Boston College STM Online: Encore Podcast

Holy Ones, Called to Be Holy: St. Paul and "Life in the Spirit" Thomas D. Stegman, S.J. March 13, 2015 Presenter: Thomas D. Stegman, S.J. Of all the New Testament writers, St. Paul offers the most extensive teaching about the gift and empowerment of God's Spirit.  This workshop sets forth Paul's rich and inspiring portrayal of life in the Spirit. In this presentation, Father Stegman explains St. Paul's teaching that through the Holy Spirit, the church is transformed into the image of Christ Sponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry Thomas D. Stegman, S.J., is STM associate professor of New Testament. See the video of this presentation Check out online courses based on Fr. Stegman's books: New Testament Visions of Faith Paul's Letter to the Romans

Holy Ones, Called to Be Holy: St. Paul and "Life in the Spirit" Thomas D. Stegman, S.J. March 13, 2015 Presenter: Thomas D. Stegman, S.J. Of all the New Testament writers, St. Paul offers the most extensive teaching about the gift and empowerment of God's Spirit.  This workshop sets forth Paul's rich and inspiring portrayal of life in the Spirit. In this presentation, Father Stegman outlines St. Paul's teaching that holiness in the Church comes from the Holy Spirit, showing the power of the resurrection. Sponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry Thomas D. Stegman, S.J., is STM associate professor of New Testament. See the video of this presentation Check out online courses based on Fr. Stegman's books: New Testament Visions of Faith Paul's Letter to the Romans  

Parishes in Transition: Learning to Live in Tabernacles April 24, 2015 Presenters: Nancy T. Ammerman and Hosffman Ospino Transitions come in all shapes and sizes, and every parish is faced with the necessity of responding to population shifts that are unlikely to stop anytime soon.  Dr. Ammerman explores the ongoing reality of change and the challenges posed by the peculiarly American ways of encouraging people to find the "church of their choice."  She also looks for the particular habits of mind and skills of leadership that enable religious communities to thrive even when we are living in social spaces that need to be as temporary and flexible as the Israelites' tabernacle in the wilderness.  Dr. Ospino examines major changes, tensions, questions, and possibilities in the context of U.S. Catholic parish life as Catholic communities respond to the growing Hispanic presence in an increasingly diverse Church. In this presentation, Professor Ammerman explores the habits and skills needed for ministry in the new culture of mobility. Dr. Ospino expounds the need for intercultural competencies as a response to a multicultural church. Sponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry Nancy T. Ammerman is professor of sociology of religion at Boston University. Hosffman Ospino is STM assistant professor of Hispanic ministry and religious education and director of graduate programs in Hispanic ministry. Check out online courses for parish leaders check out STM Online: Crossroads

Parishes in Transition: Learning to Live in Tabernacles April 24, 2015 Presenters: Nancy T. Ammerman and Hosffman Ospino Transitions come in all shapes and sizes, and every parish is faced with the necessity of responding to population shifts that are unlikely to stop anytime soon.  Dr. Ammerman explores the ongoing reality of change and the challenges posed by the peculiarly American ways of encouraging people to find the "church of their choice."  She also looks for the particular habits of mind and skills of leadership that enable religious communities to thrive even when we are living in social spaces that need to be as temporary and flexible as the Israelites' tabernacle in the wilderness.  Dr. Ospino examines major changes, tensions, questions, and possibilities in the context of U.S. Catholic parish life as Catholic communities respond to the growing Hispanic presence in an increasingly diverse Church. Sponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry Nancy T. Ammerman is professor of sociology of religion at Boston University. Hosffman Ospino is STM assistant professor of Hispanic ministry and religious education and director of graduate programs in Hispanic ministry.

What the Outsider Sees: Teresa of Avila and the Contemplative Vision July 11, 2015 Presenter: Rt. Rev. Dr. Rowan Williams St. Teresa's thoughts on encountering and living with God are much shaped by her position as an outsider to the hierarchical world of her day—a woman, and someone from a Jewish background. With rich references to Teresa's use of Scripture, this lecture reflects on the contemplative as the outsider, and what she brings to prayer and theology.  Cosponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry and the Institute of Carmelite Studies The Right Reverend Dr. Rowan Williams is the Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge, England, and served as the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury from 2002-2012.

July 22, 2015 Presenter: M. Catherine Hilkert, O.P. In Evangelii Gaudium, all members of the Church are called to be missionary disciples.  Yet the testimony of faithful women, including that of Mary Magdalene who bears the title "Apostle of the Apostles," frequently has been dismissed or relegated to the category of "unofficial" witness.  In her lecture, Sr. Hilkert explores the vocation of women to preach the Gospel with particular attention to the testimony of women in the Gospel of John and the preaching of Catherine of Siena, the only lay woman to have been named a Doctor of the Church.  Sponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry M. Catherine Hilkert, O.P. is professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame. Click here for a transcript of this presentation.        

FIRST ANNUAL STM RELIGIOUS EDUCATION LECTURE October 22, 2015 Presenter: Thomas H. Groome The Church often repeats that the family is the primary religious educator.  Parents can well hear this as a daunting task and the Church does precious little to support them in their evangelizing and catechizing responsibilities—to sow and grow the seeds of faith.  This inaugural annual STM Religious Education presentation will reflect on why the home is so central and will make practical suggestions for how the family can be "the first educator in the ways of faith" (Rite of Baptism). Professor Groome claims that the faith to share in the home should be centered on the person of Jesus Christ and involve "witness, worship, word, and welfare" Sponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry Thomas H. Groome is Director of The Church in the 21st Century Center and STM professor of theology and religious education.

FIRST ANNUAL STM RELIGIOUS EDUCATION LECTURE October 22, 2015 Presenter: Thomas H. Groome The Church often repeats that the family is the primary religious educator.  Parents can well hear this as a daunting task and the Church does precious little to support them in their evangelizing and catechizing responsibilities—to sow and grow the seeds of faith.  This inaugural annual STM Religious Education presentation will reflect on why the home is so central and will make practical suggestions for how the family can be "the first educator in the ways of faith" (Rite of Baptism). Professor Groome discusses how practices within the home sow the initial seeds for faith that may then be grown through more catechesis. Sponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry Thomas H. Groome is Director of The Church in the 21st Century Center and STM professor of theology and religious education.

Rereading the Roman Tea Leaves: The Francis Effect in the Synods on the Family LECTURE November 4, 2015 Presenter: James Bretzke, S.J. Response by: Susan Reynolds "Mercy, and not sacrifice," are among the chief fundamental values of the Francis Effect in the Church which the pope envisions as a missionary field hospital that re-focuses its attention on responding to the deepest wounds of souls desperately in need of the healing ministrations of the Gospel.  In a real sense the two-part Synod on the Family has functioned as an extended and in-depth clinical trial over the medicine of mercy that Pope Francis has prescribed for the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy soon to begin.  This presentation reflects on these themes by examining the recently concluded Synod on the Family in the context of last year's much debated Extraordinary Synod and in light of Pope Francis's September visits to Cuba and the United States. Sponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry James Bretzke, S.J. is STM professor of moral theology. Susan Reynolds is an STM PhD student.

Loss, Change, and Resilience in Communities of Faith ANNUAL MINISTRY RENEWAL DAY November 6, 2015 Presenter: Melissa Kelley Loss and change touch every individual, community, and organization.  Responding to loss and change with resilience is a critical challenge for us all.  This day invites participants to reflect on the role of resilience in our personal and communal lives, consider resilience through a theological lens, and suggest strategies to foster and sustain resilience in ourselves and in our communities of faith. Sponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry Melissa Kelley is STM associate professor of pastoral care and counseling and co-director of Contextual Education.

Loss, Change, and Resilience in Communities of Faith ANNUAL MINISTRY RENEWAL DAY November 6, 2015 Presenter: Melissa Kelley Loss and change touch every individual, community, and organization.  Responding to loss and change with resilience is a critical challenge for us all.  This day invites participants to reflect on the role of resilience in our personal and communal lives, consider resilience through a theological lens, and suggest strategies to foster and sustain resilience in ourselves and in our communities of faith. Sponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry Melissa Kelley is STM associate professor of pastoral care and counseling and co-director of Contextual Education.

A Liberating Spirituality for a Suffering World LECTURE November 19, 2015Presenter: O. Ernesto Valiente This presentation builds on the work of Latin American liberation theologians to propose a Christian discipleship—a following of Jesus—that responds to our conflicted world.  It identifies the "path" that we are to follow and the "Spirit" that empowers us in that following.  The presentation also draws on the pastoral writings of Pope Francis to illuminate the implications that Jesus's life and mission pose for our current life as Christian disciples. Sponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry O. Ernesto Valiente is STM assistant professor of systematic theology.

A Rebellious Son? Jesus and His Mother at the Wedding in Cana (John 2) LECTURE March 2, 2016Presenter: Adele Reinhartz     In the Gospel of John, chapter 2, Jesus, his mother, his brothers, and the disciples are at a wedding in Cana, in the Galilee.  Inexplicably, the wine runs out early, while the celebrations are in full swing. When Jesus's mother points out the problem to her son, hoping he will help, his answer is surprising: "Woman, what does this have to do with you and me?"  This lecture looks closely at this exchange in the context of the norms and expectations of parent-child relationships in Jewish and Greco-Roman societies, and considers its role in the Gospel's overall presentation of Jesus.   Cosponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry  and the Center for Christian-Jewish Learning     Adele Reinhartz is Corcoran Visiting Chair in Christian-Jewish Relations at Boston College, and professor, Department of Classics and Religious Studies, at the University of Ottawa.

Thy Will Be Done: The Function of Prayer in Mark's Gospel LECTURE IN HONOR OF RICHARD J. CLIFFORD, S.J. March 15, 2016Presenter: Thomas D. Stegman, S.J. While Luke's Gospel is known as the "Gospel of prayer," prayer also plays an important role in Mark's Gospel.  Not only does Mark present Jesus as the model of someone who prays, he also emphasizes the significance of prayer among the new family who are gathered around Jesus, committed to doing God's will. Sponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry,  and generously supported by the Kitz Family in honor of Richard J. Clifford, S.J.   Thomas D. Stegman, S.J. is STM associate professor of New Testament and chair of the Ecclesiastical Faculty.

The Spirit at Work: St. Teresa of Avila in Life LECTURE March 31, 2016Presenter: André Brouillette, S.J.  A doctor of the Church, St. Teresa of Avila's spiritual writings and efforts to renew the Church are widely recognized as divinely inspired. What can the life and works of Teresa teach us regarding the action of the Holy Spirit, whose presence is as discreet as it is potent?  This lecture explores how the movement of the Spirit can be uncovered through its surprising dynamic imprint in human life.    Cosponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry  and the Institute of Carmelite Studies André Brouillette, S.J., is STM assistant professor of systematic and spiritual theology.

Managing Connections or Building Relationships? Teens and Digital Technology WORKSHOP April 22, 2016Presenter: Theresa A. O'Keefe This workshop focuses on recent research on teens and social media, with particular attention on the uses of digital technology and how those can both support and undermine relationships.  Attendees are invited to reflect on their own practices around social media and other digital technologies as a means of uncovering helpful and unhelpful practices. Sponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry Theresa A. O'Keefe is STM associate professor of the practice of youth and young adult faith, and codirector, contextual education.

Managing Connections or Building Relationships? Teens and Digital Technology WORKSHOP April 22, 2016Presenter: Theresa A. O'Keefe This workshop focuses on recent research on teens and social media, with particular attention on the uses of digital technology and how those can both support and undermine relationships.  Attendees are invited to reflect on their own practices around social media and other digital technologies as a means of uncovering helpful and unhelpful practices. Sponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry Theresa A. O'Keefe is STM associate professor of the practice of youth and young adult faith, and codirector, contextual education.

The Catholic Voter and the Signs of Our Times LECTURE October 19, 2016Presenter:  Kenneth Himes, O.F.M. Vatican II's "Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World" encouraged believers to read the "signs of the times" in order to discern where God is to be found in the world and how we are to respond.  This electoral season can be read as revealing a number of significant social issues that ought to be considered as Catholic citizens go to the voting booths. Cosponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry and The Church in the 21st Century Center    Kenneth Himes, O.F.M., is professor of theological ethics at the Boston College Department of Theology.

Where Two or Three Are Gathered: Transforming the Parish through Communities of Practice SECOND ANNUAL STM RELIGIOUS EDUCATION LECTURE October 27, 2016Presenter: Jane E. Regan Ministers in today's parishes face a variety of challenges as they strive to create a context within which the faith is proclaimed, preached, taught, celebrated, and lived.  Forming this kind of dynamic community requires that the adult believers embody maturity of faith and a spirit of evangelization.  Using the concept of "community of practice," this presentation sets out a new way to think about the life of the parish and a model for effectively leveraging and enhancing present parish dynamics and structures. Sponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry Jane E. Regan is STM associate professor of theology and religious education, director, STM continuing education, and chair, STM Department of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry.

Tending Your Own Garden: A Spirituality for Active Ministry ANNUAL MINISTRY RENEWAL DAY November 4, 2016Presenter: Colleen M. Griffith The demands of ministry often seem overwhelming. What are the core elements of a spirituality that is oriented towards ministry? What insights can figures from the Christian tradition offer us about the role of spirituality in our ministry? This annual gathering represents an opportunity for all those in ministry to address questions and renew their ministries together.  Sponsored by the School of Theology and Ministry Colleen M. Griffith is STM professor of the practice of theology and faculty director of spirituality studies.