Catholic Gap Year
Our flagship program is a Catholic gap year. Your life has deep purpose, and you only live once. Stop and take time to understand what matters most while you’re still young. Build identity and vision by devoting a year to God in co-ed Catholic community, prayer, and study. Empower everything else you ever do.
Curriculum Overview
St. Therese is firstly about life in community. Within this community life, we eat, pray, live close to the sacraments, do chores, study, and recreate. Note that academics are important here but still only one stream within a larger gap year experience.
The academic curriculum runs across the year, divided into three major sections:
![dishes-chore-team[1]](https://i0.wp.com/sttherese.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/dishes-chore-team1.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1)
Orientation
Classes
Spring Courses
Catholic Studies
St. Therese Institute offers post-secondary courses that deepen your appreciation of your Catholic identity and enhance your view of reality. Catholic Studies build students’ vision of Scripture, Tradition, and Church history, as well as developing the students’ foundational understanding of Catholic Theology and classical Philosophy. Coursework prepares Catholic men and women to live with intention and courage in the Church and in the world. Completion of our nine-month program entitles you to a Certificate in Catholic Studies for the Lay Apostolate.
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Program Overview
The Catholic Gap Year consists of undergraduate-level courses on Scripture, Church History, Philosophy, and more at St. Therese Institute.
These courses are from October to March, or six of the nine Gap Year Programs. You spend approximately two hours per week on each course.
The Catholic Studies program adds to a holistic and comprehensive understanding of the Catholic faith and its meaning in your life. You will receive a Certificate in Catholic Studies for the Lay Apostolate when you complete the program.
Weekly Course Schedule
Time of Day | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Morning | Spirituality and Christian Community | Study Period | Towards a Sex Complementarity | Foundations of the
Moral Life | Study Period |
Afternoon | Study Period
| Faith and Reason | Study Period | Foundations of Catholicism | Church History |
Evening | Adoration | Introduction to Scripture | Leisure Night | Study Period | Community Night |
Catholic Gap Year Courses
Drawing principally from Parts One and Two of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, this
course provides a survey of the central doctrines of the Catholic faith and their foundations in
Sacred Scripture and Tradition. Through a study of the Creed and the sacraments, program
participants will encounter the great story of God’s revelation, Christ’s saving work, and the
Church’s sacramental life. The course provides a working knowledge of the faith that helps
program participants understand their identity within the Christian story and equips them to give
a reason for their hope as Catholics.
Catholic Gap Year Intensives
Throughout the formation year, program participants take part in short, focused intensives that complement the regular course curriculum and connect Catholic teaching with practical experience. A more concentrated series is normally offered during the spring trimester, though intensives, workshops, and retreats may also take place at other points in the year.
Examples of past and possible intensive offerings include:
- St. Cecilia: Music and the Arts
- The Theology of the Body: The Gospel of the Body and the Little Way
- Called for a Purpose: A Theology of the Laity
- An Introduction to Ignatian Discernment
- Practical Applications of Ignatian Discernment: Ignatian Discernment Retreat
- Ecumenical Apologetics in the New Evangelization
- Missionary Discipleship: Living the Joy of the Gospel
- The Apostolate of the Christian Family
- To Know Christ Jesus: Principles of Christian Education
- St. Joseph the Worker: An Introduction to the Trades and Catholic Entrepreneurship
- Face-to-Face Ministries: How to Build an Excellent Youth Ministry
- Catholic Social Doctrine and the Lay Apostolate
2026-2027 Fees
The cost for a participant in the nine-month Gap Year program is $26,000. Thanks to the St. Therese Institute, fundraising efforts, and key partners in this Mission, your cost to participate is only $17,000. The costs include your food, accommodations and all classes. There is also a non-refundable application fee of $50, and estimated textbook and course material costs are an additional $600-$900.
Since we are a registered charity, the Program Fees portion of our program ($8,150) may be considered “tuition” and is eligible for a tax deduction. You may also choose to fundraise some or all of your Program Fees, with your donors receiving a tax-deductible receipt for their contributions.
St. Therese Institute staff fundraises $9,000 per participant toward the costs.
If you wish to connect with the Admission Coordinator to discuss fundraising options, please schedule a call with Monica here.
Total Costs
$26,000The total costs to run the Catholic Gap Year Program are $26,000 per participant. (assuming 50 participants)Body of Christ Bursary
($9,000)The Body of Christ Bursary is given to each participant who applies to St. Therese Institute. The Bursary is primarily funded by the efforts of St. Therese Institute staff and its supporters.Participant Portion
$17,000Participants are expected to contribute $17,000 for the year, which includes program fees, room and board. Costs are broken down below:Program Fee
$8,400$4,200 per semester (4.5 months.) Annual maximum of $8,400 is eligible for tax receipt.*Room
$4,275$2,137.50 per semester. The Gap Year Room Fee breaks down to about $475 per month. Optional monthly payment plans are available. To account for added administrative load, monthly payers will have a 4% admin & processing charge.**Meal Plan
$4,325$2,162.50 per semester. About $480.56 per month. The meal plan includes the option of Gluten-Free or Dairy-Free meals for individuals.Total
$17,000About $1,888.89 per month (more than $1000 lower than the average lifestyle and rental costs paid by a single person normally in Canada*). There are two billing semesters in the year, each spanning 4.5 months. Semester payments are due upon arrival in September and by January 31 (unless other arrangements are made, eg. fundraising tuition). Optional monthly payment plans are available for the Room and Meal plans.Course Books and Materials
Optional: $900Average is $750. Price point varies between $600-$900 per year, depending on current book prices, exchange rate and purchasing of optional books. You might be able to source used books online or through alumni.- * https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Canada
Mary McLane
2016
“St. Therese gave me an incredible opportunity to go deeper in my faith. Learning to live in community, modelling my life after St. Therese, and learning intellectually more about my faith allowed me to grow in both holiness and mission which is our call as Catholics. Sometimes we think “9 months is a long time” but I assure you, those 9 months will influence you for the rest of your life in the best way possible! School will always be waiting for you, but you may only get to go to St. Therese once!”
Application Process
We walk through with you each step to ensure you have all the information you need to discern your decision.
Scholarships and Bursaries
Review and apply for the bursary and scholarship opportunities below.
Two $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to applicants who are accepted and have confirmed attendance prior to March 31, 2026 for the 2026-2027 program year. The scholarship recipients will be determined by a draw. All applicants who have been accepted and returned their signed enrolment agreements prior to March 31, 2026, will be automatically entered into the selection pool. Scholarship recipients will be notified by May 31, 2026.
A third Early Application Scholarship of $1,000 is also available, under the same terms listed above, for applicants who confirm enrollment to the Mission Year Advanced Catholic Studies program.
One annual $1000 bursary offered through the Saskatchewan Knights of Columbus Charitable Foundation to an applicant who will be attending either of the St. Therese Institute’s nine-month programs.
To be eligible for the Saskatchewan Knights of Columbus Charitable Foundation Bursary, the applicant must be a Saskatchewan resident and must themselves be a Knights of Columbus member, or the spouse, child or grandchild of a member in good standing. Preference will be given to those that demonstrate a financial need. Bursary applications must be received by July 31st for the upcoming program year. The bursary will be awarded in December this year.
The $2000 St. Joseph of Nazareth Scholarship is available for one male applicant in financial need applying to St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission in the Mission Year program. This scholarship honors the Mission Year male applicant who exemplifies the St. Joseph-like tender strength, humility, and mature masculinity which brings life and stability to the communal aspect of the St. Therese program.
The following conditions apply to all Bursaries or Scholarships (“Financial-Aid Awards” or “Award(s)”):
Financial Aid Awards are non-transferable to another program participant. Most Awards will be applied as a non-refundable credit to the scholarship recipient’s tuition account. If the Award recipient discontinues or is discontinued, the applicable refund policy will apply to the portion of tuition due/paid by the program participant; the Award amount will not be included in any refund. If an Award recipient, on or before the start date of the program, is unable to attend, St. Therese Institute reserves the right to select a new recipient from the pool of qualified Award applicants. Other criteria may apply.
Scholarship and Bursary Application
Scholarship and Bursary Application Process
- Fill out the form to apply for your Scholarship and Bursary application.
- A St. Therese Institute representative will contact you within the next few days to assist with your application.
- You will receive a notification if your application has been accepted.
RESP Eligibility
Please consult with your Registered Education Savings Plans (RESP) provider or your financial adviser for specific advice regarding what is best for your situation.
There are two components associated with RESP withdrawals:
Post-Secondary Education (PSE) — withdrawals from the capital portion of your RESP.
Education Assistance Payment (EAP) — withdrawals from the investment and government grant portion of your RESP.
Past St. Therese Institute students report that they’ve had the most success with PSE withdrawals.
St. Therese School of Faith and Mission Inc. (our official incorporated name) may be eligible for PSE withdrawals with your RESP provider. You might require a copy of your Letter of Acceptance to STIFM for your RESP provider to initiate the process.
In order to provide you with the best program, St. Therese Institute has remained a non-accredited educational institution. This means that the programming we offer you can remain open to the direction of the Holy Spirit and in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church, without having to compromise this to meet secular requirements.
However, not being accredited also means that St. Therese is currently not on the CRA’s official list of qualified post-secondary educational institutions or post-secondary educational programs, and therefore is not automatically included on your RESP provider’s list of institutions eligible for EAP withdrawals.
If your RESP provider does not allow you to access the EAP-eligible portion of your RESP for St. Therese Institute, these funds can still be retained for future educational pursuits (maybe with one of our partnered institutions who accept transfer credits from St. Therese Institute), or can be transferred to a sibling.
Again, please consult with your RESP provider or your financial adviser for specific advice regarding what is best for your situation.
Transfer Credits
You can transfer credits from St. Therese to other post-secondary institutions.
Our alumni have transferred varying amounts of credits to the following universities and colleges, some as much as a year-for-year transfer. Credit transfer amounts depend on the institution and program the student is transferring to and on how many years of our program the student completed. Transfers to institutions not listed below are also possible; inquiries are usually initiated by students.
School | Location |
|---|---|
For more information about transferring credits from St. Therese and the specifics of each institution’s transfer credit agreement, contact our acting registrar, Nick Pierlot, who can be reached at 306-369-2555×103 or npierlot@sttherese.ca | |
Atlantic School of Theology | Halifax, NS |
Ave Maria University | Ave Maria, FL |
Canadian Mennonite University | Winnipeg, MB |
Holy Apostles College and Seminary | Cromwell, CT |
Newman Theological College | Edmonton, AB |
St. Stephen’s University | St. Stephen, NB |
Trinity Western University: Catholic Pacific College | Langley, BC |