1.0 Credit

All ministry originates in a call to serve and build up the community. How are lay persons called to serve within our parish and diocesan communities? What are the issues, challenges and opportunities for growth in lay ministry (e.g. collaboration, women in ministry, exercising pastoral leadership)? This course will examine the thoughtful reflection of church leaders, theologians and lay ecclesial ministers on these questions.

3.0 Credits

The New Testament will be explored from a variety of perspectives, including historical and cultural background, discussion of communities for whom the various books were written, literary techniques, and theological themes. Notice will also be given to how the New Testament is used in the Liturgy, and its importance for ministry and spirituality. Emphasis will be on the four Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, and selected letters of Paul.

1.0 Credit

This course includes study of the entire book of Acts of the Apostles, with particular attention given to the connection of Acts to Luke’s Gospel and to the on-going life of the Church. We examine the book in its original historical context as well as its continuing importance for the Church and observe Luke’s literary method, theology and key themes. Classes are a combination of lecture and discussion.

1.0 Credit

The first chapters of the Book of Genesis (Gn 1-11) are probably the best 'known' of the whole Bible (the rib, the apple, the flood, the tower of Babel...), but also the most misunderstood. These chapters do not speak of Israel nor of the Church but of humanity in a broad universal perspective; they reflect upon what we are as human beings (creation, responsibility towards the earth, male-female relationship, sin, suffering, death, violence, etc.) and how we can become fully human according to God's plan. These chapters, because of their complexity, offer an occasion to discover how different methods can bring out the theological meaning of biblical texts.

1.0 Credit

Jews, Christians and Muslims claim Abraham to be the Father of Believers (not always in a peaceful way...). All base themselves upon the biblical narrative of the Book of Genesis (Gn 12:1 -25:11). The course is a follow-up of the course on Genesis 1-11, and will show how God's call of Abraham gave humanity a new chance for salvation. The story presents Abraham's and Sara's struggle with the divine promises of blessing, descendants and land; at times they doubt, they find human solutions, but above all they keep believing in God's faithfulness. The course will show how this story is a key text in the whole biblical history of salvation, and how it has inspired the traditions of the three monotheistic religions and different forms of art.

1.0 Credit

This course explores the spiritual life of Julian of Norwich focusing on the Christocentric foundation in which the entire Trinity is contained and understood. For Julian, Jesus is God Incarnate in whom the fullness of God dwells. He not only reveals God in every way but there is no coming to God, the Trinity, other than in and by the Incarnate Son. The course also covers the three gifts Julian prayed for, her visions and the theological reflection which brought deeper understanding of their meaning and which Julian saw as a guide for the spiritual life of others.

1.0 Credit

This course explores contemplation in the writings of Thomas Merton, and seeks to acknowledge how the contemplative traditions of both the West and Eastern have an impact on Thomas Merton’s understanding of the journey to enlightenment. The course examines the evolution and maturation of contemplative thought, as delineated in Merton’s written works, from his early traditional Christian texts to his engagement with Zen in his later writings, recognizing the pivotal contribution of his book, The Inner Experience. Merton’s dialogue partners on the journey to spiritual enlightenment range from Dionysius, in the early Christian tradition, to D.T. Suzuki, in the Eastern contemplative tradition of the 20th Century.

1.0 Credit

An introduction to Pope Benedict's teaching on Jesus Christ, Scripture, the Church, Liturgy, the Spiritual Life, and related topics.

3.0 Credits

Public prayer of the church, the Sacraments and the liturgy of the hours. Includes the study of the Christian understanding of the liturgy, the sacraments in general and the sacraments of initiation and sacraments of healing from a biblical, historical, systematic, and pastoral perspective with attention to current issues in sacramental theology.

1.0 Credit