Leadership Academy Catholic Symposia Series offers two spring programs
The Leadership Academy, in collaboration with the Office for Mission, announces its spring offerings for the Catholic Symposia Series: "Essential Catholic Social Thought" and "Exploring the Catholic Mass: History, Practices and Theology."
Attend one or more of these sessions to deepen your knowledge and understanding of the religious nature of St. Thomas and how each person can contribute to the life and spirit of this community. "Catholic identity" has been established by the university as one of its three key strategic priorities. St. Thomas is committed to understanding more deeply its religious heritage and living it out more fully in the context of a vital and inclusive community.
The symposia series offers employees the opportunity to learn about and discuss the university's Catholic identity through two specific programs:
- "Essential Catholic Social Thought," a semester-long conversation and reflection on the Catholic social tradition, led by Dr. Bernard Brady, begins Friday, Feb. 22.
Catholic social thought is the Church's effort to address the moral questions surrounding contemporary social issues, for example: human rights, peace and war, racism, human development and poverty, labor and wages, and the use of natural resources. This project will gather a group of faculty and staff interested in reading and discussing texts within the Catholic social tradition.
The group will meet from 3 to 4 p.m. seven times during spring semester (Feb. 22 and 29, March 14 and 28, April 11 and 25, and May 2). Participants will be expected to attend at least five of the sessions and read the selections for each session.
Brady is a professor and chair of the Theology Department.
- "Exploring the Catholic Mass: History, Practices, Theology," led by Father Jan Michael Joncas, begins Wednesday, April 2.
The Mass or "Celebration of the Eucharist" is the center of spiritual life for Roman Catholics. The Second Vatican Council stated: "The liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; at the same time it is the font from which all her power flows" ( Sacrosanctum concilium #10).
In these two sessions, through the use of short videos and slides, participants will explore a history of the Mass and how it has developed and changed over time. The class will examine the meaning of real presence, the role of priest and people, modes of participation, Eucharistic hospitality/inter-communion, etc. Participants' questions will be welcomed. Both Catholics and members of other faith traditions may find this seminar helpful in understanding the central act of campus worship and how they can participate more meaningfully.
This is a two part series: from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 2, location to be determined, and from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 9, in Room 155, Murray-Herrick Campus Center.
Joncas is a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and associate professor in the departments of Catholic Studies and Theology at St. Thomas. He also teaches on the Liturgical Studies faculty at the University of Notre Dame.
For more detail and to register visit Training Online or call (651) 962-6900.
