Catholic LIFE (Lay Identity, Family and Evangelization)
Equipping Catholic Laity for the Threefold Mission of the Local Parish.
For more information about hosting a Catholic LIFE course at your Family of Parishes, please contact Allan Cruz (acruz@athenaeum.edu).
Led by Dr. Alan Mostrom, MTSM Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology, the course will be taking place on Monday evenings starting on Monday, September 9, and running to November 18 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at St. Henry Catholic Church (272 E. Main Street, St. Henry, OH 45883). There is a $50 application fee.
The topics for each week of the course are listed below:
- September 9: The History of Laity in Sacred Scripture and Tradition
- September 16: The Laity’s Share in Jesus Christ’s Royal & Prophetic Offices
- September 23: The Laity’s Share in Jesus Christ’s Priestly Office; the Secularity of the Laity
- September 30: The Family in Sacred Scripture and the Tradition
- October 7: The Christian Family and Domestic Church and Lay Apostolate
- October 21: The Christian Family’s Share in Jesus Christ’s Threefold Office
- October 28: The Call and Task of Evangelization in Sacred Scripture
- November 4: The Difficulties, Benefits and Joys of Evangelization
- November 18: Preparation for the Task of Evangelization
The course title is ‘LIFE: Lay Identity, Family, & Evangelization’ (MTSM Course Code S416).
This course introduces basic theological concepts and topics concerning the laity, the Christian family and the ecclesial task of evangelization. The course analyzes these theological concepts and topics through the study of Sacred Scripture, the Tradition, especially Vatican II, and in light of everyday experience of the laity living in secular society.
The specific goals of this course are to enable Catholic laity to:
- Acquire the necessary theological vocabulary that will illumine our Christian existence as laity, Christian families, and the Christian task of evangelization.
- Understand the lay vocation, the vocation of the family, and the task of evangelization in light of Sacred Scripture and Tradition.
- Define the laity, the lay vocation, the collaboration of the laity with the hierarchy, and understand the lay state of life in light of Catholic dogma and doctrine.
- Understand the Scriptural and Traditional basis of the Christian family and what are the necessary tasks of the Christian family.
- Understand the Scriptural and Traditional basis of evangelization and what the task of evangelization entails.
These objectives will be met through the student’s careful reading of the assigned texts and class lectures and discussion.
Any Catholic Layperson. The average lay person has a desire and need to understand and apply the Catholic Church’s teachings in their personal lives and within the parish setting. The result of the course will strengthen the individual Catholic in his or her faith and equip him or her to build up their local parish and cooperate with fellow Catholics across the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
The course will consist of nine classes, each running approx. 1 hour and 45 minutes each.
The topics for each week of the course are listed below:
- Class 1: The History of Laity in Sacred Scripture and Tradition
- Class 2: The Laity’s Share in Jesus Christ’s Royal & Prophetic Offices
- Class 3: The Laity’s Share in Jesus Christ’s Priestly Office; the Secularity of the Laity
- Class 4: The Family in Sacred Scripture and the Tradition
- Class 5: The Christian Family and Domestic Church and Lay Apostolate
- Class 6: The Christian Family’s Share in Jesus Christ’s Threefold Office
- Class 7: The Call and Task of Evangelization in Sacred Scripture
- Class 8: The Difficulties, Benefits and Joys of Evangelization
- Class 9: Preparation for the Task of Evangelization
Professors and Instructors from the MTSM School of Theology. The Fall 2024 courses will be led by Dr. Alan Mostrom, MTSM Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology and Mr. Allan Cruz, MTSM Adjunct Instructor.
Yes. Once registered and completed, you may receive 1 credit hour. In addition, should you decide to pursue further education through MTSM, it is possible for the credit to be applied towards a Certificate Program at MTSM.