SC 210 - INTRODUCTION TO SACRED SCRIPTURE (2 Semester Hours)
Content
Scripture and one's relationship with God; inspiration, scripture and the Church; a history of its interpretation; why new methods of interpretation; a modem approach to understanding scripture; examples of modem interpretation in both Old Testament and New Testament.
Objective
To familiarize the beginning student with scripture as a primary means God has used to reveal himself to us; to show the student that because scripture is an incarnational reality, it must be appreciated as a human reality before its divine message can be properly understood.
SC 211 - OLD TESTAMENT SURVEY (3 Semester Hours)
Content
The origins and primitive development of Old Testament literature; patriarchal religion; Sinai-Exodus experience; the Yahwist author; the origins of prophetic literature; Amos and Hosea, the Elohist, Isaiah; Deuteronomic history; Jeremiah; Ezekiel; the writings of the Exile; the Priestly Author; Post-exilic works; Wisdom and Apocalyptic literature.
Objective
To familiarize the student with the literature of the Old Testament as a gradually developing expression of the faith of the Old Testament people of God; to show how the books of the Old Testament came into existence as efforts to express different aspects of Israel's faith at different times and in response to specific needs on the part of the Old Testament faith community.
SC 212 - NEW TESTAMENT SURVEY (3 Semester Hours)
Content
The primitive origins and development of New Testament literature; the teaching of Jesus and the teaching of the Church; Pauline epistles; Mark, Matthew and Luke; Johnine literature; Hebrews and the other New Testament epistles.
Objective
To familiarize the student with the literature of the New Testament as particular expressions of the faith of the New Testament Church; to show how the various books of the New Testament can be properly understood if they are seen in their relationship to the history of the primitive Church and its development. The approach of this scripture program is to bring the diaconate candidate to a level at which he is prepared to study scripture as it relates to preaching and teaching the Word of God.
CHURCH HISTORY
HIS 220 - CHURCH HISTORY I (1 Semester Hour)
HIS 221 - CHURCH HISTORY II (1 Semester Hour)
Content
A study of the history of the Church concentrating on the Apostolic Era, the Reformation, and the Modem Era with emphasis on the Church in the United States.
Objective
To help the diaconate candidate deepen his appreciation of the historical development of the Church so that he can better understand and serve the Church of today.
SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
TH 230 - INTRODUCTION TO THEOLOGY (2 Semester Hours)
Content
The possibility and nature of God's self-communication in the history of salvation; the human response to this communication and the characteristics of that response; faith and its expression in sacred scripture, tradition, and its relationship to theology; the development of doctrine and the magisterium. (A pre-requisite for all other theology courses.)
Objective
To provide the diaconate candidate with resources to understand his faith commitment by way of its relationship to revelation, sacred scripture, tradition, theology, the development of doctrine and the magisterium.
TH 231 - CHRISTOLOGY (2 Semester Hours)
Content
Jesus of Nazareth as the fullness of God's revelation; his Incarnation; belief of the Church and theological reflection concerning the Man-God; redemption and reconciliation.
Objective
To develop the diaconate candidate's personal understanding of the person and mission of Jesus Christ.
TH 232 - THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND ECUMENISM (2 Semester Hours)
Content
This course will help the candidate to understand the Church as a community of those who confess the Lordship of Jesus Christ, composed of spiritual bonds and visible structural forms, called to serve the Kingdom of God by proclaiming the Word and celebrating the sacraments by being a sacrament of that kingdom and by realizing it and extending it through service. Also, the course will provide a historical overview of the modern quest for Christian unity. The theological basis for Roman Catholic participation and the principles of ecumenical activity as seen in Vatican II and post Vatican II documentation.
Objective
To help the diaconate candidate come to a deeper understanding of the
Church beginning with a study of the biblical themes of People of God, Body of Christ, and Kingdom of God (among others), and the foundations for understanding its mission, sacraments, and ministry. Also, to acquaint the candidate with the current status of ecumenical dialogue and to provide him with the foundation for understanding the expressions of faith of other Christian denominations.
TH 233 - CHRISTIAN ANTHROPOLOGY (2 Semester Hours)
Content
Humanity, the image of God in origin and purpose; evil and sin; human
nature in Christian perspective; nature and grace; the fulfillment of life in death (eschatology).Objective
To help the diaconate candidate deepen his understanding of the human
condition within the orientation of Christian faith.
TH 234 - MISSION AND MINISTRY (1.3 Semester Hours)
Content
A study of ministry in and for the Church based on the relationship between the mission of the Church and the various ministries and roles within the Church so that it can fulfill this mission. Within this context, special attention is given to the sacraments of marriage and orders, especially the place of the diaconate.
Objective
To help the diaconate candidate deepen his understanding and
appreciation of all the ministries which work together to enable the Church to fulfill its divine mandate. The course will have a special emphasis on the ministry of the deacon.
TH 235 - CHRISTIAN MORALITY AND SOCIAL ACTION MINISTRY (2 Semester Hours)
Content
Christian morality and human acts; the sources of moral knowledge; conscience; freedom of conscience; the relationship between freedom of conscience and obedience to law; the reality of sin in the life of the .Christian. A general presentation of the Church's teaching regarding social action and its relationship to diaconate ministry. Special emphasis on current issues in social action ministry particularly those relating to the situation of the Diocese of Cleveland.
Objective
To assist the diaconate candidate in understanding the tradition of Christian moral teaching and in presenting this teaching in the course of diaconate ministry. Also to acquaint the diaconate candidate with the Church's teaching on social issues and their priority in diaconate ministry and to provide him with practical skilIs in this area of ministry.
PASTORAL THEOLOGY
PAS 250 - DIACONATE SPIRITUALITY (1 Semester Hour)
Content
Principles of the spiritual life; the process of spiritual growth; goals in
spiritual growth; means of spiritual growth in the ascetical tradition; servant spirituality of the deacon; prayer-personal and communal; spiritual and scriptural reading (as differentiated from the study of scripture and usual modes of reading); the value of personal spiritual direction.Objective
To present the basic principles of spirituality to the diaconate candidate
and to assist him in incorporating these principles into his own spiritual life as he begins to prepare for diaconate -ministry.
PAS 251 - INTRODUCTION TO PASTORAL COUNSELING (1.3 Semester Hours)
Content
An introduction to the qualities, understandings, and skills helpful to the ordained minister so that he might respond to the needs of people for support, healing, reconciliation, and growth in situations of stress. It provides him with practical guidelines to promote growth through interpersonal interaction; comparison and contrast with other kinds of helping; procedures and resources; specific counseling/ helping skills; attending and listening skills; characteristic helpful ways of responding to the needs of the ill and the dying, family crisis situations, the depressed, the aged, those in personal crisis, and those in need of more professional assistance and referral.
Objective
To help the participants identify, understand, and develop general and pecific goals, procedures, personal and situational resources for effective pastoral helping, and prudent humility and compassion in dealing with human needs and problems through lectures, structured experiences, and case studies.
PAS 252 - PASTORAL CARE OF THE SICK (2 Semester Hours)
Content
This course will assist the diaconate candidate to develop and shape a pastoral approach to ministry to the sick and hospitalized. It will address the theology of pastoral care and issues related to this ministry, e.g. death and dying, long-term chronic conditions, aging, and bioethical concerns.
Objective
To provide the diaconate candidate with the necessary background to
effectively minister to the sick and hospitalized.
PAS 253 - ADULT FAITH DEVELOPMENT (1 Semester Hour)
Content
A study of the pastoral role of the Church as educator through an
analysis of the various learning methods helpful in communicating the Faith message; familiarization with catechetical documents, educative trends, catechetical materials, aids, and resources, especially those relating to adult learning and passing on of the faith to an adult community.Objective
To learn procedures for communicating the Faith to persons of all age
levels, especially adults, and to relate the teaching of religion to the context of the general educative process.
PAS 254 - CANON LAW AND SACRAMENTAL LAW (2 Semester Hours) .
Content
A general survey of Church Law and its relationship to diaconal ministry:
structures for Church governance; Church law as it relates to the administration of the sacraments of baptism and Eucharist, and special emphasis regarding Church law and marriage: impediments, dispensations, cases regarding nullity and dissolution; practical treatment of the premarital investigation and preparation.Objective
To acquaint the student with the general norms of Church Law especially as it relates to his future administration of sacraments and Christian marriage in particular.
LITURGICAL THEOLOGY AND PRACTICUM
LIT 280 - INTRODUCTION TO LITURGY AND HOMILETICS (2 Semester Hours)
Content
An introduction to the art of liturgical prayer and presiding in the Roman
Rite with a specific emphasis on the liturgical roles of the deacon in the Eucharist, the Sacraments of Baptism and Marriage, and the Liturgy of the Hours. A general presentation of the basic principles of public reading and speaking, with particular focus on principles of proclaiming the Word of God and preaching; organization of the Lectionary; the basic theology and principles of homiletics; opportunity for individual practice and critique of reading and preaching skills.Objective
To provide the diaconate candidate with the necessary background and
skills to effectively exercise his liturgical ministry and lead the community in prayer and to acquaint the diaconate candidate with the basic principles and skills which he will need as a Lector and Deacon in order to effectively proclaim the Word of God and preach.
LIT 281 - SACRAMENTS AND CHRISTIAN LIVING (1.3 Semester Hours)
Content
A study of the Christian sacraments, emphasizing their role in the
Church's life as: the actions of Christ toward his people, the source and expression of the Iffe of the Church-community, and the prayer par excellence of that community. Special emphasis on Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.Objective
To help the diaconate candidate understand the sacraments in the life of the Church and the life of the deacon.
LIT 289 - LITURGICAL PRACTICUM (9 hours each year)
Content
A study of the deacon's role in the Liturgy of the Eucharist, Baptism, Marriage, the Rite of Christian Funerals, the Liturgy of the Hours, and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
Objective
To give the diaconate candidate practical experience in presiding and assisting at each of the above rites of the Church.