 |
Jeffrey Kaster Adjunct Professor of Theology, 2000- Founding Director of Youth in Theology and Ministry, 2000- Associate Dean of Administration B.A., Saint John's University, 1977; M.A., Saint John's University, 1984; Ed.D., University of Minnesota, 2008 320-363-2620 |
Recent courses:
Evangelization & Catechesis (Spring 2010, Spring 2009)
Youth Ministry (Summer 2009)
Dissertation abstract:
“Assessing Christian Discipleship Formation in Catholic Youth Ministry”
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intermediate outcomes of a youth ministry curriculum seeking to foster Christian discipleship. The study developed and tested a preliminary Christian Discipleship Scale seeking to operationally define Christian discipleship for assessment purposes. Telephone surveys were conducted with a representative sample (n=76) of young adult Catholics (population=113) who participated in an intensive university/seminary sponsored youth ministry program between 2000 and 2004 as high school youth. Results indicate the curriculum of theological study, justice education, prayer, and vocational discernment was influential in fostering the Christian discipleship practices of theological education, volunteer service, and prayer in these young adults. Further study is warranted on the Christian Discipleship Scale as a tool for assessing Christian discipleship formation in adolescent religious education curricula as results showed it correlated at a significant level with five variables including frequencies of Mass attendance, frequency of prayer, frequency of reading scripture, involvement in religious groups, and leadership in religious groups.
Recent publications:
“The State of Adolescent Catechesis Today” in Source Book on Adolescent Catechesis: Volume 1. (Washington, DC: Publication of the Partnership on Adolescent Catechesis, 2008).
“Apprenticing Christian Disciples” in Foundations in Catholic Youth Ministry. (Winona, MN: St. Mary’s Press, 2005).
What Catholic Teens Should Know About Homosexuality, (St. Louis, MO: Pflaum Publishing Group, 2004).
“Called, Gifted, and Now Certified,” America,189:2 (July 21-July 28, 2003): 17-19.
What Catholic Teens Should Know About How Far to Go. (St. Louis, MO: Pflaum Publishing Group, 2003).
The Main Mystery: Cross and Resurrection, (Cincinnati, OH: Youth Update. Saint Anthony Messenger Press, 2003).
Recent presentations:
“Forming Christian Disciples,” National Association for Lay Ministry National Conference. St. Paul, Minnesota, May 2009.
Panel Discussion: “Vocational Discernment: Insights from Listening to High School Youth,” 6th Annual Conference on the College Male, Collegeville, MN, February 2009.
“The Challenge of Discipleship,” National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry. Cleveland, December 2008.
“Discipleship, Vocation, and Ministry,” Saint Cloud Diocese, October 2008.
“What Has Been the Impact of the Youth Programs?” Gathering of Leaders of Theological Programs for High School Youth, Fund for Theological Education/The Lilly Endowment, Inc., Indianapolis, September 2008.
“Assessing Christian Discipleship.” Minnesota Catholic Education Association Convention, August 2007.
"Veni Creator Spiritus, Lessons from Taize," Minnesota Catholic Education Association Convention, August 2005
“The Next Step: Apprenticing Adolescent Christian Disciples,” National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry, Pittsburgh, December 2004
“Forging Vocational Identity through Relationship Networks, Social Capital, and Catholic Social Teaching.” Case study presented to the Lilly Endowment 2004 Forum. Indianapolis, IN. January 2004.
Notable activities:
2010 National Youth Ministry Award for "Regional Youth Ministry" - National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry
Chairperson, 2007 & 2011 National Symposia on Lay Ecclesial Ministry, Collegeville, MN
Chairperson, Think Tank on Vocation and Gender among High School Youth, 2008-2009.
Coordinator, Collegeville Ministry Seminar II. A partnership with the USCCB developing a theology of vocation and authorization for Lay Ecclesial Ministry, 2008-2010.
