CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT
A safe place to learn, discern and discover all that Jesus has waiting for you as a son or daughter of God.
praise
teaching
activations
small groups
core values
homework
praise
teaching
core values
small groups
activations
homework
praise
While we recognize, honor and encourage our students to attend Mass as the highest form of worship, our class time praise is focused on becoming aware of God’s presence and positioning ourselves in a place of receptivity, surrender, and response to what He is doing. ESM values freedom and joy in our response to God’s goodness. We express this in our school culture through childlike worship. All classes, whether onsite or your online Zoom class, begin with an extended time of praise as we cultivate our awareness of God’s manifest presence and celebrate together His goodness.
Main Campus
Our main campus praise is led by the Encounter Worship team, along with volunteers from our musically-gifted students and alumni throughout the year. This is also a time for students to share testimonies of their experiences throughout the week and share prophetic encouragement for their classmates, the Church and the world.
Satellite Campuses
Each satellite campus develops their own team and style of praise, following the same model and core values as all ESM campuses.
Online Campus
Our Online Campus students are invited to join the live Main Campus praise each Monday evening, via Zoom. They will also experience a time of music, prayer and testimony before each weekly zoom session with their fellow classmates and online facilitator.
teaching Sessions
Drawing from the riches of Catholic Tradition and Scripture, ESM focuses on transformation through the renewal of the mind. All of our campuses follow the same model of offering two powerful teaching sections each week, following the 8-quarter curriculum.
Main Campus
Class time includes two teaching sessions led by our main campus instructors, including Fr. Mathias Thelen, Patrick Reis, Sarah Kaczmarek, Fr. Patrick Gonyeau, Dr. Mary Healy, Peter Herbeck, Fr. Boniface Hicks, and many guest instructors throughout the year. Audio recordings for each class are available for students to review on their student dashboard.
Online Campus
Two class videos led by our Main Campus instructors are released each week for students to watch at the flexibility their schedule allows, but to be completed prior to their weekly Zoom session.
Satellite Campuses
Teaching sessions at our satellite campuses are conducted by the local campus directors and trained team.
Activations
The gifts of the Spirit are part of our inheritance in Christ that, among other things, are meant to equip us for mission. Activations are powerful spiritual opportunities that help us experience the fullness of our identity and bring heaven to earth. Each teaching session includes “activations,” or time for “activating” and putting into practice what you have just learned. This may include a time of silent prayer, asking the Lord to reveal something to you, praying with your classmates, and more. Students can expect powerful personal transformation, breakthrough, and even miracles during this time.
Main Campus
Activations are led by the instructors during or following a session, either independently or within a small group setting.
Satellite Campuses
Activations are led by the campus directors and instructions during or following a session, either independently or within a small group setting.
Online Campus
While some video sessions include or end with short activations for students to do on their own, the primary place for activations to take place is during the once-weekly zoom sessions with the facilitator, classmates and small groups.
small groups
Each class offers an opportunity for the students to meet in their small groups. These groups are formed at the beginning of the school year and accompany students through graduation. Small groups, let by an assigned student or alumni, are places to ask questions, share homework testimonies, practice what you have learned, and help each other in the process and journey of each quarter.
Main & Satellite Campuses
Students generally meet in their small groups after worship and before the teaching sessions.
Online Campus
Small groups are organized in your weekly Zoom session, and are expressed through a “breakout room” settings. Your small group will also be with you during projects and practicums.
homework
This is not your normal homework! You will be encouraged to take what you have learned and put it into practice outside of the classroom: at home, at work, on the streets, at the grocery store, etc. It may include journal entries, calling an old friend, sharing the Gospel, and more. Homework is not graded, but it will be discussed in your small group and is essential to growing in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
core values
positioned in love
“And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.” 1 Cor 13:2
We pursue the ministry of Jesus from a position of love for God and others; we desire to minister the authentic good for others without any concern for self and personal ambition.
awareness of god's presence
“I cannot imagine how religious persons can live satisfied without the practice of the presence of GOD. For my part I keep myself retired with Him in the depth of centre of my soul as much as I can; and while I am so with Him I fear nothing; but the least turning from Him is insupportable.” Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God
Our goal is to cultivate a ‘presence-driven ministry’ born out of an increased awareness of the presence of God in our ministry.
intimacy with god
“If God should desire to raise us to the position of one who is an intimate and shares his secrets, we ought to accept this gladly.” St. Teresa of Avila
We acknowledge that all ministry should flow from a place of intimacy with God; all missionary efforts need to be rooted in personal holiness. We believe that the authentic growth of our ministry comes from our growing intimacy with Him.
Risk Taking
To be ‘Spirit-filled evangelisers’ means to be evangelisers who are ‘fearlessly open to the working of the Holy Spirit’ – Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudiam
We encourage and celebrate students taking risks in their pursuit of greater obedience to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. We seek to cultivate a lifestyle of fearless evangelization.
patience towards maturity
“Beware of becoming vexed or impatient at the faults of others; for it would be folly, when you see a man falling into a ditch, to throw yourself into another for no purpose.” Saint Bonaventure
We are intentionally patient with ourselves and with others as we develop our ministry gifts and acknowledge that because everyone is in a process of maturity that patience is the necessary for growth. We are also committed to giving and receiving feedback to help one another mature.
pursue breakthrough
“Perseverance is the most desirable gift we can hope for in this life. It is in our power to persevere. Of course, I do not mean that our perseverance takes its origin from our power. On the contrary, I know that it springs from God’s mercy, whose most precious gift it is.” Saint Francis de Sales
We acknowledge that authentic growth comes through overcoming disappointment and that only through a lifestyle of perseverance will we breakthrough into the greatness that God has called for us in ministry.
culture of honor
“Love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor.” – Romans 12:10
We intentionally seek to cultivate a culture of honor where we choose to treat one another with the highest regard because they bear the image of God and we celebrate his work in one another’s lives. We acknowledge that we can only properly receive from the gifts of others when we honor them.
christian unity
“This cooperation based on our common faith is not only filled with fraternal communion, but is a manifestation of Christ himself…Moreover, ecumenical cooperation is a true school of ecumenism, a dynamic road to unity. Unity of action leads to the full unity of faith: Through such cooperation, all believers in Christ are able to learn easily how they can understand each other better and esteem each other more, and how the road to the unity of Christians may be made smooth.” – St. John Paul II, On Commitment to Ecumenism
We carry the Lord’s heart for unity among all who believe (cf Jn 17:21), and work with the Holy Spirit to build bridges with Christians of all denominations. On occasion we will welcome those Christian leaders from whom our leaders are in relationship with to present to our students.
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