Where to?

Over the past few months a big question in my mind has been, "What am I going to do next April when I graduate?" Now, I know, I should not be anxious about this, but practically speaking I can't really just sit around until then expecting something will come up. I have to at least have some sort of plan in the works. If God alters my plans, that's fine by me, but some sort of planning is in fact necessary.

I've been seriously thinking about doing either a Masters or Licentiate in Theology (if I could get into the Licentiate program). I am particularly interested in studying the Theology of the Body.

If I do end up doing that I'm thinking that I'd be better to do that sooner rather than later. And so, these are the places I've been looking at:

The Angelicum
(Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome)

The John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family
(Catholic University of America, Washington, DC)

The John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family
(Melbourne, Australia)

Last night though I was speaking with a friend of mine who just graduated from Thomas Aquinas College. We were discussing our future plans and she mentioned to me that she knows of several people who have gone on to study at The International Theological Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family in Austria. I hadn't heard of this program before but I spent some time looking through their website it sounds appealing.

The International Theological Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family (ITI) is a Papal Institute for the study of Theology as well as specialized theological studies on marriage and the family. Founded in 1996 at the initiative of Pope John Paul II, the ITI seeks to be a place of interchange between diverse cultures, and a living experience of the Church universal.
The aims of the ITI are threefold:
1. To provide studies in Theology as well as specialized theological studies on marriage and the family;
2. To form by such studies those who are preparing themselves for tasks in the various areas of the Church’s life, especially in the area of marriage and the family;
3. To organize seminars, symposia and conferences as an aid to the local Churches and to the Holy See in promoting an authentic vision of marriage and family life.

And as if that's not enough, "most of the students are housed in the dorm rooms of the Kartause – the 14th Century former Carthusian monastery." Sounds good to me! I think I'll have to add this one to the list.

I invite anyone reading this to make their own suggestions as to where I should look into going to continue my studies. If you've studied at any of these places or know anyone who has, feel free to share your experiences and insights.