Thesis

I do not know if I have mentioned it before or not, but I am currently pursuing two degrees simultaneously. The first is the Master of Divinity (M. Div.) degree. This is a pastoral degree which almost all priests receive during their theological studies. Its emphasis is most often the applicability of theology two the practice of ministry, and the assignment for courses for this degree are often geared toward the practical application of theology in the parish. The second degree that I hope to obtain before the year ends is the Master of Arts in Theology (MAT). This degree is the more typically academic degree with a focus on research, theory, and method. For this degree, one must prepare a thesis and complete comprehensive exams. The time to begin writing the thesis has arrived, so today, after writing this, I will write my thesis proposal with a basic outline of what i hope to accomplish. You, dear readers, get a sneak peek.

Posts from this summer have indicated the presence of Native American Indians in my diocese. While some are Catholic, many are not. Even among those who identify themselves as Catholic, their practice of their faith is negligible. Catholic missionaries have been present to the Lakota for well over a century. Why, then, do their efforts seem to have been mostly ineffective? This question is particularly pertinent to me when compared to the evangelization of Mexico. Mexico was populated by its own indigenous people, the majority of whom eventually were converted to Catholicism, to the point that Mexico is often (though perhaps inaccurately) called a Catholic Nation. In my thesis, I intend to investigate the means by which Mexico became a Catholic nation. Because of the scope of this topic, I will not have time to prepare a similar study of the Lakota. Nevertheless, it is my hope to one day complete this work so as to be able to then prepare a comparison of the evangelization of the two cultures. Stay tuned. I will provide updates about this investigation as my research progresses.