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Art Canales, D. Min.

Art Canales, D. Min. Headshot
Professor of Theology
Department of Theology
Oldenburg Hall, Room 122
Phone: (317) 955-6785

Biography

Arthur D. Canales, D.Min. is Professor of Pastoral Theology & Ministry at Marian University.  He is considered one of the foremost Catholic youth & young adult ministry scholars and educators in the United States.

Dr. Canales ministry career began as a parish youth minister in Miami, FL, Washington, DC, and Beltsville, MD; he was also a college campus minister and young adult at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL; he also served as the diocesan director of youth and young adult ministry in Austin, TX; he began his teaching career as an assistant professor of theology and ministry at Silver Lake College of the Holy Family in Manitowoc, WI, and has also taught undergraduate and graduate courses at Saint Thomas University (Miami, FL), Saint Edward’s University (Austin, TX), St Norbert College (DePere, WI), Gonzaga University (Spokane, WA), and Boston College (Chestnut Hill, MA). 

Dr. Canales has written six books and over 50 academic articles.  Moreover, Dr. Canales is a Peer-Referee/Reviewer for the Journal of Religious Education, New Theology Review, and Journal of Youth Ministry.

Dr. Canales has presented over 20 keynote speeches and over 100 workshops, seminars, and academic papers in over 40 dioceses around the country and abroad.  He is a sought-after keynote speaker and popular workshop presenter on areas of Christian discipleship, pastoral theology, youth & young adult ministry, and Ministry to LGBTQ folks.  Dr. Canales also provides Ministry Mentoring with undergraduate and graduate ministry students and Pastoral Supervision with youth and young adult ministers throughout the Archdiocese of Indianapolis and remotely around the country. 

 

Courses Taught:

  • THL 105: Introduction to Theology
  • THL 216: Moral Issues
  • THL 219: Sexual Minorities & Christianity: Theological, Moral, and Pastoral Implications
  • THL 271: Theology and Spirituality for Ministry
  • THL 272: Spiritual Accompaniment & Guidance
  • THL 361: Ministry of Catechesis
  • THL 371: Youth Ministry: Theological Foundations & Pastoral Perspectives
  • THL 472: Multicultural Ministry
  • THL 474: Pastoral Care & Counseling

 

University Service:

  • Assistant Coach of the Wrestling Team
  • Coordinator of Theology Dual Credit Program
  • Academic Senator for the School of Theology, Philosophy & Ministry

 

Research Interests:

  • Development of youth & young adult ministry issues within Christianity.
  • Liturgical and sacramental issues concerning youth ministry practice.
  • Questions and concerns regarding LGBTQ theology, spirituality, and sexuality of adolescent and young adults.
  • Christology
  • Christian discipleship

 

Publications:

Books:

  • Arthur David Canales. 2027 (forthcoming). Theology & Spirituality for Ministry: An Introduction to Catholic Lay Ministry (San Diego, CA: Cognella Academic Publishing)
  • Arthur David Canales. 2023. Christology: Historical, Biblical, Liturgical, and Pastoral Perspectives for Youth and Young Adults. Dubuque, IA: Kendall Hunt Publishing. Updated & Revised Edition (2024).
  • Arthur David Canales. 2022. Pastoral Care to and Ministry with LGBTQ Youth and Young Adults. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock.
  • Arthur David Canales. 2018. Models & Methods for Youth & Young Adult Ministry: Ecumenical Examples and Approaches for the Christian Church. Eugene, OR: Cascade Publications.
  • Art Canales. 2014. Ceasel the Weasel (Children’s Book), Mustang, OK: Tate Publishing Company.
  • Arthur David Canales. 2011. A Noble Quest: Cultivating Spirituality in Catholic Adolescents, Waco, TX: Believer’s Press.
  • Arthur David Canales. 2008. Keeping the Cup Full: Financial Stewardship for Teen and Young Adults, Austin, TX: Cornerstone Financial Education.

 

Selected Articles:

  • Arthur D. Canales, “The Importance of Play & Sport in Youth & Young Adult Ministry.” Journal of Youth Ministry, Volume 23, No. 1 (Spring 2025) 65-84.
  • Najla Taslim and Arthur D. Canales, “De Novo Evaluation of Gender Dysphoria Misconceptions and Islamic Religious Perplexity: Is There any Chance of Reconciliation?” Journal of Gender, Culture, and Society, Volume 3, No. 1 (Spring 2023): 6-18.
  • Arthur David Canales, “Queer Theology and Youth & Young Adult Ministry.” Journal of Youth and Theology, Volume 21, No. 2 (Spring 2022): 5-23.
  • Najla Taslim, Arthur D. Canales, and Shrooq M.T. Alshehab, “Gender Dysphoria: A Medical and Ethical Perplexity as Distinct from Reality and the Rational Approach for Muslim Young People.” Psychiatria Danubia, Volume 33, No. 4 (December 2021) 475-484.
  • Arthur David Canales, “Pope Francis’ Theology of Young People: The Impact it Will Have for Catholic Youth and Young Adult Ministry in the United States.” Journal of Youth Ministry, Volume 19, No. 1 (Spring 2021): 90-110.
  • Arthur David Canales, “Models and Methods for Confirmation Catechesis in Catholic Youth Ministry.” Religions, Volume 11, No. 17 (August 2020): 1-13.
  • Arthur David Canales, “Ministry to Transgender Teenagers (Part Two): Providing Pastoral Care, Support, and Advocacy to Trans Youth,” Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, Volume 72, No. 4 (December 2018): 251-256.
  • Arthur David Canales, “Roman Catholic Pastoral Theology: An Adolescent Ministry Scholar’s Perspective.” Journal of Pastoral Theology, Volume 28, No. 2 (October 2018): 78-93.
  • Arthur David Canales, “Ministry to Transgender Teenagers (Part One): Pursuing Awareness and Understanding About Trans Youth.“ Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling, Volume 72, No. 3 (September 2018): 195-201.
  • Arthur David Canales and Matthew Sherman, “Franciscan Campus Ministries and LGBTQ Emerging Adults: Providing Moral Guidance and a Pastoral Plan.” The AFCU Journal: A Franciscan Perspective on Higher Education, Vol. 13, No. 1 (September 2016): 36-52.
  • Arthur David Canales, “Ministry to Catholic LGBTQ Youth: A Call for More Openness and Affirmation.” New Theology Review, Vol. 28, No. 2 (March 2016): 60-71.
  • Arthur David Canales, “Servant-Leadership: A Model for Youth Ministry.” Journal of Youth and Theology, Vol. 13, No. 1 (Spring 2015): 42-62.
  • Arthur David Canales, “Models of Christian Leadership in Youth Ministry.” Religious Education, Vol. 109, No. 1 (Winter 2014): 24-44.
  • Arthur David Canales, “The Biblical-Hermeneutical Model for Youth Ministry: Four Scriptural and Pedagogical Approaches for Youth Workers.” The Bible Today, Vol. 51, No. 4 (July/August 2013) 237-247.
  • Arthur David Canales, “Christian Discipleship: The Primordial Model for Comprehensive Catholic Youth Ministry.” Journal of Religious Education, Vol. 60, No. 3 (Fall 2012): 35-45. 
  • Arthur David Canales, “Transforming Teenagers: Integrating Social Justice into Catholic Ministry and Catholic Education.” Verbum Incarnatum, Vol. 4, No. 1 (Fall 2011): 69-91.
  • Arthur David Canales, “What’s All the Fuss About? The Over-Zealousness of Celebrating Eucharistic Adoration Apart from the Sunday Assembly.” Chicago Studies, Vol. 49, No. 3 (Winter 2011): 318-331.
  • Arthur David Canales, “A Noble Quest: Cultivating Christian Spirituality in Catholic Adolescents and the Usefulness of 12 Pastoral Practices.” International Journal of Children’s Spirituality, Volume 14: Number 1 (February/March 2009): 63-77.
  • Arthur David Canales, “Addressing Catholic Adolescent Spirituality and Assessing Three Spiritual Practices for Young People in the Catholic Youth Ministry.” Journal of Youth Ministry, Volume 10: Number 1 (Spring 2010): 7-48.
  • Arthur David Canales, “The Ten-Year Anniversary of Renewing the Vision: Reflection on Its Impact for Catholic Youth Ministry.” New Theology Review, Volume 20: Number 2 (May 2007): 58-69.
  • Arthur David Canales, “Models for Adolescent Ministry: Exploring Eight Ecumenical Examples.” Religious Education, Volume 101: Number 2 (Spring 2006): 204-232.\
  • Arthur David Canales, “Reaping What We Sow: Addressing Catholic Hispanic Youth Ministry in the United States of America (Part 2).” Apuntes: Reflexíones Teológicas desde el Contexto Hispano-Latino (Notes: Theological Reflections from the Hispanic/Latino Context), Volume 25: Number 2 (Summer 2005): 44-74.
  • Arthur David Canales, “A Reality Check: Addressing Catholic Hispanic Youth Ministry in the United States of America (Part 1).” Apuntes: Reflexíones Teológicas desde el Contexto Hispano-Latino (Notes: Theological Reflections from the Hispanic/Latino Context), Volume 25: Number 1 (Spring 2005): 4-23.
  • Arthur David Canales, “Christian Discipleship IS Franciscanism.” Journal of the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities, Volume 1: Number 1 (February, 2004): 34-53.
  • Arthur D. Canales, “A Rebirth of Being ‘Born-Again’: Theological, Sacramental, and Pastoral Reflections From A Roman Catholic Perspective.” Journal of Pentecostal Theology, Volume 11: No. 1 (October 2002): 98-119.
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