Sacred Heart’s Satellite Campuses: Accessible Education for Lay StudentsSacred Heart’s Satellite Campuses: Accessible Education for Lay Students Sacred Heart Major Seminary has expanded its reach to the community with the establishment of satellite campuses, making theological education more accessible for lay students. These campuses, located in St. Thomas More Parish in Troy, Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Plymouth, and St. John Vianney Parish in Shelby Township, offer six courses per semester, allowing students to earn a certificate in Catholic theology at their own pace. Benefits of Satellite Campuses: * Convenience: Classes are held at parish locations, making them easily accessible for students with busy schedules. * Flexibility: Students can enroll for individual courses and progress at their own pace. * Community: Students connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for learning about their faith. * Expert Faculty: Classes are taught by experienced faculty from Sacred Heart Major Seminary, ensuring a high-quality education. Student Testimonials: Students attending classes at the satellite campuses have provided positive feedback: * Julie Poyer: “In-person classes were less intimidating. I realized the desire to learn more about Christ and the church. It was a comfortable and supportive environment.” * Christina Painter: “It has exceeded my expectations. I feel fired up and motivated. The teachers meet you where you are, and the work is worth doing.” How to Enroll: Interested individuals are encouraged to pray and explore their call to learn more about their faith. Classes are open to anyone who is eager to deepen their understanding of Catholic theology. Encouragement from Students: Poyer and Painter emphasize that it is a fulfilling experience to study with other lay people who are passionate about the Lord. They encourage others to “jump in” and not hesitate to enroll in the seminary program.
Students attend classes at one of Sacred Heart Major Seminary’s satellite campuses in St. John Vianney Parish in Shelby Township. Starting last fall, the seminary opened two new satellite locations, at St. Thomas More Parish in Troy and Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Plymouth, making courses more accessible to students in different parts of the Archdiocese of Detroit. (Photos by Valaurian Waller | Detroit Catholic)
Students love accessible parish campuses where they can progress at their own pace and grow in love for the Lord and His Church.
PLYMOUTH — After the launch of two new Sacred Heart Major Seminary satellite campuses in fall 2023, students agree that their best advice for those considering enrolling is: Go for it, you won’t regret it.
Beginning in the fall of 2022, Sacred Heart Major Seminary, based in Detroit, began offering classes at St. John Vianney Parish in Shelby Township. A year later, the seminary expanded with two new satellite locations, at St. Thomas More Parish in Troy and Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Plymouth. The seminary made a three-year commitment to remain in each parish, offering six courses, one per semester, so students can earn their certificate in Catholic theology at their own pace.
According to Michael Grasinski, assistant director of admissions at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, seventy-eight students were enrolled in satellite classes for the 2023-24 school year. Catholic Detroitand he expects at least 60 for the 2024-25 school year. The courses will be offered one evening per week and can accommodate approximately 25 students at a time per parish campus.
“Overall, the satellite campuses have been successful,” Grasinski said. “We’re able to attract more students who otherwise wouldn’t be able to come to Detroit during the week to take classes. The satellite campuses allow people to just come to their parish; we’re bringing a Sacred Heart education to them, and that’s allowed us to reach more people and more places in the Archdiocese of Detroit than we otherwise could.”
Student Julie Poyer says classes at Our Lady of Good Counsel have given her flexibility amid life’s busyness and commitments.
St. Thomas More Parish in Troy is home to one of Sacred Heart Major Seminary’s satellite campuses, making classes more accessible to students in Oakland County and beyond.
A satellite campus at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Plymouth has received positive reviews from students who have attended classes there.
“I work full time, I have four children and one grandchild, and I’m a pretty busy person, but I still wanted to study,” Poyer said Catholic Detroit.
Poyer, the wife of Deacon Aaron Poyer, who serves at Basilica of Ste. Anne and Most Holy Trinity Parish in Detroit, began taking online courses to prepare for a second career. When the opportunity for in-person classes in a more convenient location arose, Poyer jumped at the chance.
“In-person classes sounded appealing and less intimidating,” Poyer explained. “Once I got there, I realized how artful it was to sit with other lay people who had the same desires; they wanted to get closer to Christ and learn more about the church and the doctrines of the faith.
“It was just a great all-around learning environment, not to mention not having to worry about the winter storms and trying to get to seminary,” Poyer added. “It took that stress off of you and put you in a more comfortable environment.”
Poyer is working toward her certificate in Catholic Theology, which she says is useful in its own right, but can also prepare students for a master’s degree in theology.
Christina Painter began her first day of classes at Our Lady of Good Counsel and immediately “fell in love.” She quickly moved on from pursuing her certificate to a degree in pastoral studies.
Since then, Painter has taken classes at both the satellite location and the main campus in Detroit, where she studied alongside future clergy and religious, she said.
“It has exceeded my expectations,” Painter said Catholic Detroit“I’m a convert to the faith, and my husband is a convert, and I’m learning more than I expected because I thought, ‘I went through all this five years ago when I came back to the church.’ But I feel like I’m going deeper, and no matter what, the classroom and the teachers meet you where you are.”
Painter is a wife and mother of two young boys. She serves as the first reconciliation and communion coordinator at Our Lady of Good Counsel and will complete her degree at her own pace, made easier by satellite classes.
“I was able to jump in — I’m 38 years old, so I wasn’t sure if I could do this, but I have a 4.0 (grade point average) and I feel fired up,” Painter said. “They just motivate you. It’s not that it’s easy — it takes work — but because the teachers and students are passionate, it’s like we’re pushing each other and it’s work that’s worth doing.”
A lay student laughs during a class at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. While the seminary’s main campus in Detroit remains a hub for students from across the archdiocese, Sacred Heart’s satellite campuses offer students the opportunity to learn at their own pace and convenience.
Painter found that praying before the Blessed Sacrament allowed her to return to school. She encourages others considering the seminary program to do the same.
“I would encourage them first to pray … and ask the Lord what He’s calling them to do,” Painter said. “Then the second thing I would say is just jump in. I think you just have to try it — the first day I fell in love and said, ‘I want more.’”
Poyer said it is inspiring to study alongside other lay people who are passionate about their faith and want to expand their knowledge, and she encourages others to take the plunge.
“It was beautiful to see other people who are in love with the Lord and want to learn more and have a really busy, demanding schedule that you can relate to,” Poyer said. “The person next to you in that classroom is asking the same questions and wondering and having the same worries and stresses. And they also have a love for the Lord that they’re here trying to exercise, trying to learn more and draw closer to each other to share it with others. You have nothing to lose.”
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