and Methodology
- The Art of Accompaniment
- Technology
For complete overview of the program please CLICK HERE.
FEES
The Advanced Ministry Studies registration fee is $20.00 and $50.00 tuition fee per class.
CATECHETICAL MINISTRY YEAR 2025-2026 CALENDAR
2024: August 23, September 20, October 18, November 15, December 13.
2025: January 17, February 7, March 21, April 18, May 16, June 13, and Annual Retreat June 6
This course is offered to accepted students in the Advanced Ministry Studies program. And serves as formal ongoing formation to any person serving in any ministry in the Church. E.g.: Pastors, Deacons, Master Catechists, Parish Catechetical Leaders, any person that wants to grow in faith, etc. Ongoing Formation fee $25.00
Please download the 2025-26 calendar HERE
The AMS Application process is hosted in the LEAD learning management system which is part of the ADLA C3 (Catholic Communication Collaboration) platform. If you do not have a C3lead account please create one here: c3.leadlms.com Once you have created an account or if you already have an account please start the process in the following link: Advanced Ministry Studies (AMS) Application.
After applying you will be contacted to schedule an interview with our admitting team. Our goal is to guide and help you understand the AMS program and commitment.
If you have questions or need assistance please contact:
Flor de Maria Luna Fluna@la-archdiocese.org or by phone to: 213- 637-7654
Elizabeth Argueta EArgueta@la-archdiocese.org or by phone 213-637-7358
Upcoming Events
Nov 15
Evangelization and Catechesis
Discover the heart of the Church’s mission! This class invites all ministers, catechists, and parish leaders to deepen their understanding of how evangelization and catechesis work together to form missionary disciples. Rooted in the Directory for Catechesis and the teachings of the Church, we will explore how the joy of the Gospel inspires every act of teaching, witnessing, and accompanim... READ MORE »
Nov 22
Bridges to Better – Spiritual & Synodal Re-Framing of Conflict in Ministry
In this day and age of polarization, cruelty, short fuses, real hurts and fractures in ministry and life, understanding, addressing, and managing conflict is as essential a ministry skill as sacramental preparation. What can we learn from the spirituality of synodality to help us? What are the skills, tactics (and a few tricks!) that can help us not be overwhelmed when conflict comes barging in an... READ MORE »
Dec 11
The Art and Science of Leading Effective Teams
Leaders are those who accept responsibility for enabling others to achieve shared purpose in the face of uncertainty. How leaders influence and enable those they serve to become leaders themselves is the art and science of leadership. In this introductory workshop, we’ll explore conceptual frameworks and tools that can help aspiring leaders reflect on their practice of leading effective teams.... READ MORE »
Dec 13
The Process of Catechesis: The Pedagogy of Faith
Step into the mystery of how God teaches! This class explores the process of catechesis and the pedagogy of faith, revealing how God Himself is the first and greatest teacher. We will discover that Divine Methodology—the way God communicates His truth—is not just a concept but a living model for all catechetical ministry. Through the Father’s self-revelation in Jesus Christ and the action o... READ MORE »
Jan 17
Methodology in Catechesis and Faith Development
“Human experience is integral to catechesis, in its identity and process and also in contents and method.” (Directory for Catechesis, 197) Every phase of life is open to the Spirit in different ways, in accordance with the development of the human person. This session will introduce participants to the major theories of human development, faith development, and the method of Shared Christian P... READ MORE »
Catechist Formation
Return to the main page and learn more about the California Catechist Certification process.
