WEBVTT 00:00:09.680 --> 00:00:10.320 Good morning. 00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:18.545 I have the joy of introducing father Arthur Masciola, and I am the alumni coordinator for Divine Mercy University. 00:00:18.545 --> 00:00:22.565 And we're gonna talk to father about his journey at Divine Mercy University. 00:00:23.505 --> 00:00:31.360 So father, tell us what you're doing now with your degree, and what are some of the things you've done that you felt like made some major changes? 00:00:31.580 --> 00:00:34.320 Well, thank you, Michelle, for having me here today. 00:00:34.780 --> 00:00:49.895 It's wonderful to be at the, National Eucharistic Congress and that Divine Mercy University has a presence here Because, what you we're doing at the university is so integral to, faith development in in our parishes. 00:00:50.355 --> 00:01:05.140 And that's why I first enrolled in the master's degree program, the online master's program in psychology because I was convinced that it would be of immense, value and use in a parish setting as a pastor. 00:01:05.520 --> 00:01:15.835 I'm the pastor of a large parish in the archdiocese of New York, and a lot of our attention is on our families, families with young children. 00:01:16.695 --> 00:01:26.540 And one of the, things that has kinda plagued me all throughout thirty seven years of priesthood, was, baptismal catechesis. 00:01:27.400 --> 00:01:36.380 You know, when new parents make that kind of first contact with the parish that perhaps they haven't made since they were married. 00:01:38.345 --> 00:01:40.185 And so that is so important. 00:01:40.185 --> 00:01:48.125 So I I thought that Divine Mercy's, emphasis on child psychological development would be useful. 00:01:48.745 --> 00:01:58.720 And so that's why I I, I enrolled, went through the program, which was very challenging, and, and then graduated in 2017. 00:01:59.420 --> 00:01:59.920 Wonderful. 00:02:00.860 --> 00:02:09.035 So the other question that I would have is, I know you did something very special with that, feelings about baptism. 00:02:09.175 --> 00:02:15.195 Tell me a little bit about your capstone and why you wrote it and how it's been used in your your pastoral career. 00:02:15.255 --> 00:02:23.540 Well, my capstone project was on the development of a baptismal catechesis for new parents. 00:02:24.560 --> 00:02:33.300 And the catechesis itself is structured within the context of a of a cognitive developmental approach. 00:02:34.365 --> 00:02:49.870 That is to say, that the you know, the formation of the human person and, the the the need for, human flourishing is only answered in good relationships, good and healthy relationships. 00:02:50.730 --> 00:02:57.710 The most fundamental relationship, of course, the most primary relationship is the parent child relationship at the beginning. 00:02:58.010 --> 00:03:04.235 And then at all the way through and then at the end, the ultimate relationship is our relationship with god. 00:03:04.855 --> 00:03:17.755 So I thought if we don't get that foundational relationship straight, it's gonna be that much more difficult to make the later relationships as good as they can be. 00:03:19.310 --> 00:03:28.670 And, you know, the one, phrase that is so important to me, infant mental health Mhmm. 00:03:28.750 --> 00:03:31.810 From zero from birth to five years old. 00:03:32.030 --> 00:03:43.515 And what a kid picks up in those years can be so beneficial for the development of her or his relationship with God. 00:03:44.135 --> 00:03:45.195 Very good point. 00:03:45.255 --> 00:03:55.100 And, you know, if if if, the extent to which the child sees the parent praying or not praying could mean everything. 00:03:55.160 --> 00:04:03.420 Now that that's not to say that for children who suffer poor, infant mental health development, and there's plenty of that. 00:04:03.775 --> 00:04:09.955 That's not to say that things can't change because, you know, the church is reaching out to people all along the age spectrum. 00:04:10.335 --> 00:04:16.115 But if we could get those early years right, how much better would it be all throughout? 00:04:16.975 --> 00:04:17.475 Absolutely. 00:04:17.695 --> 00:04:18.835 That sense of values. 00:04:19.930 --> 00:04:26.090 So So so, we have, we do about, we do baptismal catechesis every two weeks. 00:04:26.090 --> 00:04:26.410 K. 00:04:26.410 --> 00:04:28.190 And we limit it to six parents. 00:04:29.050 --> 00:04:35.725 We have a priest, deacon, or theological presenter on the sacrament of baptism. 00:04:35.945 --> 00:04:45.645 We have a couple, with children who are active in the parish who talk about their connection with the parish and their children's faith development. 00:04:46.460 --> 00:04:55.040 And we have another person on the team who's like the welcome person, and it all, plays out over the course of about an hour and a half. 00:04:55.260 --> 00:05:02.805 And the young couples go away loving the openness of it all because we asked them to tell us their story too. 00:05:02.865 --> 00:05:05.345 I have a feeling that's made a difference in a lot of females. 00:05:05.345 --> 00:05:06.065 That's the difference. 00:05:06.065 --> 00:05:06.565 Yeah. 00:05:06.865 --> 00:05:07.985 But you know what, Michelle? 00:05:07.985 --> 00:05:17.880 But what we're working on now is the follow-up because they phrase the program, but then we've gotta keep them on the hook. 00:05:17.880 --> 00:05:18.200 You know? 00:05:18.200 --> 00:05:19.580 We've gotta reel them in. 00:05:19.800 --> 00:05:21.400 So we're working on that now. 00:05:21.400 --> 00:05:22.040 So Stages. 00:05:22.040 --> 00:05:22.280 Right? 00:05:22.280 --> 00:05:22.840 Next stage. 00:05:22.840 --> 00:05:23.340 Stages. 00:05:24.040 --> 00:05:33.535 My final question is to kinda share, if you would, there's a lot of bridges between, science, religion, health care, pastoral care, or mental health. 00:05:33.755 --> 00:05:41.695 How do you found that by that tough degree that you took in master's in psychology has helped you integrate all those areas, father? 00:05:42.630 --> 00:06:02.005 Well, in in religious ministry, in service to the people of God, the integration of, of psychological professionalism and religious professionalism or ministry to the mind and ministry to the spirit is inseparable. 00:06:04.145 --> 00:06:16.490 So, you know, one cannot be a good spiritual director without having a good insight into the workings of the mind because the mind comes first, and then grace builds on it. 00:06:16.490 --> 00:06:20.830 So, Michelle, I think the connection is, inseparable. 00:06:21.370 --> 00:06:21.690 Right. 00:06:21.690 --> 00:06:22.170 You know? 00:06:22.170 --> 00:06:32.655 And that's why I would recommend the the, courses of Divine Mercy University to anyone who has an inkling to contribute to the to ministry, pastoral ministry in this sense. 00:06:32.655 --> 00:06:33.635 It's a great compliment. 00:06:33.935 --> 00:06:34.255 Thank you. 00:06:34.255 --> 00:06:38.755 Are there any questions I should have asked you that you would like to, share any additional information? 00:06:39.295 --> 00:06:39.535 No. 00:06:39.535 --> 00:06:40.675 I think that's good. 00:06:41.935 --> 00:06:47.990 I just encourage, people who are at all interested to to follow-up on it and to keep reading. 00:06:47.990 --> 00:06:49.750 There's a lot of good stuff out there. 00:06:49.750 --> 00:06:56.170 You know, if you're not taking a a a course, toward a degree program, there's a lot of good stuff to read. 00:06:56.915 --> 00:07:00.535 And and pastors of souls, have to do that. 00:07:00.755 --> 00:07:03.075 Well, thank you so much, father, for your gift of time. 00:07:03.075 --> 00:07:04.212 We certainly appreciate it. 00:07:04.212 --> 00:07:05.412 And thank you for all you do. 00:07:05.412 --> 00:07:08.232 You bet.