300
Will address the content of catechesis, the Deposit of Faith, especially as presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It will explore magisterial guidance on the characteristics of the content, its integrity, organic unity, and the need for its systematic delivery. Kerygmatic catechesis will be presented as the delivery system for doctrine. The right ordering of catechetical material will be presented and exercise in the development of curricula for a variety of catechetical ministries such as Catholic schools, youth ministry, Christian initiation, and others will be provided. Finally, the process of analyzing doctrine for the purpose of delivering it more effectively will be explained and demonstrated for various individual doctrines.
Teaches students to see how Catholic doctrine is driven by Scripture, and how to effectively use the Bible in catechesis. Students will get a catechetical overview of Scripture and be challenged to come up with creative ways to use Scripture in different catechetical settings.
Will offer a deeper understanding of the content, method, and inculturation of evangelization and catechesis through the lives of the saints who spent their lives engaged in handing on the faith. By examining these saints within the context of the 2000 year history of the Church, the students will gain a more profound understanding of the richness of the catechetical endeavor and come to know these catechetical saints as models of holiness.
Will examine the catechumenal model as the paradigm for all catechesis, and the way in which the stages of evangelization correspond to and are informed by the periods of the RCIA process. Students will come to understandthe pedagogy of God according to its pastoral, catechetical, and liturgical dimensions. The nature and means of conversion will be analyzed in light ofthe initiation sacraments in general and the explicit desire for baptism in particular. Finally, the course will explore the restoration of the catechumenate in the Second Vatican Council in light of the twentieth century catechetical renewal and the ancient catechumenate.
Has a two-fold objective. First, the course explains the four-fold framework for teaching Scripture to conversion and biblical catechesis: 1) A Theology of Revelation, the horizontal foundation; 2) A Divine Pedagogy of Salvation History, one side of the framework rising out of the foundations; 3) The Interpretation of the Senses of Scripture, the other vertical side of the framework; 4) Theologia (Mystery) and Oikonomia (Story) the capstone of the framework, the narratio" of biblical salvation history. Second, the course teaches the skills for teaching to conversion and biblical catechesis and exercises the student in these skills."
This course will examine the origins, content and implications of the new evangelization based on Scripture, the Second Vatican Council, post-conciliar ecclesiastical documents, and contemporary theological commentaries. The pastoral dimensions of the new evangelization will be analyzed with a particular emphasis on the pedagogy of God, the process and limits of inculturation, the central role of the family, and the ‘new movements’ that buttress and support parish life. Students will focus on the spiritual life as the essential basis for proclaiming the Gospel with new ardor, methods, and expression. Finally, students will review the obstacles of the new evangelization, including universalism, various forms of relativism, and the false dichotomy between faith and reason.
Will explore the dynamics of the Church’s mission of evangelization, particularly as it applies to every baptized Catholic on the personal level and to every Catholic parish in the lived expression of its community life. Students will gain an understanding of the central Gospel Message, the kerygma, “the Mystery of Christ,” and how it may be fruitfully shared with others. Strategies and best practices in parish evangelization will be explored, engaging questions of how a parish can nourish the faith of its members while also reaching out to those who are indifferent, searching, or “fallen away.” Anchoring ourselves on the vision of evangelization set forth by Saint Paul VI, Saint John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope Francis, and the U.S. bishops, this course will help students develop a confidence in sharing the Gospel Message and the abilities necessary to help a parish embrace its missionary identity.
In the Catholic Church’s vision of youth ministry, ministries with teenagers are not driven by programs but relationships with faithful men and women who accompany them through the many challenges and transitions they face in adolescence. This course examines topics such as the missionary nature of Catholic youth ministry, pastoral accompaniment, proclaiming the Gospel to teenagers, engaging youth culture, partnering with families, adolescent catechesis, and mentoring teens in service and leadership.
This course examines effective principles and practices of relational-driven programs that help Catholic teenagers become disciples of Jesus Christ. Topics include applying the baptismal catechumenate to youth ministry, modeling ministry on the aspects of Jesus’ life, using social media to promote the Gospel, uncovering Christ within youth culture, creative preaching techniques, engaging families, and how to plan activities such as youth nights, small groups, and retreats.