EPS Q&A

Q   What is EPS?
A     Established in 1978, EPS is a certificate-conferring program for adult Catholics who want to understand, live and share their faith in their families, parishes, jobs and communities. The program provides high-level instruction in theology, Scripture, Church history and moral teaching. Students develop confidence and skills for sharing faith through theological reflection and practical application (Praxis) courses. Through liturgy, prayer, mornings or evenings of reflection and retreats, EPS provides significant opportunities for spiritual development and enables lay Catholics to contribute more effectively in the Church’s mission. EPS operates certificate programs in the Archdiocese of Washington and Dioceses of Arlington and Bridgeport. It also offers the short-term EPS Forum in the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Bridgeport. Affiliated programs are located in Madison, WI; Fargo, ND; and London, England.

Q    Who enrolls in the EPS program and why?
A     Catholic women and men of all ages and backgrounds enroll in EPS primarily because they want to increase their knowledge and understanding of all that the Catholic Church teaches. They also seek to deepen their faith, and grow in union with Christ. Most enroll in the certificate program, but EPS encourages all Catholics who want to deepen their faith to enroll in an EPS course. EPS graduates may also apply for selected courses.

Q When and where are classes held?
A Depending on the program, EPS classes are held once weekly from September until May, or in shorter terms throughout the year..

Washington Day Program: 125 Michigan Avenue, NE, (campus of Trinity University), Washington, DC. Classes are held over four-, six- or eight-week terms. Foundational classes meet on Tuesdays and advanced classes meet Thursdays, both from 9:30 a.m. until 2:15 p.m. Jane Vichi is program director. Ann Kitterman is community liaison.

Washington-Virginia Evening Program: 125 Michigan Avenue, NE, (campus of Trinity University), Washington, DC. Foundational classes meet Tuesdays; advanced classes meet Thursdays, both from 7-9:15 p.m., September through May. Cecilia Braveboy is program director. Ann Kitterman is community liaison.

Virginia Day Program: St. Ann Church, 5300 N. 10th St., Arlington, Virginia. Classes, which are held over four-, six- or eight-week terms, meet on Thursdays from 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Pamela Blankenship is program director. Raymond Payette is community liaison.

New York Program: (EPS Westchester County Forum) A short-term non-certificate program is being developed and will be held during fall, winter and spring terms. Marisol Maya is Forum Director.

Connecticut Program: St. Philip Parish, 25 France Street, Norwalk. Classes are held on Tuesdays or Wednesdays from 7:15 to 9:30 p.m., September through May. A short-term non-certificate morning program, called the EPS Forum, also is held during fall, winter and spring terms. Marisol Maya is program director. Mary Chalupsky is student recruiter, and Dr. Ellen Mahon is community liaison.

Q What do EPS students do with their education?
A Most EPS students gain confidence and skills to express their faith more fully in the world. Many EPS graduates serve in their parishes as lay readers, extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, RCIA leaders, catechists, and Bible study facilitators. Still others serve the poor, homeless, sick or in pro-life ministries.

Q How is the EPS program structured?
A The certificate program is designed to deepen the adult Catholic’s knowledge of the faith and offer tools for living it fully at home, in the parish and in the world. Four-, six- and eight-week courses examine essentials of the Catholic faith through an integrated study of Scripture, theology, and Church history. Courses include:

The mission and ministry of Jesus the Redeemer
God’s covenant with his people
The doctrine of the Trinity
The sacramental life of the Church
The birth of the Church
American Church history
Mary and the Communion of Saints
Catholic spirituality
Catholic moral tradition
Bio-medical ethics
Christian prayer and Catholic prayer traditions
Liturgy
Evangelization in a multi-cultural perspective
The ministry of catechesis
Sharing faith (apologetics and evangelization)

Q   What will be the caliber of EPS faculty?
A     Excellent. Our program uses faculty from the most respected Catholic universities, colleges and seminaries.

Q   Must one have a diploma to be eligible?
A    No. But candidates should be prepared to be challenged by college-level instruction. Although there are no exams or papers required, students should commit to attending classes regularly and participating actively through reading and discussion.

Q     What type of credit is given for these courses?
A    Continuing Education Units (CEUs). One CEU represents attendance for ten class hours.

Q     What accommodations are available?
A     Lecture room suitable for adults; space for discussion groups, brown bag lunches or snacks and coffee breaks. In Washington, shuttle service between Brookland Metro Station and the Trinity campus is available. Parking is available at the DC, Virginia, and Connecticut locations.

Q     How is EPS funded?
A    EPS is funded through tax deductible contributions from students, graduates, friends, parishes, dioceses and communities, all of whom benefit from EPS. Those contributions go toward covering the $1,500 a year it costs EPS to see each student through the certificate program.

Q    What does EPS cost?
A      EPS practices "Gospel Economics,'' providing people the education they need--not what they can pay for. Therefore, we do not charge a set tuition for our program. We expect all students to contribute what they can afford. We suggest a minimum donation for both certificate and non-certificate students. However, we never turn away students unable to give the suggested minimum. We believe, as Pope John Paul II taught, that Christian formation is not the privilege of a few, but the right and duty of all (Christifideles laici, #63) In the spirit of the Gospel, we expect all students to prayerfully discern what they can afford, fill in a confidential commitment card, and return it to EPS.

Certificate students are asked to contribute a minimum of $40 monthly ($480 a year). This amount does not cover our program cost, and we rely on larger donations from students able to afford them in order to continue our mission of educating Catholics.
Non-certificate students are asked to make a suggested donation of $25 per session for each course they attend. (For instance, for a six-week course, students are asked to contribute $150 for the course.)

Q    Are parishes charged for parishioners who attend?
A   No. But EPS relies on the generous contributions from the parishes and dioceses it serves.

Q    How does a person apply?
A    Complete the EPS application form and ask your your pastor to sign it. Mail it to the EPS staff person at the address below, who will phone you to arrange an interview before acting on your application.

Connecticut
EPSCTRecruiter@trinitydc.edu
Priscilla M. Toumey
P.O. Box 2321
Westport, CT 06880
203-354-8672

Virginia
payetter@trinitydc.edu
Raymond Payette
Education • Parish • Service
Trinity University Campus
125 Michigan Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20017
202-884-9180 • Fax: 202-483-0253

Washington
kittermana@trinitydc.edu
Ann Kitterman
Education • Parish • Service
Trinity University Campus
125 Michigan Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20017
202-884-9446 • Fax: 202-483-0253

New York
For the EPS Westchester County Forum
epswestchesterforum@trinitydc.edu
Marisol Maya
Education • Parish • Service
333 Mamaroneck Road, #194
White Plains, NY 10605
914-683-6567

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