6-Week Course

Overview

featuring text and videos by Colleen M. Griffith, Hosffman Ospino, Thomas H. Groome, John F. Baldovin, S.J., Andrew R. Davis, L. Callid Keefe-Perry, Melissa M. Kelley, Nancy Pineda-Madrid, Theresa A. O’Keefe, and Richard Lennan

How do we guide others on their faith journeys? Forming disciples requires attention to the whole person. Intellectual, social, ethical, and spiritual development are all needed for learners to make meaning and become the persons God calls them to be. This course, designed for faith formation educators (kindergarten to college), explores formative education in a theological context. Topics covered include approaches to Scripture, contextuality, justice, resilience, imagination, communal prayer, and mentoring within a faith formation/educational setting.

This course has a required text: Colleen M. Griffith and Hosffman Ospino (editors). Formative Theological Education. Paulist Press: New York/Mahwah, NJ, 2023. (Paulist Press) (Amazon)

Topics

• Week 1: Introduction
• Week 2: Formation in Faith
• Week 3: Approaches to Scripture and Theology
• Week 4: Fostering Resilience and Imagination
• Week 5: Cultural Contextuality and Justice
• Week 6: Communal Prayer and Formative Mentoring

Special Features

• Video clips;
• Text transcripts of each featured video;
• Weekly questions for reflection and asynchronous discussion;
• A weekly introduction and study guide; and
• A regularly updated Resources page to use for further study.

All STM Online: Crossroads courses include these features

• Participants have access 24 hours/7 days a week to the course's password-protected web site.
• Each participant belongs to a small Community for Conversation and faith sharing guided by a facilitator.
• The course site is usually available to participants at least three months after the course has ended.
• An orientation on how to navigate the web site is always available.
• Technical assistance is easy to contact and prompt in returning a message.
• A Certificate of Active Participation is awarded to those who post at least three messages of substance for each week of content.

Materials Needed

One required text to be purchased prior to the start of the course:

• Colleen M. Griffith and Hosffman Ospino (editors). Formative Theological Education. Paulist Press: New York/Mahwah, NJ, 2023.

Time Commitment

A participant can expect to spend an average of approximately 3-4 hours each week. This commitment includes both the assigned reading and interaction online.

Content Scholars

Colleen M. Griffith is Professor of the Practice of Theology and Faculty Director of Spirituality Studies at Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry; Hosffman Ospino is Professor of Hispanic Ministry and Religious Education and Chair of the Department of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry at Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry; Richard Lennan is Professor of Systematic Theology, Professor Ordinarius, and Chair of the Ecclesiastical Faculty at Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry; Thomas H. Groome is Professor of Theology and Religious Education at Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry; John F. Baldovin, S.J. is Professor of Historical and Liturgical Theology at Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry; Andrew R. Davis  is Associate Professor of Old Testament at Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry; L. Callid Keefe-Perry is Assistant Professor of Contextual Education and Public Theology at Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry; Melissa M. Kelley is Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry; Nancy Pineda-Madrid is Professor and T. Marie Chilton Chair of Catholic Theology at Loyola Marymount University and Theresa A. O’Keefe is Professor of the Practice, Religious Education at Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry.