Katarina Schuth

Sr. Katarina Schuth is an active member of the Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester, Minnesota, since 1960, through most of which she has been a faculty member in higher education institutions. Currently she holds an Endowed Professorship for the Social Scientific Study of Religion at the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity at the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN. Educated in both the Social Sciences and Theology, she has earned an M.A. and Ph.D. in Cultural Geography from Syracuse University, and a Master of Theological Studies and License in Sacred Theology from Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, MA, as well as a B.A. in History from the College of Saint Teresa, Winona, MN.

Contents

Research

As a researcher and teacher, her primary interests are in theological education and the relationship between the Church and American culture. Recognized internationally as an expert on seminary education, she has written numerous articles and several books on Catholic seminaries.

Publishing

Books

She co-authored:

Priestly Ministry in Multiple Parishes

This most recent book is of vital interest to the Catholic Church in the United States, which is coming to grips with the severe shortage of priests, thus requiring many of them to serve multiple parishes. In the book Sr. Schuth examines regional and diocesan differences by surveying over nine hundred of these priests and interviewing nearly a hundred more. They offer information about spiritual and community leadership and about staffing and organization of parishes in the present context. Using their suggestions, the book tries to discern what contributes to the building of vital and dynamic parishes and what causes indifference and dissolution. The book highlights what is successful in maintaining the strength of these small parishes and what practices lead to their diminishment. The book is written not only as an aid to those who find themselves pastoring several congregations, but also seminary educators, diocesan leaders, and congregations.

Articles

Besides these books, Sr. Schuth has written numerous book reviews:

Articles:

Appointments

In recent years Sr. Schuth has been a member of more than ten boards of theological schools, including currently:

Awards

Sr. Schuth has been awarded honorary degrees from:

Other honors include:

Currently

Sr. Schuth continues to teach in the areas of Pastoral Ministry, Sociology of Religion, and World Religions and carries on research on seminaries and church life. Currently she holds an Endowed Professorship for the Social Scientific Study of Religion at the Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity. Her speaking engagements, workshops, and conferences for numerous institutions, organizations, dioceses, and individual congregations are scheduled regularly in the United States and internationally. Besides other service locally, she is currently the Chair-elect of the Faculty of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

External links