Current Course Offerings
Summer Intercession 2023: May 8-19
Historical Jesus
Taught by Dr. Art Dewey
An introduction to the historical question of what Jesus said and did. Students will analyze the early Jesus data with critical tools and detect the implications of this investigation for the contemporary situation.
Guatemala Immersion/Course (On-Campus May 8-12 and Guatemala May 14-21)
Taught by Dr. John Sniegocki
Would you like to explore the natural beauty of Guatemala, learn about Mayan culture and spirituality, and examine issues of human rights, economic justice, ecology, grassroots social movements, and the role of the Catholic Church? If so, consider taking part in an immersion trip to Guatemala this May.
Courses offered include THEO 615, Contemporary Ethical Issues. If the on-campus class times do not work for you, an independent study may be possible. View the Itinerary and Costs in the Flyer. Graduate students in theology are eligible for a $500 scholarship, in addition to any other tuition reduction or financial assistance that you normally receive. Contact John Sniegocki, sniegocj@xavier.edu for more information.
Regular Summer Session 2023: May 15-June 23
Franciscan Spirituality
Taught by Dr. Gillian Ahlgren
Born into a world of socio-economic turbulence, conflict over property, and social discrimination, Francis and Clare of Assisi chose to forge a new way for themselves and their contemporaries. The "Franciscan Revolution" of the thirteenth-century has a great deal to teach us today. As Pope Francis invites us toward a "revolution of tenderness," we too can discover the power of encounter and the presence of God at the margins, just as Francis and Clare did. This course creates a fruitful dialogue between past and present with global implications for today.
with optional pilgrimage to Assisi, please contact ahlgren@xavier.edu.
Ignatian Spirituality
Taught by Dr. Gillian Ahlgren
This course provides an understanding of the context out of which Ignatian Spirituality developed and some of the major ways that it has expressed itself as a movement that fosters a faith that does justice at the service of education, peacemaking and the remediation of injustice in the world around us. Topics addressed include: (1) the context of Ignatius’s own life and the theological and spiritual questions at the heart of the Catholic reformation of the 1520s; (2) the development of the Spiritual Exercises; (3) the Jesuit approach to education and mission; and (4) key figures of the 20th Century.
with optional pilgrimage to Assisi, please contact ahlgren@xavier.edu.
Fall 2023: August 21, 2023
THEO 514 Spiritual Exercises for the 21st Century
Taught by Dr. Arthur Dewey
Mondays 6:30pm-9:00pm
This course re-envisions Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises in light of recent New Testament scholarship and a contextual understanding of the sixteenth century, with an eye to the global challenges and possibilities of our era. Students will engage the Exercises, and their reflection from their own practice will inform class discussion of the theory behind the Exercises. This course is appropriate for beginners as well as those already proficient in the Exercises.
Theo 555 Key Turning Points in Christian History
Taught by Dr. Walker Gollar
Tuesdays 6:30pm-9:00pm
This course explores some of the key turning points in Christian History from the death of Jesus to modern times. While discussing select historical moments, the course also illustrates how all religious history might be approached. The course moreover challenges participants to consider their theology and their place amidst the issues raised in the past.
THEO 579 The Black Catholic Experience
Taught by Dr. Adam Clark
Thursdays 6:30pm-9:00pm
The history and spirituality of Black Catholics is a powerful lens through which to examine complex issues of race, religion and justice in the United States.This course introduces students to African Church Fathers and Mothers, Popes and the decisive role Africa played in the formation of the early church, the impact of Roman Catholic Church on the Black experience, the emergence of Black Catholicism, Black biblical interpretations and the struggle for racial justice in the Catholic Church.