"The big question he (Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Martin) asked, and this is the important question, what is the best way to prepare priests or prophets in this day and age?"
Bridget Mary's Response: Change is in the air when an Irish archbishop has lost confidence in seminaries as the best way to prepare priests for ministry.
Seminaries like Maynooth in Ireland, do not meet the needs for a holy and wholistic, balanced, interactive, inclusive community-based preparation for priests. For one thing, the traditional seminary fosters clericalism and exclusion, and supports the "old boys" network. In my view, the church ought to experiment with new models for ministry preparation that are inclusive and that fit diverse cultures in our modern world.
Second a focus on contemporary scholarship is needed. The church , for example, ought to move from a medieval approach in sacramental theology that emphasizes atonement theology to a vibrant theology of blessing that affirms our divine identity as the beloved of God - from the first moment of our existence. In other words, Augustine's theory of original sin needs to be replaced with original blessing!
See our new People's Catholic Seminary, an online program for ordained and non-ordained individuals, inclusive communities that offers a journey for partners and equals toward transformation, empowerment and equality https://pcseminary.org/
See some of our recent courses: http://pcseminary.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
302: Spiritual Encounters with Women Mystics for the 21st Century
In the reflections, discussion starters, and prayer experiences fromPraying with Visionary Women that accompany each woman’s story, you are invited to reflect on her words and actions in light of your own life experience and the Spirit of God working within you.
In prayer and journaling, you dialogue with these soul sisters, and contemplate their wisdom, compassion and courage as a reflection of the feminine face of God for all times.Their words and actions are a rich source of inspiration and renewal in our prophetic commitment to work for justice, peace, and equality in our world.
As the bondage of sexism, racism, militarism, and ageism continues, this course offers us a rich variety of resources to nurture your inner mystic and calling to be a courageous disciple of Gospel justice and empowerment in the 21st century.
Mary Theresa Streck, Ed.D., DMin, is one of the founding members of the People’s Catholic Seminary. She is a member of the pastoral team at the Upper Room Inclusive Catholic Community in Albany, NY. She presides at liturgies, officiates at weddings and offers sacramental ministry and is a member of the ARCWP Program of Preparation team. She earned a Doctorate in Education Leadership from the Sage Colleges and a Doctorate in Ministry from Global Ministries University. She was ordained a priest on September 15, 2013.
Cost: $100 (financial aid available)
Register now at peoplescatholicseminary@gmail.com
This on-line course opens the week of May 1, 2017 and concludes the week of July 17, 2017. The course is presented in six sessions. Each session is two weeks long. In the first week participants read and reflect on course materials and in the second week, participants write a refection on the session’s theme.
Registration closes April 17, 2017
Course Facilitators:
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| Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP |
Bridget Mary Meehan, MA, DMin, ARCWP, a Sister for Christian Community, is one of the founding members of the People’s Catholic Seminary. She is a member of the pastoral team at Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community in Sarasota, Florida. Bridget Mary presides at liturgies, officiates at weddings and offers sacramental ministry. She is an author of twenty books. Her work in communications media include programs about women priests on Google and YouTube. Bridget Mary was ordained a priest in the first USA ordination in Pittsburgh on July 31, 2006 and was ordained a bishop in Santa Barbara, California on April 19, 2009.
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| Dr. Mary Theresa Streck ARCWP |
Mary Theresa Streck, Ed.D., DMin, is one of the founding members of the People’s Catholic Seminary. She is a member of the pastoral team at the Upper Room Inclusive Catholic Community in Albany, NY. She presides at liturgies, officiates at weddings and offers sacramental ministry and is a member of the ARCWP Program of Preparation team. She earned a Doctorate in Education Leadership from the Sage Colleges and a Doctorate in Ministry from Global Ministries University. She was ordained a priest on September 15, 2013.
Cost: $100 (financial aid available)
Register now at peoplescatholicseminary@gmail.com
Mail check or money order to:
People's Catholic Seminary
PO Box 421
Watervliet, NY 12189
People's Catholic Seminary
PO Box 421
Watervliet, NY 12189
(paypal coming soon!)
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
202: REDISCOVERING JESUS IN A COMPANIONSHIP OF EMPOWERMENT FOR THE 21st CENTURY
Course Description: In this course, adult faith seekers will primarily use Diarmuid O’Murchu’s text Christianity’s Dangerous Memory: A Rediscovery of the Revolutionary Jesus along with supplemental materials available on the Internet. This course provides a liberating spirituality for a companionship of empowerment rooted in compassion, justice and equality that expands what it means to be a follower of Jesus in the 21st Century. Class participants will explore a Christian faith that is much bigger, deeper and more challenging than churches have ever acknowledged or proclaimed.
This on-line course opens the week of January 30, 2017 and concludes the week of April 10, 2017. The course is presented in six sessions. Each session is two weeks long. In the first week participants read and reflect on course materials and in the second week, participants write a refection on the session’s theme.
Registration closes January 27, 2017
Course Facilitators:
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| Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP |
Bridget Mary Meehan, MA, DMin, ARCWP, a Sister for Christian Community, is one of the founding members of the People’s Catholic Seminary. She is a member of the pastoral team at Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community in Sarasota, Florida. Bridget Mary presides at liturgies, officiates at weddings and offers sacramental ministry. She is an author of twenty books. Her work in communications media include programs about women priests on Google and YouTube. Bridget Mary was ordained a priest in the first USA ordination in Pittsburgh on July 31, 2006 and was ordained a bishop in Santa Barbara, California on April 19, 2009.
|
| Dr. Mary Theresa Streck ARCWP |
Mary Theresa Streck, Ed.D., DMin, is one of the founding members of the People’s Catholic Seminary. She is a member of the pastoral team at the Upper Room Inclusive Catholic Community in Albany, NY. She presides at liturgies, officiates at weddings and offers sacramental ministry and is a member of the ARCWP Program of Preparation team. She earned a Doctorate in Education Leadership from the Sage Colleges and a Doctorate in Ministry from Global Ministries University. She was ordained a priest on September 15, 2013.
Cost: $200 (financial aid available)
Register now at peoplescatholicseminary@gmail.com
Register now at peoplescatholicseminary@gmail.com
Mail check or money order to:
People's Catholic Seminary
PO Box 421
Watervliet, NY 12189
People's Catholic Seminary
PO Box 421
Watervliet, NY 12189
(paypal coming soon!)
Click here to read Amazon’s book review of Christianity’s Most Dangerous Memory
Thursday, September 15, 2016
401: SACRAMENTS in the 21st Century: Sacred Heritage and New Story
Introduction
People’s Catholic Seminary invites you to contemplate our sacred story, past, present and future. We offer an in-depth study of the history of the sacraments and the ongoing evolution of both theology and rites. In the 21st Century we are living a new story of mutual partnership and spiritual equality in the community of the baptized.
The primary text for the course is Deconstructing Sacramental Theology and Reconstructing Catholic Ritual by Joseph Martos. Drawing upon his decades-long study of the sacraments, Martos reveals how teachings that seemed rooted in the scriptures and Catholic life have become unmoored from the contexts in which they arose, and why seemingly eternal truths are actually historically relative. He concludes, “Medieval Catholic theology of sacraments, although plausible in its day, is no longer acceptable.”
Other supplemental materials for the course will include YouTube Videos from Busted Halo: Sacraments 101. Course reflection questions for each sacrament focus on the Church's sacred heritage and your lived experience of the spiritual evolution of sacraments.
Course Facilitators:
Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
Dr. Mary Theresa Streck, ARCWP
On-line course opens the week of November 7, 2016 and concludes the week of December 19, 2016. Registration closes November 1, 2016
Cost: $200 (financial aid available)
register now at peoplescatholicseminary@gmail.com
mail checks to:
People's Catholic Seminary
PO Box 421
Watervliet, NY 12189
The primary text for the course is Deconstructing Sacramental Theology and Reconstructing Catholic Ritual by Joseph Martos. Drawing upon his decades-long study of the sacraments, Martos reveals how teachings that seemed rooted in the scriptures and Catholic life have become unmoored from the contexts in which they arose, and why seemingly eternal truths are actually historically relative. He concludes, “Medieval Catholic theology of sacraments, although plausible in its day, is no longer acceptable.”Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
Dr. Mary Theresa Streck, ARCWP
register now at peoplescatholicseminary@gmail.com
People's Catholic Seminary
PO Box 421
Watervliet, NY 12189
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
301: Moments with the Mystery: Deepening Connection with Your Creative Source
Facilitator: Dr. Eileen Knoff
May 30, 2016 - August 30, 2016
Cost: $200
register now at peoplescatholicseminary@gmail.com
Course is full and registration is now closed. Course will be offered again in the fall.
May 30, 2016 - August 30, 2016
Cost: $200
register now at peoplescatholicseminary@gmail.com
Course is full and registration is now closed. Course will be offered again in the fall.
Course Rationale
This course provides guidance to support you in reflecting on your moments of encounter with the sacred source/mystery within you with a goal of deepening insight into the meaning these experiences have for you now. It is designed to help you more fully embrace who you are, what your purpose/call/vocation is on this planet and to take a step closer to living creatively, and fully, into that call. We will make use of several texts, the primary ones being
Matthew Fox’s work Creativity and Wayne Teasdale’s The Mystic Heart. Other suggested readings included at the end of this description and are encouraged. You may want to read from specific mystics of the various traditions for special projects.
Course Design
This eight-week course is designed to take the form of independent study along with several conversation threads being shared via email with fellow students and the instructor. Between reading and posting online, you will be writing, reflecting on your writing, and reading from the suggested texts. The instructor will check and comment on postings weekly. You can read and add posts at any time, with the caveat that no one monopolize the conversation. Please make room for all participants to post and keep your posts to the point of the conversation.
About Eileen Knoff
Eileen studied at Seattle University in pastoral ministry and transforming spirituality, earning an M.A. in 2001 and several post-master’s certificates in subsequent years. She completed a doctorate of ministry from Global Ministries University in 2012, including studies in mysticism, feminism, Celtic spirituality, and new models of ordained ministry. She earned a B. A. from the University of Michigan in 1976 and an M.A. from the University of California (1980) in English and literature, and served as a teacher, writer, and editor before entering spiritual ministry.
Eileen founded Brigid's Circle as an online contemplative and compassionate conversation with roots in Celtic spirituality in 2008. The group later migrated to Facebook where they now share contemplative and compassionate spiritual conversation. Eileen founded and co-facilitates an interspiritual gathering called Brigid's Table, in Kirkland, Washington, which currently meets monthly.
Eileen was ordained in 2011 by friends and colleagues who are part of diverse denominations and multiple faith traditions in Seattle. This ordination received the affirmation from both CORPUS and the Progressive Christian Alliance (PCA) and people from diverse Catholic reform groups. She remains an active member of the PCA, and CORPUS, which describes itself as “a faith community affirming an inclusive priesthood rooted in a reformed and renewed Church.”
In 2011 she published a collection of reflections, including her own, called Seasoning the Soul. The book takes readers on a contemplative journey through the year by way of the Celtic calendar and a Celtic spiritual perspective on life and death and their integration. She is currently working on a collection of her own poetry and hopes to craft a memoir of her experience as an evolving Catholic. A working title for that story is “Dark Graces.
Course RationaleMonday, March 21, 2016
202. Jesus of Nazareth, Christ of the Cosmos: Model for Living Gospel Equality Today
202 - Jesus of Nazareth, Christ of the Cosmos: Model for Living Gospel Equality Today
Facilitators: Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan and Dr. Mary Theresa Streck
April 4 - May 27
Course DescriptionCourse registration open from March 21- April 1
Cost: $200
Course Overview available upon request.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
101. Introduction to Contemporary Theology
This course offers a new, inclusive, innovative educational program for spiritual transformation for contemporary believers, activists and ministers. The aim is to inspire all to be visionaries, mystics and prophets in our time.
Each topic will present a beautiful tapestry of the God of life present in all and working for justice for all. The purpose is to integrate theological insights and spiritual experiences in order to develop commonsense approaches to living a faith-filled life of contemplation, compassion and prophetic action for justice in our world today.
Facilitator: Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
Outline and Guide:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jnlkO3LJQc4su-dzrQlyiWBGBw6IkwTVtPnP7mvJfbw/edit
Course begins on Wednesday, January 13, and continues for six consecutive Wednesdays. Participants meet in SKYPE and SLACK.
This course is now closed and will be offered again in April, 2016.
Journeying in Love, a 7 Week Adventure in Prayer, and the Faith Processing
... an opportunity to make a "daily at-home private retreat," with a weekly group gathering to explore pertinent themes along the way.Facilitated by Marge Milanese, M.Ed., Spiritual Director, Retreat Facilitator
Course Text: Love: A Guide for Prayer (Take and Receive) by Jacqueline Bergan (Author), Marie Schwan CSJ (Author)
Course begins on Tuesday, January 5, at the Upper Room, 415 River Street, Troy, NY and runs for seven consecutive Tuesdays from 6:00-8:00pm.
Cost: $140
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