STEP - University of Notre Dame
Newsletter - February 2014
Course Participants

Bonus offering of Introduction course 

Satisfying many diocesan and parish requirements for catechist certification, The Core Course: An Introduction to the Catholic Faith, will be offered beginning February 24, 2014.  It will end by Holy Week.  Over 140 individuals are currently enrolled in the January course. 

Catholic Views on Human Nature   

Humans are created in the image of God; this is the basic principle guiding Catholic morality.  But does this shape the way Catholics view human nature? 

A recent report from the Catholic Social and Pastoral Research Initiative
"illustrates a consistent distinctiveness in Catholics' understanding of human nature, but a distinctiveness that is formed within a larger culture and is affected  by societal shifts. Catholics, even with their consistently more optimistic outlook, have not  been insulated from a larger cultural shift within thee US toward greater ambivalence about the  nature of humanity."   Read the full report 
University of Notre Dame  

Video on Human Dignity

Fr. Gustavo Gutierrez, O.P., delivered the recent Annual Human Dignity Lecture.  Father Gutierrez's lecture, entitled Poverty and Human Dignity, explores the Church's teaching on the "transcendent dignity of the human person" and poverty (Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, 132).  Considered to be the founder of Liberation Theology, Fr. Gutierrez is most well known for his foundational work in Latin American liberation theology, A Theology of Liberation: History, Politics, Salvation. 
Poverty and Human Dignity 
Poverty and Human Dignity
   
 

Pope Francis discusses role of Catholic Universities

  

Addressing leaders from Notre Dame in a recent visit, Pope Francis said it is essential for Catholic universities to bear "uncompromising witness ... to the Church's moral teaching and the defense of her freedom."  "It is my hope," Pope Francis said, "that the University of Notre Dame will continue to offer unambiguous testimony to this aspect of its foundational Catholic identity, especially in the face of efforts, from whatever quarter, to dilute that indispensable witness." Read more>> 

 

Resource for New Evangelization    

The latest edition of Church Life: Journal for the New Evangelization, focuses on preaching and the New Evangelization.  Colleen Vermeulen, STEP Facilitator, writes on Evangelistic Preaching in the Catholic Tradition. 
Read it and all articles here
What's New at STEP?  

 

Upcoming Courses

Courses Starting on March 3


Certificates of Catholic Theology

 

STEP's new program, Certificates of Catholic Theology, fills a need for many in the Church.  Passionate and faithful individuals from all over the world have applied and begun their programs of study.  We are honored and humbled to work with so many wonderful students. 

Certificates are available for the following areas of study: doctrine, history, liturgy, and Scripture.  The program can enable you to demonstrate com
petency in a given theological discipline and meet diocesan or national certification standards for the intellectual dimension of faith formation for the diaconate or lay ecclesial ministry.

The Church   
 
Meaning of Baptism

Pope Francis spoke about the meaning of baptism at a recent general audience.  We are Christian by virtue of our baptism.  Jesus himself affirms that baptism is necessary for salvation, and we recently heard proclaimed St. Matthew's account of Jesus' baptism at mass.  He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them.

Reflect on your own baptism.  Check out this brief video.

Pope Francis General Audience January 15, 2014
Pope Francis General Audience January 15, 2014
 
Notre Dame Photography

The beautiful image in the header above comes from a collection of the best images from the past year by Notre Dame's talented photographers.