Previous Years' Course Catalogues

he Eastern Roman Empire, known today as the Byzantine Empire, survived until 1453, having spread Christianity among the Slavs in the Balkans and Eastern Europe. Among the topics of Byzantine history surveyed here are the seven Ecumenical Councils and their theological and political implications, iconoclasm and Byzantine art, Byzantine relations with the West (especially during the Crusades) as well as with the Slavs — culminating in various attempts to bring them into both the orbit of Greek Christianity and the Empire. This leads to the study of the Christianization of Kievan Rus’.
For the Slavic Churches, the course provides and overview of: Kievan Rus’ Christianity (988-1240) and its decline; the Unions of Florence (1439–1442) and Brest (1596) and their aftermath; the rise of the Church of Moscow, under Patriarch and Synod; the Church in Orthodox Russia and Catholic Austria; and Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches under totalitarian and post-totalitarian rule, especially in Ukraine.
Simultaneously with these Slavic developments, the course will look at the East-West Schism, attempts to heal it, and the struggles and eventual collapse of the Byzantine Empire. The rise of hesychasm and monasticism in both Greek and Slavic Churches will also be examined, delving into theological and political aspects.

This course introduces students to Catholic documents that have both explicit and implicit implications for Catholic education. The objective of the course, therefore is to enable students to read these texts closely with a view to drawing out the implications, particularly he first-principles, cultural context, and the key educational issues. Attention will be paid to the pedagogical, theological, cultural, social and foundational issues contained in these texts. The text will also be read through an applied hermeneutical method. As this is a course in reading primary texts, students will be expected to become very knowledgeable of the texts assigned each week.

This course introduces students to Catholic documents that have both explicit and implicit implications for Catholic education. The objective of the course, therefore is to enable students to read these texts closely with a view to drawing out the implications, particularly he first-principles, cultural context, and the key educational issues. Attention will be paid to the pedagogical, theological, cultural, social and foundational issues contained in these texts. The text will also be read through an applied hermeneutical method. As this is a course in reading primary texts, students will be expected to become very knowledgeable of the texts assigned each week.

This course introduces students to Catholic documents that have both explicit and implicit implications for Catholic education. The objective of the course, therefore is to enable students to read these texts closely with a view to drawing out the implications, particularly he first-principles, cultural context, and the key educational issues. Attention will be paid to the pedagogical, theological, cultural, social and foundational issues contained in these texts. The text will also be read through an applied hermeneutical method. As this is a course in reading primary texts, students will be expected to become very knowledgeable of the texts assigned each week.

This course is a historical, systematic, and pastoral study of the sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation, Eucharist), sacraments of healing (reconciliation, sacrament of the sick), sacraments of vocation (marriage and orders) in Roman Catholic practice.

Historically, the experiences of Indigenous Christians in the churches have not been honoured or valued. At best, they were marginalized, and this is still the case today. Using Indigenous methodologies of teaching and learning and a storytelling approach, Indigenous Christian elders and teachers offer in this course a different view of Indigenous Christian experiences and highlight their theological, spiritual, and ecclesial contribution to the churches. Learning to honour Indigenous Christian experiences is a gift to the transformation of the churches and an important step on the journey towards reconciliation.

This course explores the key concepts and thinkers of the critical pedagogy movement and how these have informed Christian theology and education. The course is grounded in the writings of Brazilian educator Paulo Freire, exploring his critical pedagogy as a response to situations where human dignity is threatened. The further contributions of scholars of critical and feminist pedagogies will expand the conversation to consider critical pedagogy as a Christian response to suffering and oppression. Centered on Freire’s dialogical approach to education, the course invites students to examine the interconnectedness of love, hope, justice, and dialogue in religious education and pastoral ministry.

The course deals with the relationship between the Catholic educator and theology. This course is distinct from a theology of education, but there are common themes. Students will be introduced to the themes that draw out the relationship between theology and the role of the educator in the context of Catholic education. Students will read texts on the nature of theology and how it informs and shapes the mission and vocation of the educator, and the place of theological reflection specific to the educator.

Taking into account recent paradigm shifts in the theology of mission, this course invites participants to consider the relationship of mission to biblical sources, culture and context, unity and diversity in the church, post-colonism and intercultural engagement, and especially religious pluralism. The goal is to foster critical theological reflection on how the church might best understand and embody its mission in a multifaceted and globalizing world situation today. Methodology: lectures/discussions. Evaluations are based upon a mid-term paper, final research paper, and class participation. Prerequisite: Completion of first credit group or Level II.

Taking into account recent paradigm shifts in the theology of mission, this course invites participants to consider the relationship of mission to biblical sources, culture and context, unity and diversity in the church, post-colonism and intercultural engagement, and especially religious pluralism. The goal is to foster critical theological reflection on how the church might best understand and embody its mission in a multifaceted and globalizing world situation today. Methodology: lectures/discussions. Evaluations are based upon a mid-term paper, final research paper, and class participation. Prerequisite: Completion of first credit group or Level II.

Taking into account recent paradigm shifts in the theology of mission, this course invites participants to consider the relationship of mission to biblical sources, culture and context, unity and diversity in the church, post-colonism and intercultural engagement, and especially religious pluralism. The goal is to foster critical theological reflection on how the church might best understand and embody its mission in a multifaceted and globalizing world situation today. Methodology: lectures/discussions. Evaluations are based upon a mid-term paper, final research paper, and class participation. Prerequisite: Completion of first credit group or Level II.

This course explores the history and Interpretation of the Divine Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom, St. Basil the Great, and the Presanctified Gifts. Contemporary concerns regarding the significance and possible reform of these Liturgies will be discussed as well, as disputed Issues of Eucharistic doctrine and practice. Thus, the purpose of this course Is to 1. become familiar with the historical development of the texts, rites, environment, and Interpretation of these Eucharistic services. 2. Investigate and analyze the theologies of assembly, eschatological movement, proclamation, sacrificial offering, thanksgiving, remembrance, pneumatic Invocation, cosmic transformation, communion, and ministry-as these are manifested In the Byzantine Eucharist. 3. illustrate and evaluate how liturgy and theology Interact to provide answers to fundamental questions of human existence as well as a context for the elaboration of such questions.