What is the New Evangelization?
In today’s postchristian society, John Paul II’s call for a new evangelization takes on even greater urgency. Christianity is no longer part of our ambient culture, and Catholics have the mission to find new and compelling ways of "re-proposing” the Gospel to Catholics who are lukewarm to its message, and a culture that has outright rejected it.
New Evangelization does not mean we’re changing the content of our Faith, but rather employing means of evangelization that are new in ardor, methods, and expression.
Our New Evangelization program prepares you for this mission through a deep study of theology and philosophy, along with training in practical means of communicating the truths of our Faith, through elective tracks in media, music, public speaking, and nonprofit leadership.
Who is this program for?
If you have a heart for advancing the mission of the Church, you need a strong education in theology and philosophy, but also practical tools to be effective in your unique vocation.
Our one-of-a-kind program is specifically designed to equip Catholics for their careers in…
Youth Ministry
Public Speaking
Catholic Non-Profits
Religious Education
Media Apostolates
Receive a Solid Foundation in Theology and Philosophy
Theology seeks understanding in the study of the revealed Word of God in history, which comes to human beings first in Israel and then in the person of Jesus Christ. In our theology and philosophy coursework, you will take the articles of the Creed taught by the Church as its principles, and apply human reason assisted by grace to explore the beauty of our Catholic Faith.
We take our responsibility as a Catholic university seriously, and all of our theology faculty commit to harmony with Church teaching.
Study Liberal Arts and Humanities
The Humanities are concerned with the study of the human condition, with what human beings think, do, and make - which has a particular relevance to evangelization. As part of our Humanities Degree, the New Evangelization emphasis incorporates a rich study of the liberal arts. You will not only study ideas, art, and culture using great texts and works of Western Civilization as a foundation, but will enter into them actively, integrating the human powers of memory, imagination, and reason, educating the emotions and passions.
Build Practical Leadership & Business Skills
Our General Education includes seven courses in business that provide a solid foundation no matter what your career goals are. Learn skills in marketing, management, negotiation, and leadership, and easily earn a Business Minor by taking two additional business courses.
Choose From Four Elective Tracks
The New Evangelization emphasis offers further specialization in the form of tracks. Students may choose to pursue a sequence of courses within one of the following areas, or mix and match coursework from multiple tracks.
VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS
Combine your passion for theology and creativity with coursework in production, film criticism, and storytelling. Ideal for students interested in using media to evangelize.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Prepare for a career as a Catholic speaker with coursework in public speaking, culminating in a real-world project such as creating and presenting a curriculum for a local parish. Ideal for students who wish to be youth ministers, catechists, or public speakers.
MUSIC
Develop your musical talent with electives in songwriting, composition, and music theory, while also receiving training in how to use sound systems. Ideal for students who wish to serve the Church as youth ministers, music ministers, or simply those who wish to pursue musical interests while studying theology.
CATHOLIC LEADERSHIP
Apply your business skills to ministry with training in nonprofit management, fundraising, and social media marketing. Ideal for students who want to found or work at a nonprofit ministry.
What Makes Us Different?
Our Authentically Catholic Community
Our faith in Jesus Christ is at the heart of JPCatholic. We strive to create a campus environment where both students and faculty can grow in their relationship with Christ through Sacred Scripture, the Sacraments, and the Magisterial teaching of the Catholic Church. Immerse yourself in an abundance of opportunities for spiritual growth, including Daily Mass, Confession, Adoration, Rosary, Retreats, and Service Projects.
LEARN MOREOur Small Campus Environment
With a total student body under 300, JPCatholic offers a warm, tight-knit campus community. Foster lifelong friendships, form creative partnerships, and surround yourself with a supportive environment that encourages your growth in both virtue and academic excellence.
SEE STUDENT STORIESGraduate in 3 Years
Our unique academic model is structured on a year-round quarter system, and you graduate with your Bachelors Degree in just 12 quarters. Each quarter is 10 weeks long, with about 3 weeks of break between each quarter. Graduating in just three years will give you a head start on either starting your career or pursuing further education.
LEARN MORE
Alumni Success
Alumni have found fulfilling careers in a variety of paths, ranging from working for the Church, serving in a Catholic apostolate, teaching theology, and more. Alumni are also well prepared to pursue further education if desired. View more info on alumni jobs and graduate schools by clicking below.
LEARN MORELocated in San Diego County
John Paul the Great Catholic University is centered in north county San Diego, just a 35-minute drive from downtown in America's Finest City. Southern California is famous for its fantastic weather, beautiful beaches and mountains, and bustling metropolitan areas. Our campus is just 15 miles from the beach, a short trip by car or train.
LEARN MOREStudy Abroad
JPCatholic offers a unique model of study abroad with a variety of destinations. Each trip is an interactive academic experience that starts with ten weeks of classroom instruction on-campus here in Escondido and culminates in a week or two of travel led by the professor. Destinations may be international or domestic, and each course is specially designed to provide a unique cultural and educational experience to the student.
LEARN MOREMeet the Faculty
Our professors carry a rich academic background in theology and philosophy. With our small class sizes, you will be able to receive individualized mentorship as you pursue deeper scholarship in theology and philosophy, alongside training in practical skill sets like media and business. We take our responsibility as a Catholic university seriously, and all of our faculty commit to harmony with Church teaching.
Fr. Andy Younan, PhD
Professor of Philosophy
Dr. Shalina Stilley
Professor of Philosophy & Theology
Fr. Ankido Sipo
Adjunct Professor of Theology
Sr. Nancy Usselmann, FSP
Adjunct Professor of Theology
Dr. Sam Keyes
Professor of Theology
Bonnie Curtis
Adjunct Professor of Theology
Steven Kramp
Professor of Creative Writing & Chair of Humanities & Theology
Maisa Haddad
Adjunct Professor of New Evangelization
Hear from Students & Professors
Humanities Program Overview
John Paul II's Encyclical on Evangelization: Redemptoris Missio
SOUL Campus Ministry | Student Life
Joe Fifelski: From Shadows | Impact
Alumni Spotlight - Timmerie Millington
How to Evangelize: Don't Force It | Faculty Insights
Nicholas Willey: Creating from the Heart | Why We Create
Campus Ministry: Winter Retreat | Student Life
Day in the Life: Nancy Gossin
Alumni Spotlight
Timmerie Geagea
Class of 2010
Timmerie Geagea was a New Evangelization student who graduated in 2013. One of her main interests is authentic Catholic femininity and her work in the pro-life movement, in which she is very active. She is the co-host of Trending with Chris and Timmerie, which is a nationally syndicated radio show and international Catholic Podcast. She formerly worked as the Director of Education and Outreach at Life Choices Crisis Pregnancy Center in San Diego.
While a student at JPCatholic, she utilized both what she had learned in her theology classes and her production classes to start a blog, and eventually worked her way to up start a radio broadcast (podcast). She utilized the professional network she gained from her professors within the Catholic world as well, and eventually worked her way into a position with Catholic Answers, where she originally hosted a radio show with Trent Horn. She has also spoken at events nationally, always utilizing social media and marketing skills she gained from studying media and incorporating the theological concepts she learned.
Leah Murphy
Class of 2014
Leah Murphy served as a LifeTeen missionary and wanted to continue working in the field of youth ministry. She interned at LifeTeen’s headquarters as an undergrad. Now serves as their Coordinator of Digital Media and Evangelization.
Janise Flores
Class of 2014
Janise Flores wanted to delve further into the sociological side of how Theology affects the human psychology. She is now a graduate student at JPII Institute of Psychological studies in DC.