We are still setting our Spring Presentation & Discussion sessions. Below is our catalogue of proposed topics for this term. We cannot guarentee that host parishes will sponsor all these talks, but if you see somethign that you and people you know are interested in and you live the Albuquerque-Santa Fe region, feel free to encourage your pastor to contact us about presenting on that topic at your parish. The listing is divided according to presenter and talk series with each bulleted title being a Presentation with a brief description of the content below.

D+E+I Spring 2010 Catalogue

Intersections of Theology, Science & Society - Joel Hopko
 Guest Presentations by a local lay theologian and educator

• Does the Catholic Church believe in the Bible? Is the Bible the inerrant word of God? What is the Bible and does it conflict with science?

An Introduction to Scripture.
Reading the Bible is not easy. Why not? The Bible is ancient, it’s translated from several different ancient languages, in is composed of many different styles by different authors and there are a number of modern versions geared to different audiences.
Two approaches to reading the Bible: Historical Criticism and the Literary approach.

• An Introduction to Creation in Genesis, the First Book in the Christian Bible and the Jewish Torah

The Two Creation Accounts
Differences in the two Accounts
What to make of the differences?

• An Introduction to the Gospel of John.

The Gospel as Literary Form
The Relationship of John’s Gospel to the other “Synoptic” Gospels
Who was John and was he the author of the Gospel?
A Review of the Overall Structure of the Gospel
A More Detailed Analysis of Select Passages: the Prologue; Nicodemus, the Samaritan Woman, the Bread of Life.

• An Introduction to the Book of Revelation

The Historical Situation at the time
Characteristics of Apocalyptic Literature
Closer Analysis of Selected Passages: the letters to the “seven churches”; the Vision of Heavenly Worship (Chap 4); The Scroll and the Lamb (Chap 5); The Woman and the Dragon (Chap 12); The 1000 Year Reign (Chap 20)and New Heaven and New Earth (Chap. 21).

• Fundamentalism as Religious Phenomenon

What does the term “fundamentalism” mean and why is it in the news so much recently?
Fundamentalism in light of 9/11
The History of American Fundamentalism
Fundamentalism as a reaction to Modernity and “Post-Modernity”
Fundamentalism as a world phenomena
Possible Catholic Responses to Fundamentalism
.

• The Church in the “Post Modern” Era.

What is “Post-Modernism” and how does it affect our society and our core values?
When and why did the Post Modern era emerge?
Central Assumptions of Post-Modernism.
Positive and Negative aspects of Post-Modernism
How can and should the Church relate to Post-Modernism.

• Religion and Psychology.

What does modern psychology have to say about religion?
Religion, psychology and the role of the unconscious mind.
Religious symbols: delusions or revelations?
Psychology, Sin and Morality.

Major Documents of Vatican II - fr. Matt Strabala, OP
(An Introduction to and overview of some of the major Documents of Vatican II
Based on requests made at Fall 2009 Presentations & Discussions)

• Sacrosanctum Concilium The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy

What is Catholic Liturgy?
Why was there a Liturgical Reform?
What does the document really say?
How have we continued the reform?
What is the “Extraordinary Form” or “Tridentine Mass” and how does it relate to the reform?

• Lumen Gentium The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church

The mystery of the Church
Who are the People of God?
How do Hierarchy & Laity relate to each other?
What role does the Virgin Mary play in the Church?

• Gaudium et spes  Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World

Context of the Document: Self Isolation of the Church since the Council of Trent
What is he situation of humanity in the modern world?
How does the Church understand the essential Human Calling?
                Dignity of the Human Person
                Human Community
                Human activity throughout the world
                The role of the Church in the modern world
What urgent issues did the Council seek to address in a particular way?
                Fostering the nobility of Marriage and the family
                Development of Culture
                Economic & social life
The Church and the Life of the Political community
The Role of the Church in Fostering Peace and a community of nations
               

• Unitatis redinegratio Decree on Ecumenism; Nostra aetate Declaration on the Relations of the church to Non-Christian Religions,; Ad gentes divinitus Declaration on Religious Liberty

What does “ecumenism” really mean?
What is the Church’s official attitude toward non-Christians and non-Christian religions?
Does the Church believe in religious liberty?
What happened to “outside of the Church there is no salvation”?

• Dei Verbum dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation

Background: History of Catholic Biblical Scholarship
What is Sacred Tradition and how does it relate to Scripture?
What do we mean by saying that the Bible is “inspired”?
How should Catholics approach the Bible?
               

Practical Catholicism - fr. George Reynolds, OP
Guest Presentations by a former pastor, current associate pastor, and constant preacher

• The Church before and after Vatican II

A priest’s eye view of the Church before and after the Second Vatican Council.
First hand stories
Changes and continuity
Growing pains, hits and misses in the implementation of the Council
               

• Colors, Moods & Seasons: A Stroll Through the Liturgical Year

What is the Liturgical Year?
Modern life and loss of natural rhythms
The turning of the seasons
Purple, White, Green & Red

Encore offerings with fr. Matt Strabala, OP

• What is the Church? Who is the Church?

An introduction to ecclesiology.
Church as the people of God, the mystical body of Christ, temple of the Holy Spirit.
Universal mission of sanctification.
People, brothers, sisters (nuns), deacons, priests, bishops, archbishops, cardinals and popes.
Relationship and confusion between “hierarchy” and “church.”

•  What is a  Sacrament and what is it good for?

Sacrament/mystery as  fundamental Catholic stance toward the world.
External signs of inner reality instituted by Christ to give Grace.
The seven sacraments.
Sacraments in daily life.

• Why is Baptism such a big deal?

Baptism as incorporation into the Body of Christ.
Original sin and redemption.
Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, three Sacraments of initiation.

• Who are Mary and  the Saints and why do they matter?

The Theotokos, the God Bearer.
Communion of Saints.
Patrons and protectors.
Praying to and with saints.

• What is happening at Mass?

Brief history of the liturgy.
Catholic belief in the Real Presence
Memorial and sacrifice.
Vestments, sacramentary, lectionary.
Prayers of the mass.

• What happened at Vatican II?

Brief history, Reformation, Trent to Vatican II.
Post hoc ergo propter hoc (After this therefore because of this) fallacies.
What is an ecumenical council?
Change and permanence in the Church.
Major documents.

• How do I talk to non-Catholics about Catholicism?

Church teaching on ecumenism and interreligious dialogue.
No salvation outside of the Church?
The Bible.
Infant baptism.
The Eucharist.
Mary and the saints.