The classic definition of theology is “faith seeking understanding”.  This definition, attributed to St Anselm, is as valid today as it was in the eleventh century.  Our faith, our active love of God, is often in search of a deeper understanding.

We live in a world where there are multiple ‘world-views’ both religious and non-religious.  Sometimes these various ‘world-views’ can be under our own roof and certainly within our wider group of family and friends.  As Christians and Catholics we can no longer take for granted that everyone knows what we believe.  We may even find that we too, do not have the adequate language or scaffolding on which to hang our faith!

Catholic Theological College has an upcoming initiative to help us along the way.  Catholic Theological College is part of the University of Divinity, and is situated in East Melbourne.  From 14-31 October, the College will be hosting Engaging Your Faith.  Engaging Your Faith is a series of short online presentations that invite participants to reflect on what it means to be people of faith in the contemporary world.

Beginning on Monday, 14 October with Melbourne based Scripture Scholar, Dr Rosemary Canavan, the first session will look at ‘The Women in the Gospel of Luke’.  This session looks at how Luke includes women in the life and ministry of Jesus and then considers the implications of this for today.  The series continues with short presentations and practical implications on religion and ethics, religious education in a post-modern age, sacraments of baptism and confirmation, lay ministry and a synodal church, violence in the Scriptures and mysticism and much more.

We are very lucky to have Catholic Theological College at our doorstep and to have an incredible array of talented and dedicated theologians, scripture scholars and religious educators.  People search the internet for all kinds of information and online courses in order to quench their thirst for religious knowledge.  Catholic Theological College has come to the party in this regard.  I encourage you to look at participating in one or two of these sessions and book yourself in.  Not only will you be enriched in your own faith, you will also be supporting a Theological College that educates priests and religious and laypeople from around Victoria, as well as many international students.

The cost per session is $25.00 or $40.00 for teachers seeking accreditation hours.  This is a great opportunity provided by Catholic Theological College – don’t miss out on it.

By Fr Brendan Reed

Download the Engaging Your Faith Online Series flyer…

Published: 13 September 2024