Mission and Culture Fellows in Catholic Education

Are you discerning a call to serve in Catholic education, but want more formation? The Mission and Culture Fellows in Catholic Education program offers a transformative, hands-on experience for those who want more than a job — they want a mission. 

As a Fellow, you’ll be immersed in the life of a thriving Catholic elementary or middle school from day one. You’ll spend 15 hours per week working directly alongside experienced mentor teachers and administrators who will guide and support your professional and spiritual growth. This isn’t just about teaching — it’s about becoming the kind of educator who forms students in truth, goodness, and beauty. 

At the same time, you’ll deepen your understanding of the Church’s vision for education through a fully funded six-course, graduate-level Certificate in Mission and Culture of Catholic Education. These courses will ground you in the Catholic Church’s 2,000-year-old intellectual and spiritual traditions and give you the tools to bring that vision to life in your classroom and school community. By the end of the year, you will have a deep understanding of the mission of Catholic education and will be ready to lead your own classroom in a Catholic school in the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis for a minimum of one year.  

The Mission and Culture Fellows in Catholic Education program is more than an alternative pathway into teaching. It’s a chance to live out your faith, grow in virtue, and help renew Catholic education from the inside out. 

• Commit to the 10-month Mission and Culture Fellows in Catholic Education program, followed by a commitment to teach at least one year in a Catholic school in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis
• Be a practicing, faith-filled college graduate (from any discipline)
• Have a love for young people, a sense of wonder and awe, and a desire to serve in a school built upon the principles of a Catholic liberal education

Mission and Culture Fellows earn a $1,500/month stipend ($15K total)

To apply for the Mission and Culture Fellows in Catholic Education program: 

1. Start a graduate application at the University of St. Thomas. 
2. Select the following:
   1. Catholic Studies 
   2. Certificate 
   3. "Yes" for Mission and Culture Fellows in Catholic Education 
   4. Full Time and In Person 

Note: No need to apply for the Dean’s or Murray Institute scholarships. This program is fully funded. 

Questions? Please contact our Program Manager, Sarah DeCock, at deco6497@stthomas.edu.

Application Deadlines:

• July 5 for the 2025-2026 academic year
• March 1, 2026, for the 2026-2027 academic year