PM601: Studies in Prayer* (now in Spring)

Begins Spring, 2022

Instructor: The Rev. Tim Kalista


In this course the student will learn about the foundations of the Christian life as we explore the meaning and history behind spiritual practices. Students will learn various forms of prayer and spiritual disciplines, including: Meditation, Contemplation, Lectio Divina, the Examen, and Liturgy of the Hours. Students will have an opportunity to share what they are learning with others to help demonstrate understanding of the material. 

CH650: St. Hildegard of Bingen:
The Greening of the Soul

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Rolling Enrollment Anytime (self-study)
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Instructor: Rev. Shanon Sterringer, Ph.D.

​COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is an engaging introduction to Hildegard’s life, visions, art, music, natural medicine, homilies, letters, and minor works.  In addition to an overview of her works and their significance for us today, we will spend some time unpacking the theological concepts of Viriditas (greening power) and the Living Light (primordial energy force), as Hildegard understood them.  The contemporary contribution of this medieval woman and Doctor of the Church, St. Hildegard of Bingen, has the potential for inspiring a renewed model of empowered companionship for ministry today through creativity, mysticism, and the greening of the soul. 

This course is based on ten topics drawn from Hildegard’s works.  The topics will include recommended readings (summaries will be provided in a PDF format) plus supplementary material (recorded lectures, videos, music, website links).   A weekly in-person session will be available. No textbook  required. 
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TH500: Dogmatic Theology 1

Rolling Enrollment Self Study
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Instructor: The Most Rev. Kristina Rake, M.A.T.S.

Course Description
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Dogmatic Theology (TH500) is a required course for most degree programs and is taught in 2 semesters. Both sections of Dogmatic Theology focus on the fundamentals of Catholic Dogma while noting Old/Independent Catholic differences. TH501 focuses on the attributes and nature of the Triune God, the science of theology, creation, sin, evil, the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, and Grace. TH500 is the prerequisite for TH501. 

TH501 Dogmatic Theology II

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Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
Begins in February of 2022 with Rolling Enrollment Self-Study afterwards.

​Instructor: The Most Rev. Kristina Rake
(Prerequisite TH500)

​Course Description
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This course continues the systematic instruction of Catholic Dogmatic Theology begun in TH500. Students continue their exploration of Catholic Doctrine from an Independent perspective by focusing on such topics as redemption, the sacraments, ecclesiology, the afterlife, Mary, the Saints, Apostolic Authority, the Papacy (from an Old Catholic Perspective), and eschatology. 

SS500: Biblical Hermeneutics 

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Registration is currently closed. Course will be offered again in the future. Please check back. 

Instructor: Rev. Dr. Shanon Sterringer

Course Description

This course will help students develop basic skills in exegetical method with from a Christian perspective while also recognizing the influential role of the social location of the interpreter upon the hermeneutical
process. Students will come to appreciate the importance of their social location while practicing a grammatical-historical-theological hermeneutic in order to interpret scripture. Students will also gain a knowledge of contemporary issues surrounding bible interpretation and will familiarize themselves with the various ​resources available for exegesis.

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​SS501: The Gospels and Acts
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Begins in February 2022 with rolling enrollment after. 

Instructor: ​Rev. Dr. Shanon Sterringer

Course Description

This foundational New Testament course is a survey of the three synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, & Luke) as well as the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. Students will explore authorship, structure, history, and interpretation of these vital Christian records of the life, teachings, and redemptive work of Christ. 

PC602: Introduction to Pastoral Care
​(Now Enrolling for Spring Semester)

Begins February of 2022. Registration for Spring is currently open. 

​Instructor: Rev. Dr. Peter Preble

Course Description: 

​This course offers a holistic view of caring ministries focusing on the ultimate meaning and concerns of human beings. Pastoral Theology will focus on the spiritual/theological needs of persons as well as on emotional and systemic concerns. The appropriate balance of listening and speaking when providing care are central to the course. Themes will include: theoretical approaches to pastoral counseling, the development of a personalized approach to pastoral counseling, the role of a pastoral counselor, pastoral counseling ethics, multicultural competence in pastoral counseling, and self-care.

CH602: Christian History II: 700 AD through the Reformation.

Begins in February 2022 with rolling enrollment after. Registration is open. 

​Instructor: Father Michael Beatty, O.S.B.

Course Description: 

​The Church in the Middle Ages was a turbulent and fascinating time. This second course begins around the time of the Donation of Pippin and brings students to the cusp of the Protestant Reformation. Students will trace the the various schisms between Eastern and Western Christendom, the politics of the Papacy and both its abused and reform attempts. Students will also trace the rise of Monasticism, theological schools, and various Medicant orders will also be included. 

CT701: Demonology

Registration is currently open. Available for rolling enrollment. 

​Instructor: Archbishop Kristina Rake

Course Description: 

This upper level elective explores religious conceptions of evil and the demonic from the dawn of civilization through modern day theory and practice. Students will explore the demonological religious texts and writings from pre-Old Testament Babylonian tales, to the Hebrew Bible and Talmud, to the Christian New Testament and beyond. Students will be introduced to the immense body of literature from the 6th centuries to the 17th centuries on Satanic ritual worship and witchcraft. Famous exorcisms, demonic visions and visitations, the Grimoires of the Middle Ages, and the early-modern witch crazes will be surveyed. Students will also learn specific demoniacal classification systems and the church's current exorcism practices. This is a theological history class. We will focus on the history of teachings on the demonic.