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Course Participants
STEP Course Software Changing
STEP began using the new online courseware system, Sakai, with one trial course in October 2011. So far the software is working well, most notably with the chat tool. This is great news.
With the University's permission we hope to offer several courses in the new software beginning with the January courses, and by February conduct all STEP courses in Sakai.
Prior to any changes, we will prepare course participants, formation programs and instructors to use the new software.
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NEW Course -- History of Christianity: The High and Late Middle Ages This course surveys the main themes, ideas and values of the Western church in th e period between 1000 and 1500 A.D. It is an introduction to the developments in Christian theology, religion and devotion that unfolded in the course of those five centuries, one of the richest and most revolutionary in the history of the church. They saw the creation of Christian university culture, further rise of the papacy, its frequent clashes with the empire, but also the emergence of conciliarism, and a flowering of lay religiosity and mysticism. The goal of this course is to introduce students to the varied, dynamic forces that contributed to the making of the medieval Church. STEP offers this course next June 11, 2011. Course information _______________________________________ Upcoming Courses 1/9/12-2/10/12 - The RCIA: Can We Get the Rite Right?
- The Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton
- Youth Ministry 101
1/9/12-2/17/12 - The American Catholic Experience
- History of Christianity: The Early Middle Ages
- Jesus Christ: Yesterday and Today
- Liturgy: A Guide for the Perplexed
- The Old Testament: The Prophets
- The Papacy
1/9/12-2/24/12
- Core Course: Introduction to the Catholic Faith
- The Gospel of John: The Book Of Glory
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What's New at STEP?
STEP Partners with NCEA 
National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) Secondary Schools division and STEP offer a seven-week introductory course on the Catholic faith for Catholic school administrative and teaching personnel. The course began October 10, 2011. It is going very well. School teachers benefit from the flexibility of online learning and the knowledge they gain from the course and one another.
As one participant shared, "I am excited about this course. It is always rewarding to grow in my faith. I want to be a role model for the students that I teach. If they see me continuing my education, then the seed is watered and continues to grow in them!"
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Discounted STEP Courses
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Notre Dame
Why Do We Honor the Saints?
On November 1 the Church celebrates the
Solemnity of All Saints. The feast gives all Catholics the opportunity to honor the saints. During the year, we celebrate individual saints on  their feast days, but on this one day, we celebrate all saints.
In the early church, Christians celebrated the anniversary of the martyrs who died for Christ. Pope Gregory III (731-741) consecrated a chapel in the Basilica of St. Peter to all the saints and fixed the anniversary for November 1st. Pope Gregory IV (827-844) extended the celebration to the entire Church.
Read about the Saint of the Day at AmericanCatholic.org
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Spend Saturday with the Saints
Traveling to campus or staying home? Nourish your Catholic faith and your mind at the same time with talks by distinguished members of the Notre Dame faculty. You can spend one hour with the saints before the football game on selected weekends this fall. If you cannot attend in person, the Institute for Church Life is providing recordings on a new YouTube channel:
"St. Teresa of Avila: First Woman Doctor of the Church" presented by Keith J. Egan October 8, 2011.
Click the image to play.
Or "Edith Stein and the  Dark Night"presented by
Cyril O'Regan
October 22, 2011.
Click image to play.
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ICL on Facebook
The Institute for Church Life laun ched a new Facebook page. It contains articles, videos and information about the various programs offered through the Institute.
Check it out and "Like" it to stay in touch.
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The Church
Resources for Liturgical Changes
Just a handful of weeks remain until your parish implements the new liturgical changes. Are you ready? Check out the changes before the First  Sunday of Advent, December 2, 2011.
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Faithful Citizenship Document
"Responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation."
The US Bishops reaffirm the document Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship and add a new Introductory Note to the document. They have also launched a new Faithful Citizenship web site offering a wide range of materials for Catholic organizations, parishes and individuals.
"Every individual and every community shares in and is responsible for promoting the common good. Faithful to their ethical and religious vocation, communities of believers should take the lead in asking whether human family has adequate means at its disposal to achieve the global common good. The Church for her part is called to encourage in everyone without distinction, the desire to join in the 'monumental amount of individual and collective effort' which men have made 'throughout the course of the centuries ... to better the circumstances of their lives.... [T]his human activity accords with God's will.'"
of the document regarding the reform of the global economy.
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