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STEP, University of Notre Dame NewsletterFebruary 2011
What's New at STEP?

Continued Growth in New Year
 

Thank you for all your support of STEP.  STEP continues to add new partner dioceses and work with new formation programs.  Individuals continue to hear about STEP from friends and family and sign up for courses.  This year looks to be the best one yet!
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STEP's Incentive Program

 

STEP inaugurated an incentive program with the start of the 2010-11 academic year. For the next year, each session will have one course selected and offered at a 50% discount. This is a great opportunity to take a course at a great price! 
 

The February 50% off course is History of Christianity. Use the promotional code HISTORYFIRST50 on the payment page to take the course for  $49.50!


The Church  


 Online Faith Formation Resources

 

Check out the new Faith Formation Learning Exchange (FFLE).  It's advertised as "a one-stop website where you can find the most current information, research, practices, and resources in faith formation for all ages and generations."  Its FREE and will be updated monthly, so you'll always have access to the most current information.

 

This web site is an outreach by John Roberto and Vibrant Faith Ministries.  Check it out:  

 

www.faithformationlearningexchange.net 

 

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World Marriage Day--February 13,2011     

 

WASHINGTON (January 14, 2011)-Two separate marriage initiatives in February affirm the priority of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to support and strengthen marriage, said Bishop Kevin Rhoades of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, who oversees the bishop's efforts in this area.

 

In a January 13 letter to all Catholic bishops of the United States, Bishop Rhoades, the new chairman of the USCCB Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, highlighted World Marriage Day, National Marriage Week USA and numerous resources offered by the USCCB, saying, "I encourage you to share this information with the clergy and lay leaders of your diocese so that together we might strive to become 'marriage building' communities of faith and action."

 

World Marriage Day, which is promoted by Worldwide Marriage Encounter, is being sponsored Sunday, February 13, in U.S. dioceses and parishes. Its theme is "Love One Another."

 

Read full news release and check out other web sites of interest: 

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Revised Edition of New American Bible Approved for Publication, Will Be Available in Variety of Formats March 9

 

The New American Bible, revised edition (NABRE), the first major update to the New American Bible (NAB) translation in 20 years, is approved for publication. The NABRE will be available in a variety of print, audio and electronic formats on March 9, Ash Wednesday.

Read more


Course Participants
 

We Need Your Opinion
 

Many of our courses offer videos to accompany the lecture texts.  Sitting in front of the computer is one way to study, but not the only way.  We are wondering what other formats course participants would like to see made available.  What different formats might fit your lifestyle better? 
 

Please take the ONE question STEP Media Format poll

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Upcoming Courses

 

2/21/11-3/25/11

1.        "Revelation and Other Stories" by Flannery O'Connor

2.        Youth Ministry 202

2/21/11-4/1/11

1.        Catholic Social Teaching

2.        The Creed: We Believe...

3.        History of Christianity: The First Five Centuries 50% Off--Use code HISTORYFIRST50

4.        In God's Image: The Mystery of Creation

5.        Introduction to the New Testament

6.        An Introduction to Sacraments

7.        The Old Testament: The Writings

8.        On Prayer

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Curl up with a Good Book  

Do you like great literature? Do you love to read great books and, in particular, those books that shed light on your faith life? Come join us on an interesting journey of inquiry and discussion about a great Catholic writer in the upcoming STEP course.


"Revelation and Other Stories" by Flannery O'Connor

 Who is Flannery O'Connor?
 
Notre Dame
 

Holy Cross Week 
 

The spirituality of the Congregation of Holy Cross- as exemplified by people like Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C.; Notre Dame founder Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C.; and Saint Andre Bessette - is among the topics explored annually during the week formally called "Holy Cross: Faith in Our Future." Join the Notre Dame community in celebrating the feast day of founder Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., the congregation's first saint, Saint André Bessette, C.S.C., and a legacy of love, faith, and hope that 173 years later continues to nourish the Notre Dame family.
 

Can't Travel to Campus?  Read more about these saints in a recent article by Notre Dame professor, Kathleen Cummings in Notre Dame Magazine.  

Doorway to Sainthood 
 

Evangelization

 

What does Pope Benedict think of the internet?
 

"The 83-year-old Benedict is no techno wizard: He writes longhand and has admitted to a certain lack of Internet savvy within the Vatican.  But under Benedict, the Holy See has greatly increased its presence online: It has a dedicated YouTube channel, and its Pope2You.net portal gives news on the pontiff's trips and speeches and features I-Phone and Facebook applications that allow users to send postcards with photos of Benedict and excerpts from his messages to their friends."

 

Read the rest of the article  

 

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI FOR THE 45th WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY

 

More from Catholic News Service


The Holy See was working on a new multimedia portal to be unveiled by Easter. It would start out in English and Italian, with other languages added later.