Course

The Joy of the Gospel

Oct 2, 2024 - Dec 31, 2024

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Full course description

5-Week Course

Overview

In Evangelii Gaudium, Pope Francis calls us to embrace a vision of a church that engages us in the joy of the Gospel. He suggests that such engagement can become an infectious invitation to those around us to join in this joy. Video segments featuring Jane E. Regan and Thomas H. Groome help us understand the continuity in the Catholic Tradition of the theme of evangelization, the meaning of “New Evangelization,” and some approaches to becoming an evangelizing community.  Take this opportunity to read Pope Francis’s document and reflect on your own faith community as a local presence of Gospel joy in the 21st century.

All materials are provided within the course. The course text Evangelii Gaudium is available at the Vatican website. If you prefer, print copies can be purchased online.

Topics:

Week 1: Introduction to the course
Week 2: What is Evangelization?
Week 3: Crisis of Commitment
Week 4: Proclamation and Social Dimension of Religion
Week 5: Social Dimension of Religion (cont’d) and Spirit-filled Evangelizers

Special Features:

This course includes:

  • Weekly introductions to each new topic;
  • Weekly videos, some exclusively available only in this course;
  • Text transcripts of each featured video;
  • Weekly questions for reflection and discussion; and
  • A page of further resources about topics discussed in this course.

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 in 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.

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.

Static course webpage

What is an STM Online: Crossroads course?

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