Theology lectures seek to inform and inspire Christian ministry
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Mary Morrell | Managing Editor and Rose O’Connor | Correspondent
“How do you make sure your spirituality informs your daily life?”
The question posed by Dr. Dianne Traflet, a keynote presenter for the diocesan CORE Theology lecture series held April 26 and May 3 in the Diocesan Chancery, framed a key value for the series – the importance of forming and informing the Christian journey.
To see photo gallery on this story, click here.
The lectures, hosted by the Office of Catholic Education and presented by Dr. Traflet and Msgr. Gerard McCarren, both notable professors in the Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, Seton Hall University, South Orange, were part of the Diocesan Certificate Program which provides CORE theology formation, both in person and online, and specialized training in nine areas of ministry.
Dr. Traflet, associate dean and assistant professor of pastoral theology, led some 30 participants April 26 through a day of “Nourishing a Love of Prayer in Ministry.” Using storytelling and Scripture, Dr. Traflet encouraged participants to enter into prayer to identify their own spirituality whether it be Eucharistic, contemplative or in the style of one of the Apostles, speaking especially of Mary, who waited in darkness, carrying and sharing divine life, and, as St. John Paul II had said, “Cultivating her interior eye.”
Muna Wreh, a participant in the Diocesan Certificate Program, shared her story of relying on Marian prayers, especially the Rosary, as she was fleeing from Liberia with her children and family during the diamond wars. She framed her life within a spirituality of transition, one in which she found courage through Mary.
During his presentation, “God’s Tool Box: Encountering the Lord Jesus,” May 3, Msgr. McCarren, associate professor of systematic theology, drew the 30 participants into a discussion on the sacramentality of the Church, noting that “we encounter God when we encounter Jesus. Jesus shows us the Father through the sacraments. It’s a very beautiful thing.”
“We encounter the risen Christ in the Paschal Mystery,” Msgr. McCarren said, “We encounter Christ through interaction with his people”— an idea that resonated especially with those participants who were preparing to receive a certificate in a specialized area of ministry.
Maria Rodrigues, from St. Veronica Parish, Howell, also found the presentation especially meaningful to her ministry with divorced and separated Catholics. “The sacraments are so important to our Catholic faith,” she acknowledged. “They instruct us on how to become Catholic and how to stay connected to God,” she said, noting particularly that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is vital to her ministry and the people whom she serves.
For more information on the Diocese Certificate Program, contact Eileen Hart, coordinator of Educational Advancement, Ministry of Catechesis and Evangelization, 609-403-7185 or [email protected]
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By Mary Morrell | Managing Editor and Rose O’Connor | Correspondent
“How do you make sure your spirituality informs your daily life?”
The question posed by Dr. Dianne Traflet, a keynote presenter for the diocesan CORE Theology lecture series held April 26 and May 3 in the Diocesan Chancery, framed a key value for the series – the importance of forming and informing the Christian journey.
To see photo gallery on this story, click here.
The lectures, hosted by the Office of Catholic Education and presented by Dr. Traflet and Msgr. Gerard McCarren, both notable professors in the Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, Seton Hall University, South Orange, were part of the Diocesan Certificate Program which provides CORE theology formation, both in person and online, and specialized training in nine areas of ministry.
Dr. Traflet, associate dean and assistant professor of pastoral theology, led some 30 participants April 26 through a day of “Nourishing a Love of Prayer in Ministry.” Using storytelling and Scripture, Dr. Traflet encouraged participants to enter into prayer to identify their own spirituality whether it be Eucharistic, contemplative or in the style of one of the Apostles, speaking especially of Mary, who waited in darkness, carrying and sharing divine life, and, as St. John Paul II had said, “Cultivating her interior eye.”
Muna Wreh, a participant in the Diocesan Certificate Program, shared her story of relying on Marian prayers, especially the Rosary, as she was fleeing from Liberia with her children and family during the diamond wars. She framed her life within a spirituality of transition, one in which she found courage through Mary.
During his presentation, “God’s Tool Box: Encountering the Lord Jesus,” May 3, Msgr. McCarren, associate professor of systematic theology, drew the 30 participants into a discussion on the sacramentality of the Church, noting that “we encounter God when we encounter Jesus. Jesus shows us the Father through the sacraments. It’s a very beautiful thing.”
“We encounter the risen Christ in the Paschal Mystery,” Msgr. McCarren said, “We encounter Christ through interaction with his people”— an idea that resonated especially with those participants who were preparing to receive a certificate in a specialized area of ministry.
Maria Rodrigues, from St. Veronica Parish, Howell, also found the presentation especially meaningful to her ministry with divorced and separated Catholics. “The sacraments are so important to our Catholic faith,” she acknowledged. “They instruct us on how to become Catholic and how to stay connected to God,” she said, noting particularly that the Sacrament of Reconciliation is vital to her ministry and the people whom she serves.
For more information on the Diocese Certificate Program, contact Eileen Hart, coordinator of Educational Advancement, Ministry of Catechesis and Evangelization, 609-403-7185 or [email protected]
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