Bring DTS to your
Parish or School
DTS can be used as a stand-alone youth ministry program or
as a complement to an already-established youth ministry program
Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources Make it Easy to Start
Starting a DTS chapter is quite easy to do. Chapters are primarily parish-based and have an adult leadership of three. The leadership includes a priest or deacon in good standing with the Catholic Church. The other leaders are usually the parish youth minister, DRE, or other adults approved by the pastor and who have completed all child safety programs required by the Diocese.Our Impact On Your Parish
Parishes regularly report to us the blessed results DTS has born in the lives of their parish teens and young adults such as:


Mass Attendance
Increased Mass attendance among teen and college age populationVocations
Vocations to religious life and/or a life of serviceConfirmation
Increased pre-Confirmation enthusiasm and post-Confirmation attendance at Mass and youth/parish activities


Participation
Increased interest in young people participating in parish life, service, and other ministriesReception
Increased reception of the Sacraments, especially Communion and ConfessionFaith Formation
Increased faith formation and a deeper prayer lifePricing
Programs that make a difference in the lives of young Catholics for costs that are accessible to every parish.
Initiation Fee
500USD
- Usage Rights
- Manual
The DTS Manual complete with prayers, which explains how to set up and run a DTS meeting from A to Z. Manual also comes with a resource list. - Chapter Support Services
Access to Chapter Support Services which include downloadable Saints teachings, links to Saint teachings, apologetic questions and answers, and more. - DTS Hoodies
Seven official DTS hoodies with embroidered DTS logo - Rosaries
Seven olive wood rosaries made in Bethlehem exclusively for the Dead Theologians Society. - Scapulars
Seven wool Brown Scapulars of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. - Posters
Full color posters to promote your DTS chapter
The rights to use the name and the logo of the Dead Theologians Society for one year.
Yearly Dues
250USD/ Year
- Usage Rights Renewal
To maintain the rights of the Dead Theologians Society name and logo.
How to Start Your Chapter
Starting a Chapter of the Dead Theologians Society is quite simple, just follow the steps below.

Get Your Parish On-Board and Apply
Get the approval of the Pastor where the chapter will be located and submit the application form by clicking the button below.

Get Approved
Upon approval, sign and return to the National Office, a copy of the Chapter Agreement Form along with any payments outstanding.

Receive Materials
You will then receive the materials you need to run your DTS chapter!
Frequently Asked Questions
1How often do groups meet?
The frequency of DTS meetings vary based upon the schedule of the individual parish where a chapter exists. DTS meetings are most frequently held once per week. Many chapters meet every other week and some meet once per month. Chapters that meet only once per month do experience greater challenges in creating a community and in keeping a momentum going. DTS chapters meet on the night of the week and time that is best for the parish where it is held. Some groups meet year ‘round while many meet from September/October and go till April/May. The summer is often used for pilgrimages and retreats under the auspices of the parish youth program. Many chapters officially take a break in the summer and its members replace the usual meeting time for an hour of Eucharistic Adoration. This is highly encouraged.
2What goes on at a DTS meeting? How long does a meeting last?
An evening of DTS combines a nice blend of the social and spiritual. We believe that two great errors in youth ministry are programs that are either, a) all religion and no social or b) all social and no religion. DTS has a format that blends the two in an evening that keeps the interest of the young people while helping them to grow in faith and community. A typical evening lasts for two hours. A good time is 7:00pm to 9:00pm. This time usually does not conflict with after school extra curricular activities, family dinner time (which hopefully is being carved out by families), homework, and it still gets the young people home at a decent hour.
At a DTS meeting, young people are inspired by the lives of Saints, grow in their prayer life and deepen their knowledge of the Catholic Faith, in a way that engages them while allowing time to grow in community and socialize.
3Who is eligible for membership? What ages?
DTS is an apostolate for high school age teens grades 9 thru 12 and/or college age young adults ages 18 thru 24 but not a mix of the two. Membership is limited to these age groups and the designated adult leadership of each chapter. In special circumstances and with the approval of the National Office, 8th grade Chapters of DTS can be formed. Please contact us for more information.
4What are the ongoing costs involved?
There is an annual renewal fee of $250.00 to maintain the rights of the Dead Theologians Society name and logo. The initial fee provides all materials for a group of seven members. For each additional member a parish can budget a cost of about $50 per member. For this cost of about $50, a DTS member can be sponsored with all their materials for four years!!! This provides their DTS hoodie, scapular, DTS rosary, and membership card which can last them a lifetime. Anyone who has teens can appreciate how fast parents can go through $50 and more for things that don’t help their teens grow in faith! Members are not asked to pay membership fees or buy their own DTS hoodie, scapular or rosary. Most parents and parish adults are happy to sponsor their young people in this faith endeavor. DTS chapters are supported through parish or school and youth ministry budgets, parent/adult sponsorship, private benefactors, parish organizations like the Knights of Columbus and various fund raisers.
5Is the Merchandise Free to Chapters?
Chapters purchase the additional DTS hoodies and rosaries from the DTS International Headquarters as their chapters grow. This ensures quality, uniformity, assistance for poor and mission parishes with DTS, and helps the apostolate continue to grow.