Dr. Ximena DeBroeck

Dr. Ximena DeBroeck is the Director of Catechetical and Pastoral Formation in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.  She is also Adjunct Professor of Sacred Scripture at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and senior fellow at St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology.  Previously, she served as Assistant Professor of Sacred Scripture at St. Mary’s Seminary and as Director of the Office of Worship and Sacramental Formation in the Archdiocese Baltimore.  Before relocating to Maryland, she taught Scripture, Theology, Spirituality, and Pastoral Ministry at St. Vincent Seminary and Seton Hill University. She earned her Theology MA, with Scripture concentration, from Saint Vincent Seminary, her License in Sacred Theology from St. Mary’s Seminary, and her doctorate in Systematic Theology from Duquesne University.

She has created on-line courses for the University of Notre Dame Institute for Church Life and for the University of Dayton Institute for Pastoral Initiatives. Her publications include the Study Guide for Weddell’s book Forming Intentional Disciples as well as articles on sacramental formation.  Dr. DeBroeck has presented at national and international conferences.

DeBroeck’s academic interests –biblical theology of sacrifice, sacraments, and discipleship– are directed to the service of the evangelizing mission of the Church. She is passionate about evangelization yet is mindful that prior to being faithful ministers of the Gospel, first we must become faithful disciples.

 

Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATION
Licentiate in Sacred Theology, Biblical Studies, 2019 St. Mary’s Seminary & University, MD
Thesis: “Sacrifice as Participation in the Life of the Trinity: An Applied Biblical Theology of Sacrifice”

Ph.D., Theology [concentration Biblical Theology], 2017 Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA
Dissertation: “Becoming a Priestly People: A Biblical Theology of Liturgical Sacrifice as Spiritual Formation”
Director: William M. Wright IV, Ph.D.
Committee: William M. Wright IV, Ph.D., Bogdan G. Bucur, Ph.D., George Worgul, Ph.D.

M.A., Sacred Scripture 2009 St. Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, PA
Graduated summa cum laude § Recipient of the Scripture Award

Bachelor of Science, Nursing, 1985 University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Graduated with honors

Languages
Biblical Languages: 2 semesters of Greek and 6 semesters of Hebrew
Modern Languages: Spanish (native speaker); German, Italian, French: intermediate reading ability

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
Mandatum – received from Archbishop Lori, August 11, 2015

Oath of Fidelity – Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity
August 31, 2009–St. Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, PA
September 16, 2015–St. Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore, MD

January 2019 – present: Archdiocese of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD
Director of the Division of Catechetical and Pastoral Formation

January 2019 – present: Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore, MD
Adjunct Faculty – courses taught
Pentateuch and Historical Literature § Psalms

July 2014 – Dec 2018: St. Mary’s Seminary & University Baltimore, MD
Assistant Professor of Sacred Scripture – courses taught (July 2015 – Dec 2018)
Pentateuch and Historical Literature
Introduction to Prophetic Literature
Psalms & Wisdom Literature
Luke and Acts
Pauline Epistles
Exegetical Method
Sacramental Formation in the Parish
Vatican II Theology
Preaching I

Adjunct Faculty – courses taught (July 2014 – June 2015)
Pentateuch and Historical Literature
Introduction to Prophetic Literature

March 2013 – July 2015: Archdiocese of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD
Director of the Office of Worship and Sacramental Formation (June 2014 – July 2015)
Coordinator of Adult Formation and Sacramental Formation (March 2013 – May 2014)

August 2010 – May 2013: Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA
Adjunct Faculty – courses taught
Introduction to Pastoral Ministry
Pastoral Ministry Capstone
Field Experience/Practicum in Ministry

August 2009 – May 2013: St. Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, PA
Adjunct Faculty – courses taught
Introduction to Bible and Liturgy
Introduction to Sacred Scripture
Exegesis Seminar
Historical Books
Prophetic Literature
Synoptic Gospels
Fourth Gospel
Introduction to Spirituality
Spiritual Formation Conferences
Ministry Capstone Seminar – developed this course in response to the Association of Theological Schools’ recommendations for assessment of student learning outcomes and programmatic assessment.

July 2006 – May 2009: Blessed Sacrament Cathedral, Greensburg, PA
Director of Faith Formation

Aug 2004 – July 2005: Lakenheath Air Force Base (DoD), Lakenheath, England
Pastoral Coordinator

RELATED TEACHING / FORMATION EXPERIENCE
July 2015 – present: University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN
Course creator for the Institute for Church Life / STEP – Introduction to Scripture (June 2016)

December 2014 – present: Archdiocese of Baltimore, Baltimore, MD
Faculty for Permanent diaconate academic formation (Intro to Script, Genesis, Exodus, Prophets, Psalms)
Member of Screening Committee for Seminary Applicants (December 2014 to December 2015)

March 2014 – present: University of Dayton, Dayton, OH
Facilitator for VLCFF courses (English & Spanish curriculum)
Course creator for the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives – Sacraments (June 2015) / Facilitator

August 2009 – 2017: Diocese of Greensburg, Greensburg, PA
Pathways Faculty (Pathways is a Diocesan-sponsored adult faith formation program)
Instructor for “Mystery of God” and “Sacramentality”

January 2010 – January 2014: Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, Altoona, PA
Retreat presenter for permanent deacon candidates’ wives’ formation program

April 2012- July 2013: Diocese of Greensburg, Greensburg, PA
Liaison for human formation for the permanent diaconate program

September 2010- May 2013: Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Master Catechist – taught various courses, created and taught Philosophy of Catholic Education
Consultant and instructor for Parish Marriage Preparation Team

Jun 1985 – May 1999: Various Health Care Institutions, Registered Nurse

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Society of Biblical Literature (SBL)
Catholic Biblical Association (CBA)
Academy of Catholic Theology (ACT)
College Theological Society (CTS)
National Conference for Catechetical Leadership (NCCL)
Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions (FDLC)

AWARDS
Academic, 2009 – Recipient of the Scripture Award and graduated with highest honors.
Employment, 2005 – Recipient of the “Certificate of Appreciation”–Archdiocese for the Military Services for ‘Outstanding Service to the Catholic Religious Program’ at the Royal Air Force Base, Lakenheath, United Kingdom.

SERVICE TO THE LOCAL CHURCH
Seminary Service
Peace & Justice Committee & Faculty Rep. to Catholic Relief Services Jul 2015-Dec 2018
Short term mission / immersion CRS trip to Lebanon and Jordan, May-June 2017

Professional / Consultant Services
Consultant for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Office of the Archbishop and Department of Evangelization, [sacramental policies], July 2015-Dec 2018
Sacramental Formation Consultant, St. John Westminster Parish, October 2017-Dec 2018

CONFERENCE PAPERS & PRESENTATIONS
Presentations at Academic Conferences
“Ritual, Remembrance, Reorientation: Vital for the Believer,” CBA 81st International Meeting, July 2018.
“Post-Exilic Prophets: From Exile to New Life,” Applied Biblical Studies Conference, July 2018.
“Sacrificial Life, Sacrificial Death: Expressions of Covenantal Love,” St. Andrews Symposium for Biblical and Early Christian Studies, June 2018, 2018 Theme: Atonement: Sin, Sacrifice, and Salvation in Jewish and Christian Antiquity
“From Empty to Acceptable Sacrifice, A Rhetorical Movement in Isaiah,” SBL, EGLBS Regional Meeting, March 2017.
Presentations at Academic Seminars / Pastoral Conferences / Retreats (Invited Presentations).
Catechesis During the Period of the Catechumenate, Archdiocese of Hartford and Liturgical Training Publications, Hartford, September 2019 (forthcoming)
The Year-Round Catechumenate, National Gathering on Christian Initiation – Liturgical Training Publications (LTP), Chicago, July 2019
“Ritual, Remembrance, Reorientation: Possibilities for Transformation in the Life of the Believer,” University of St. Andrew’s Doctoral Biblical Studies Seminar, November 2018
“Wisdom Literature.” Shrine of the Sacred Heart Parish. Baltimore, MD. Nov. 2018.
“RCIA One-Day Workshop for Hispanic Ministers.” 2018 Mid-Atlantic Congress. Baltimore, MD. Feb 2018
“A Biblical Theology of Silence.” Archdiocese of Louisville Fall Clergy Convocation. Louisville, KY. Nov. 2017
“Sacred Scripture in the Catholic Tradition.” Shrine of the Sacred Heart Parish. Baltimore, MD. Nov. 2017.
“Discipleship in Seminary Formation: Ratio Fundamentalis.” St. Vincent Seminary, Pre-Theologian Fall 2017 Formation Conference. Latrobe, PA. Sept. 2017
“Literal Sense of Scripture.” Liturgical Symposium, Notre Dame Center for Liturgy, University of Notre Dame, IN. June 2017.
“Ministry: A Sharing in Christ’s Mission of Reconciliation & Communion.” Fall Day of Recollection, Office for Lay Ecclesial Ministry, Diocese of Greensburg. Nov 2016.
“Active Recipient of the Spirit’s Call.” Ministry Renewal Day, Office for Lay Ecclesial Ministry, Diocese of Greensburg. Aug 2016.
“Scripture, Liturgy, Evangelization,” University of Notre Dame Liturgy Symposium. June 2016.
“Ministry of Charity,” “Ministry of the Liturgy,” “Ministry of the Word” The Office for Deacons, Diocese of Harrisburg, Jan 2016-Feb 2016.
“Missionary Discipleship,” Weekend of Recollection for Seminarians, St. Vincent Seminary, April 2015.
“Spiritual Formation in the Life of a Seminarian,” Weekend of Recollection for Pre-Theology Students, St. Vincent Seminary, April 2015.

PUBLICATIONS
Courses – on-line
DeBroeck, Ximena, “Introduction to Sacred Scripture,” – University of Notre Dame, Camino, June 2016.

Books
DeBroeck, Ximena, Forming Intentional Disciples Study Guide, Our Sunday Visitor, March 2014. Translated to Spanish, March 2016.

Book Reviews
DeBroeck, Ximena. Review of Sacrifice and Atonement: Psychological Motives and Biblical Patterns by Stephen Finlan. Fortress Press, 2016. Horizons 44, no. 1 (June 2017): 207-209.
—. Review of Bridging the Gap: The Christian Sacraments and Human Belonging by Roger Grainger. Sussex Academic Press, 2012. Religious Studies Review 40, no. 2 (June.2014): 84.

Journal Articles
DeBroeck, Ximena. “Confirmation: Initiation not Completion, One Theology with Many Approaches.” The Catechetical Review 3, no.3 (2017): 28-29.
—. “Sacramental Formation & the New Evangelization: Confirmation.” Church Life: A Journal for the New Evangelization 3, no.4, 2015.
—. “Sacramental Formation & the New Evangelization: Infant Baptism and the Eucharist.” Church Life: A Journal for the New Evangelization 3, no.3, 2015.
—. “The RCIA and the New Evangelization.” Church Life: A Journal for the New Evangelization 3, no.4, 2014.
—. “Initial Preparation to Encounter Christ in the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation-A New Evangelization Perspective” in Catechetical Sunday 2014, USCCB, May 2014

CONTINUING FORMATION
CBA 82st International Meeting, July 2019
NCCL Annual Convocation 2019: Nurturing the Hungry Heart.
CBA 81st International Meeting, July 2018
Academy of Catholic Theology, May 2018
“Christian Perspectives on Justice & Community,” Institute for Islamic, Christian, & Jewish Studies, Feb-Mar 2018.
CBA 80th International Meeting, Aug 2017
SBL, EGLBS Regional Meeting, March 2017.
Annual Liturgy Symposium 2016: Liturgy & the New Evangelization, Notre Dame Center for Liturgy, June 2016
Annual Liturgy Symposium 2015: Liturgy and Vocation, Notre Dame Center for Liturgy, June 2015
Annual Liturgy Symposium 2014: Liturgy as Healing, Notre Dame Center for Liturgy, June 2014
NCCL Annual Conference 2015: Encounter the Joy of the Gospel, May 2015
Mid Atlantic Conference 2019, 2018, 2015, 2014, 2013.
FDLC National Meeting 2014: RCIA, Ever Ancient, Ever New, October 2014
NCCL Annual Conference 2014: Evangelize, Catechize, Energize, May 2015
Sacrosanctum Concilium Symposium, sponsored by the USCCB Committee on Divine Worship, Nov 2013
AAR-SBL Annual Meeting, November 2013
NCCL Annual Conference 2013: Ignite the Fire of Faith