May 19, 2017
Theology Courses Heat Up Summer Faith Formation
Summer is the perfect time for renewal and growth. The break between one academic year and the next provides many with the opportunity to relax, enjoy the sunshine at home or on vacation, and recharge our proverbial batteries. It also affords some of us a little extra free time to use to better ourselves physically, emotionally and spiritually. The Office of Religious Education invites you to consider this summer as an opportunity to renew your faith and grow in your understanding of it by taking one or more of our summer theology courses we will be offering around the archdiocese.
Our Summer 2017 schedule begins on Saturday, June 3
rd, and they run through Saturday, July 15
th. Each course is ten hours in length and you can choose the option that fits your schedule: attend either four two-and-a-half hour classes on a Monday through Thursday or two five-hour classes on consecutive Saturdays. The cost is only $10 per course.
Each of the eight basic level courses in our Archdiocesan Catechist Certification Program will be available for study and taught by master catechists with advanced degrees in Theology and/or Religious Education:
- Our course on the Creed (June 26 – 29 at St. Margaret Mary, Slidell or July 8 & 15 at St. Agnes, Jefferson) offers you the opportunity to learn about the history of our system of beliefs and what each statement means to us as Catholic Christian believers.
- Catholic Understanding of Scripture (July 10 – 13 at Visitation of Our Lady, Marrero or July 8 & 15 at St. Catherine of Siena, Metairie) introduces you to basic beliefs about how scripture is understood through our Catholic perspective, especially the creation account, the covenant made by God with Abraham and his descendants and God's covenant with Jesus.
- Christology (June 12 – 15 at St. Benilde, Metairie or July 8 & 15 at St. Martha, Harvey) explores who Jesus Christ is, especially in today's society. It will help provide clear knowledge of Jesus and help bring you into a prayerful relationship with Jesus.
- In our Sacraments and Worship course (June 26 – 29 at St. Ann, Metairie or June 17 & 24 at St. Cletus, Gretna,) you will delve into rich tradition of the Catholic Church’s sacraments and how they are practiced within the church community.
- Our Personal Morality course (July 10 – 13 at Most Holy Trinity, Covington or June 3 & 10 at St. Pius X, New Orleans) includes a reflection on natural law, conscience, virtue, and the elements of the moral act. It also explore the challenges of living a life of holiness in modern society and the great treasury of resources that can assist Christians in daily life.
- Social Morality (June 12 – 15 at Mater Dolorosa, New Orleans or June 17 & 24 at Our Lady of Lourdes, Slidell) was newly added to our basic level curriculum at the start of 2017. It explores the seven basic principles of Catholic Social Teaching, how charity and justice work hand in hand, as well as contemporary issues of peace and justice.
- Through our Introduction to Church History course (June 5 – 8 at St. Dominic, New Orleans or June 3 & 10 at the North Shore Pastoral Center, Covington,) participants learn of the emergence of Christian belief, the growth of the Church, its remarkable impact on human history, and how God is active and present in all times and in all places.
- You can learn more about the Church, her nature, structure and constitution as well as her mission in today's world in our Ecclesiology and the Mission of the Church course (June 19 -22 at St. Cletus, Gretna or June 3 & 10 at Corpus Christi-Epiphany Community Resource Center, New Orleans.) It presents the theology of the Church and uses the experience of the Church's family as its vision.
Catholic school teachers, Parish School of Religion catechists, and catechetical leaders will receive basic certification credit upon completion of each course. However, we invite anyone to consider attending our courses as part of their ongoing adult faith formation. Our faith life does not go on “vacation,” so we hope that you consider taking an Office of Religious Education summer course this year!
You must register for a course in order to attend and can do so by clicking the links above, by going to the Office of Religious Education’s website at www.nolaore.org/course-schedule or contacting Dianne Condiff-Higgins, Office Registrar, at dhiggins@arch-no.org or by calling 504-861-6302.
James Behan, Jr.
Associate Director for Mission and Ministry
