Course Catalogue 2023-2024

In this foundational pastoral course, participants will reflect on understandings of God's mission, the Church's part in that mission, and their own sense of call in relation to these. The course will draw on texts from Genesis, Isaiah, Luke and Romans, as well as patristic, liturgical, spiritual writings and sermonic writing. Examining the history of mission and the church, and contemporary congregational mission theory, we will consider alternative images and paradigms of mission. Lectures and book discussion sessions will seek to build participants' critical skills particularly in relation to conflict, healing, culture, pluriformity, and proclamation as part of mission. Participants will be required to meet and interview individuals involved in diverse forms of ministry in the community to develop their own vocational discernment and gain practical awareness of the issues, challenges and skills involved in a differing forms of Spirit-led developments as congregations seek to participate and live God's mission.

This course surveys the diverse ideals, practices, and traditions of Buddhism in its formative period in India. By reading primary and secondary sources central to Buddhism, we will examine key concepts, doctrines, and practices in the Theravada, Mahayana, and Tantric traditions. Having acquired a solid understanding of the history and doctrine of Buddhism, students will learn to apply these understandings to critically analyze contemporary issues from a Buddhist perspective.

This course surveys the diverse ideals, practices, and traditions of Buddhism in its formative period in India. By reading primary and secondary sources central to Buddhism, we will examine key concepts, doctrines, and practices in the Theravada, Mahayana, and Tantric traditions. Having acquired a solid understanding of the history and doctrine of Buddhism, students will learn to apply these understandings to critically analyze contemporary issues from a Buddhist perspective.

In a post-Christian and multi-cultural society there is a growing need for interfaith leadership from spirltual leaders who are grounded in their own tradition but knowledgeable and respectful of the ways people experience God/Divine and/or adhere to diverse beliefs. Spiritual leaders are called upon to offer support and spiritual guidance to Individuals and with communities In times of crlsis, distress, transition and celebration. This course recognizes the importance of developing the knowledge, skills and aptitude of students who study theology, spirituality and psychotherapy. In order to provide leadership through public prayer, ritual and or ceremony. These are now considered essentfal skills for people who find themselves as chaplains, spiritual care practitioners, religious congregational leaders, social service agency providers, psycho-spiritual therapist and para church workers. This course will help students to understand the current rellglous and spiritual landscape In Canada along with providing a brief foundation to the major religious and cultural groups In the GTA and across Canadian society. Students will learn about the importance of developing rituals and ceremonies to bring healing and hope. We will work to confront our own biases. Students will learn about the contexts of leadership and how to reflect theologically and splrltually upon our practice

A survey of selected topics from the 1983 Code of Canon Law: history, sources and structure of the Code; people of God; hierarchical structures in the Church; consecrated and apostolic life; teaching, sanctifying and governing functions in the Church; temporal goods; sanctions and processes in the Church.

This course is an introduction to the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), the most influential Catholic theologian of the last millennium. No previous knowledge of Aquinas or of philosophy is presumed. We will start by looking at Aquinas' program of remaking Christian theology in light of the best philosophy and science of his day; then we will examine his views on human action, human nature, human knowing and philosophical theology.

Located in the beginning of the Qur'an immediately following a short introductory prayer, Surat al-Baqara is the doorway to understanding this scripture and its distinctive style and organization of ideas. The largest chapter in the corpus, it covers the major themes and discourses and is uniquely suited to begin the study of the Qur'an and related scholarship. This course is an introduction to the Qur'an and will familiarize students with the hallmarks of both traditional and western scholarships. It will cover topics such as the collection of the Qur'an, abrogation, mysterious letters and the Quranic sciences. Students will become acquainted with some of the main classical and modern commentaries and will learn how to identify Surat al-Baqara's distinctive structure and unifying themes.

Located in the beginning of the Qur'an immediately following a short introductory prayer, Surat al-Baqara is the doorway to understanding this scripture and its distinctive style and organization of ideas. The largest chapter in the corpus, it covers the major themes and discourses and is uniquely suited to begin the study of the Qur'an and related scholarship. This course is an introduction to the Qur'an and will familiarize students with the hallmarks of both traditional and western scholarships. It will cover topics such as the collection of the Qur'an, abrogation, mysterious letters and the Quranic sciences. Students will become acquainted with some of the main classical and modern commentaries and will learn how to identify Surat al-Baqara's distinctive structure and unifying themes.

An introduction to the foundations and objective dimensions of Catholic moral theology. Among the topics to be studied are scripture, natural moral law, casuistry, relationship between faith and morality, magisterium, moral principles and norms, etc.

An introduction to the subjective dimensions of Catholic moral theology. Among the topics to be considered are concepts of the person, freedom and responsibility, conscience, aspects of moral decision making, virtue and vice.

Basic principles of Christian ethics, with special attention to the pastoral application of moral theology.

Introduction to Catholic moral theology. Among the topics to be studied are: scripture, tradition, natural law, relationship between faith and morality, moral norms, virtue and vice, freedom, conscience and magisterium, etc. Assigned readings, discussion board assignments and responses, unit tests, written assignment paper.