Dr. Donna Eschenauer, Ph.D.

Biography

Donna M. Eschenauer
Ph.D. Fordham University, Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education, 2010.

Dr. Eschenauer is the Associate Dean and Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology at St. Joseph’s Seminary. In her position she assists the Academic Dean in directing all academic programs and teaches courses that are reflective of theology and practice, particularly in the area of Christian
Initiation, liturgy, catechesis, and ministry. Dr. Eschenauer has also been a liturgy and catechetical consultant for William H. Sadlier Publishing Company and served as a contributor for their newest sacramental programs, Believe, Celebrate, Live. She is currently a part of the Catechumenate Team for Liturgy Training Publications in Chicago who work to promote the Church’s vision for the implementation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults in the United States. She has been a major presenter at the National Gathering on Christian Initiation.

Her pastoral experience is reflective of her over twenty-two years of work in the Diocese of Rockville Centre at the Cathedral Parish of St. Agnes where she served as a religious educator, liturgist, and catechumenate director.

Her publications include: Recruiting and Forming Your Parish Initiation Team. Chicago, IL: Liturgy Training Publications, forthcoming July, 2021. The Role of the Coordinator in Christian Initiation: A Pastoral and Practical Guide, Chicago, IL: Liturgy Training Publications, 2017; First Communion Liturgies: Preparing First-Class Celebrations. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2014; How to
Lead Children’s Liturgy of the Word, co-authored with Pat Fosarrelli and Paul Turner. Chicago, IL: Liturgy Training Publications, 2014; The Easter Triduum: A Ritual Pilgrimage. San Jose, CA: Resource Publications, 2013 (available at Liturgy Training Publications); and Reflections on Renewal: Lay Ecclesial Ministry and the Church, co-edited with Harold D. Horell. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2011; and several articles on Christian Initiation published by Liturgy Training Publications.

Dr. Eschenauer lives on Long Island with her husband Paul, a long-time pastoral musician. She has three grown children and two granddaughters.
 

Education

Pastoral Theology
Ph.D. Fordham University, Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education, 2010.
 

Curriculum Vitae

Books:

Recruiting and Forming Your Parish Initiation Team. Chicago, IL: Liturgy
Training Publications, forthcoming.

A Journey Through the Three Days: Theological Reflections on the Paschal
Triduum. Chicago, IL: Liturgy Training Publications, 2019.

The Role of the Coordinator of Christian Initiation: A Pastoral and Practical
Guide. Chicago, IL: Liturgy Training Publications, 2017.

First Communion Liturgies: Preparing First-Class First Sacraments.
Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, August 2014.

How to Lead Children’s Liturgy of the Word. Chicago, IL: Liturgy Training
Publications. Co-author with Pat Fosarelli, May 2014.

The Easter Triduum: A Ritual Pilgrimage. San Jose, CA: Resource
Publications, March 2013.

Reflection on Renewal: Lay Ecclesial Ministry in the Church.
Donna Eschenauer and Harold D. Horell, eds. Liturgical Press,
Collegeville, MN: 2011.

“Introduction: The Fordham University Convocation.” In Reflection and
Renewal: Lay Ecclesial Ministry in the Church. Donna Eschenauer and
Harold D. Horell, eds. Liturgical Press, Collegeville: 2011.

“The Sacraments of Initiation: A Guiding Theme for Lay Ecclesial Ministry.” In
Reflection and Renewal: Lay Ecclesial Ministry in the Church. Donna
Eschenauer and Harold D. Horell, eds. Liturgical Press, Collegeville:
2011.

Articles:

“A Year Round Catechumenate,” Summit & Source: The Bulletin of the Office of
Worship, Diocese of Rockville Centre, Vol. XXXII, No. 1, February
2018.

“Shaping a Living and Active Faith. Pastoral Liturgy. Chicago, IL: Liturgy
Training Publications, March/April 2016, Vol 47, No. 2.

“Purification and Enlightenment: Fashioning the Elect in the Likeness of Jesus
Christ. Pastoral Liturgy. Chicago, IL: Liturgy Training Publications,
September/October 2015, Volume 46, Number 5.

“And a Child Shall Lead with Them: Mentoring Children and Youth in Liturgical
Ministry.” AIM: Liturgy Resources. Winter 2014 Vol.46 No.4.

“The People of God and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults:
Forming and Re-forming the Life of the Church.” Catechumenate: A
Journal of Christian Initiation, September 2013.

“Communion and Unity: The Reception of Baptized Christians into The Full
Communion of the Catholic Church.” Catechumenate: A Journal of
Christian Initiation, Vol.34, No. 5: September 2012.

“Memory and Imagination: The Paschal Triduum Teaching How to Live and How
to Die.” Religious Education, 107: 2012, 388-400.

“A Second Look at the Directory of Masses with Children” Praytellblog.com
Anthony Ruff O.S.B. ed. Liturgical Press, Collegeville: Featured
Article, September 3, 2010.

“Liturgical Catechesis: Unlocking the Sacramental Imagination.” In the Liturgical
Catechist: Resources for Teaching Deeper Faith Rooted in Liturgy,
Theliturgicalcatechist.weekly.com.

“Lectionary Catechesis: The Word Broken and Shared” Summit and Source
Volume XIII, Number 3 – March-April. Rockville Centre: 1991

Publications 

Recruiting and Forming Your Parish Initiation Team. Chicago, IL:Liturgy Training Publications, forthcoming July, 2021. The Role of the Coordinator in Christian Initiation: A Pastoral and Practical Guide, Chicago, IL: Liturgy Training Publications, 2017;

First Communion Liturgies: Preparing First-Class Celebrations. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2014; How to Lead Children’s Liturgy of the Word, co-authored with Pat Fosarrelli and Paul Turner. Chicago, IL: Liturgy Training Publications, 2014;

The Easter Triduum: A Ritual Pilgrimage. San Jose, CA: Resource Publications, 2013 (available at Liturgy Training Publications); and Reflections on Renewal: Lay Ecclesial Ministry and the Church, co-edited with Harold D. Horell. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2011;

several articles on Christian Initiation published by Liturgy Training Publications.

Courses

• Confirmation and RCIA

• RCIA: Theology and Practice

• Introduction to Pastoral Ministry

• MA Thesis Mentoring Seminar

• Special Issues in Sacramental Theology: Restored Order, The Sacraments of Initiation

• The Educational Ministry of the Church: Vision and Practice

• Introduction to Liturgy

• Special Issues in Catechesis (Workshop)

• Lay Ecclesial Ministry and the Church

• Religious Education: Theory and Practice

• The Liturgies of Holy Week