What's New at STEP?
STEP Celebrates 10 Years of Serving the Faithful
STEP hosted a mass and reception on campus to celebrate 10 years of service to the Church. Thank you all for your support and encouragement over the years. We look forward to making the next 10 years even better!
See more pictures at STEP's Facebook Page.
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STEP
at the University of Notre Dame and Mary Immaculate College
in Limerick, Ireland, collaborate to offer
accredited online theology courses
STEP
is pleased to announce a new partnership with Mary Immaculate College (MIC) in Limerick, Ireland
beginning January 2010.
Since 1999, the Satellite Theological Education Program (STEP) at the
University of Notre Dame has offered quality theological education to adult
Catholics all over the world. STEP is a part of Notre Dame's Institute
for Church Life (ICL) which exists as an integral component of the University's
larger mission of teaching, research, and service to society and to the
Church. "The goal of STEP has been to raise the level of
theological understanding and discourse among the faithful. The
medium of the Internet allows us to try to accomplish our mission in a truly
global context. We are gratified and excited to partner
with NOSTRA to serve the faithful of Ireland," says Thomas
Cummings, STEP Director.
MIC's Department of Theology and Religious Studies NOSTRA (New Openings in the
Study of Theology and Religion for Adults) programme first started in 2005 to
enable adult learners to pursue an accredited, certified course of study in a
manner that is flexible and adaptable to their lifestyle. They offer a
range of modules, all of which result in credits towards a Certificate in
Theology and Religious Studies. Following on from the success of the past
four years, MIC has moved the NOSTRA Programme to the next level; with STEP's
help they are launching its first accredited online theology course.
This is the first collaborative venture between MIC and STEP. This is also
the first time that STEP has collaborated with a college outside the United States.
Courses will begin February 15, 2010.
For further information about NOSTRA or STEP.
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The Church
Fort Wayne/South Bend Diocese Welcomes New Bishop
 Pope Benedict XVI, appointed as ninth bishop of the
Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend the former Bishop of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Kevin C. Rhoades.
Read More
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John Cavadini, Director of the Institute for Church Life, Appointed Vatican Advisor John C. Cavadini, associate professor, chair of theology and
McGrath-Cavadini Director of the University of Notre Dame's Institute
for Church Life, has been appointed to the International Theological
Commission by Pope Benedict XVI.
The International Theological Commission consists of some 30
theologians from around the world. An advising body to the Vatican's
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, its members are personally
appointed by the pope.
Bishop John D'Arcy's statement can be read here.
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Course Participants
Diocese of Salt Lake City Commissions Lay Ecclesial Ministers
"Responding to the call to be co-workers in the Lord's vineyard, 20
men and women will receive certification as lay ecclesial ministers at
a special Mass celebrated by Bishop John C. Wester on Jan. 30.
Members of the group spent four years studying theology and other
topics through an online program presented by the University of Notre
Dame..." Read more of this article from Intermountain Catholic by Marie Mischel. Read more about the Diocese of Salt Lake City formation program.
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In the last newsletter we forgotten to mention three men who were also ordained in the Diocese of Ogdensburg: Brian Dywer, Tom Proulx and David Sandburg.
We apologize for the oversight.
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Notre Dame
Scholars Gather for ND Conference on Moral Issues 
"For the 10th consecutive year, the University of Notre Dame's
Center for Ethics and Culture drew hundreds of scholars from across the country
and abroad to its annual conference that focuses on the crucial moral issues of
the day.
This year's conference theme, "The Summons of Freedom: Virtue, Sacrifice,
and the Common Good," was inspired by a talk Pope Benedict XVI gave at the
White House last year on his visit to the United States. Over 100 papers on a
wide spectrum of topics were presented and discussed by more than 400
participants at the three-day conference."
Read the complete article here.
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Evangelization
 STEP's mission is to offer quality theological education to adult Catholics through a wide variety of adult faith formation opportunities.
While this goal is accomplished mainly through courses, we want to
continue the theological learning and dialogue outside of courses as
well. The
broader Internet, with web sites like YouTube and Facebook, offers us
additional avenues to spread the Good News. We have been sharing some
great gems from many of our Video Lecture Series and snippets from
Course lectures through these mediums.
Now, we are
experimenting with a new format. Thomas Cummings, Director of STEP,
and Brother Robert Sylvester, CSC, Director of the Initiative on
Spirituality and Professions, have teamed up to discuss current events
and items of interest and to explore them in light of the Catholic
faith. We have entitled these brief conversations, "Morning Coffee with Tom and Bob."
Ideally, these conversations will be an avenue for deeper personal
reflection and an opportunity to engage others in dialogue. These are
not meant to be the final word, and we hope others will join in the
conversation by posting a comment. Also, because we are in an
experimental phase, please feel free to offer any production critiques
or suggestions for improvement.
Click on the link to check out a recent conversation on Morning Coffee on life on other planets and salvation in Christ.
Let us know what you think.
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