This course will explore many aspects
of the sacrament of marriage in the Roman Catholic tradition.
The U.S. Catholic bishops have undertaken the National Pastoral
Initiative on Marriage (NPIM). Our best description of the
initiative begun in 2004 comes from its web
site:
“In the NATIONAL PASTORAL INITIATIVE
FOR MARRIAGE (NPIM) the U.S. Catholic bishops call attention
to the meaning and value of married life for the Church
and for society. Bringing Catholic belief into dialogue
with contemporary needs, the bishops urge the Catholic
Church to become a community of hope and help for marriages
and to join others in building a culture of marriage.
The Initiative weaves together the Catholic faith tradition
and its pastoral practice, the data of social science,
and the experience of married couples to offer guidance
and resources, including a pastoral letter, in order to
promote, strengthen, sustain and restore marriages."
It is from these vast resources carefully
prepared by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishop’s Secretariat
of Laity, Marriage, Family and Youth where we will draw
most of our learning material. Specifically, we will look
to conferences co-sponsored by the NPIM to provide us with
papers delivered by many different theologians and social
scientists to assist in our reflections on Christian Marriage.
We will also look to authoritative documents from the church
including the Rite of Marriage and various pastoral letters
and a document from Vatican II.
This course is designed to give you many
different theological resources to discuss and explore the
sacrament of marriage. We hope this course fosters for you
an ability to reflect deeply on the sacrament of marriage
that not only enhances your ministry and teaching, but also
your marriage and friendships as well!
Unit 1: The Social and Cultural Context
of Christian Marriage in the United States
Unit 2: Marriage in the Christian Tradition
Explored through its Biblical Foundations
Unit 3: Christian Marriage as Sacrament
Unit 4: The Ecclesial and Juridical Context
of Christian Marriage
Unit 5: The Celebration of Christian
Marriage: the Rite of Christian Marriage
- Six weeks in duration, with one week
for orientation.
- Typically 15-20 students in each course.
- All readings available online in text
format.
- Supplemental readings are provided
to encourage further exploration of topic, internet links
provided for all readings.
- Weekly written assignments (150-200
words) required.
- Weekly facilitator moderated chat sessions
with students in course.
All course materials are available in
the course.
Requirements for course include:
- Weekly reading of lecture texts and
assigned readings.
- Participation in class discussion using
discussion area (minimum 2 comments, questions or responses
weekly.)
- Weekly written assignment (150-200
words.)
- Weekly chat session with other students
in course (3 required throughout course.)
- Course evaluation.
- 4 to 6 hours a week (time varies from
student to student depending on your learning style and
schedule.)
A Certificate of Completion awarding 30
Contact Hours will be sent upon completion of all course
requirements.
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Tracy
Rodenborn graduated from Bellarmine College (Louisville,
KY) in 1996 with an English major, Theology minor
and certification to teach high school. After two
years of teaching religion at St. Xavier High School
in Louisville, she went to Notre Dame to complete
her studies for her Master of Divinity. Since, then,
she has been working as a Pastoral Associate at St.
Clement Church in Chicago, IL where she coordinates
the adult education and formation for the parish -
especially in RCIA, the young adult community, ministry
of care, baptism preparation, and various faith exploration
programs. She lives in Chicago, IL with her husband,
Steve.
B.A., Bellarmine
College, 1996; M.Div., University of Notre
Dame, 2001
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