Distance Learning Program for the Diaconate

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Fall 2013 Semester Course Offerings

DO 841 Philosophy for Understanding Theology

PA 641 Better Homilies for the Deacon

PA 990 Introduction to Grief Counseling

PA 883 Counseling for Marriage and Family

PA 868 Pastoral Counseling

DO 725 Sacramental Theology

BI 611 Synoptic Gospels/Acts

BI 944 Book of Revelation

DO 841 Philosophy for Understanding Theology
This course explores the relationship between philosophy and Christian theology from the perspective of the deacon and in particular those who are studying to become deacons or those who are already ministering as deacons.  Students are introduced to the influence that key philosophers have had throughout the centuries in shaping Christian theology in both its understandings and forms of expression.  The course covers not only the ancient philosophers but also post modernism in relation to truth and moral philosophy.  The course uses as its pretext the contention of the author of the textbook used in the course that "Everyone needs to know some philosophy in order to understand the major doctrines of Christianity or to read a great theologian intelligently."  The goal of the course is for the deacon or deacon candidate to understand theology a little better by appreciating the philosophical underpinning of all theology.

PA 641 Better Homilies for the Deacon
This course will explore good homiletic creation and delivery by first exploring what makes a good homily. The difference between a homily and a sermon will be discussed. Students will be shown how to bring the scriptural readings to life by using everyday-day examples that will motivate and inspire parishioners. In addition, student will be shown how to perform an exegetical probe into the cultural, historical, grammatical and contextual meaning of the particular periscopes that will provide a scholarly background for sermon preparation by using standard commentaries. The use of insights, anecdotes, quotations and references to current events that dovetail with the sermon material to bring out the preaching point will be emphasized. Different examples of preaching styles will be explored as well as different occasions such as preaching at children liturgies, funerals, weddings, Sunday liturgies, and so on. Prayers, responsive readings and hymns relating to the Scripture theme that help create a worship experience that tie seamlessly with the homily will be considered. Finally, peer participation in analyzing and critiquing homily creation and delivery will help each student to learn from one another to develop the best possible homily your parishioners have ever heard. Listeners will be moved, inspired and awestricken by your new-found homiletic skills.

PA 990 DE: Introduction to Grief Counseling
This course is designed to allow the participant to explore the many facets of a person who is grieving the loss of someone close to them.  Completion of this course will allow the participant to identify with those who bereave and allow the participant to experience a methodology of counseling that will be healing and helpful to the bereaved. The deacon will explore the attitude that we have toward death; define what grief and bereavement mean; identify factors that influence different reactions to grief; examine different bereavement scenarios; identify memorial and funeral services used to heal the bereaved and bring closure; consider cultural differences among various religions; explore the healing process through counseling; learn how to develop a good grief group; and list professional organizations and helpful resources for the bereaved and those who help them.  He also will  be assigned the role of acting as a counselor to another participant who will play the role of a bereaved person, thereby allowing the participants to gain practical insight into the theoretical basis of the course. Participants will be required to give a weekly report on the progress of their assigned counselee, and each counselee will give a weekly report on the work of their assigned counselor. This class will be facilitated by Deacon Bob McCormick, a retired educator and deacon of long service as a hospital chaplain of the Diocese of Rochester, NY.

PA 883 DE Counseling of Marriage and Family
Based upon the requests of deacons who have taken the course in the past and asked that the course be updated to include components of counseling, the designed course will include components on the following:

Marriage preparation in the parish
Dignity of life
Pre Cana defined and explained
The value of FOCUS before and after the wedding
Common causes of marriage difficulties
Parish counseling versus professional counseling (we are NOT professionals)
Divorce defined
The annulment process and other methods of declaring a marriage invalid
A happy marriage and family life – the ultimate goal of every marriage in the Church

Finally, the courses emphasis the need for the development of sound spirituality in the context of the Church and emphasizes the need for, and spiritual benefits of ongoing integration of spiritual reading, personal prayer, private devotion, liturgical worship, and pastoral practice throughout a deacon’s ministry to the faithful.

PA 868 DE: Pastoral Counseling for the Deacon
This course presents basic counseling theory, processes and skill development, focused on assessment, listening, and goal setting. This course briefly outlines various emotional/mental disorders which may assist the non-professional counselor to make appropriate assessment and professional referral. This course is specifically designed for those deacons in pastoral settings who have come from other disciplines, and aims to introduce students to a variety of tools, strategies, and methodologies. Special emphasis will be placed upon helping the deacon recognize some common issues and problems which they are likely to encounter. Personal counseling styles will be addressed as a means of enabling each participant to understand his or her own strengths and weaknesses in a pastoral care setting. This course will permit the deacon to identify the critical differences between pastoral care and professional counseling, particularly as it relates to the nature and limits of the pastoral counseling task. This course will also assist the deacon in understanding the elements of the counseling process and gain experience of elementary counseling interventions through practice and role-play, and to help learners to understand their own personal style of relating and its influence on the counseling process. This course will also introduce deacons to a wide range of helpful resources relating to pastoral care and counseling. 

DO 725 Sacramental Theology
This course presents a comprehensive study of the theology and rites of the Sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church. For each sacrament, we will examine the biblical foundations, the way that the Church has understood and practiced its life of prayer and sanctification throughout history, and the way that the Roman Catholic Church currently celebrates the Rites of the Sacraments.

An emphasis is placed on  a personal integration of materials studied; developing one’s ability to clearly communicate the meaning of the Sacraments in a ministry setting; and studies of the current Catholic Rites preparation of a teaching approach applicable in one’s ministry.  Weekly readings, postings, and specific assignments will guide students through this process. 

The course is designed to provide students with a better understanding of the historical development of each sacrament celebrated in the Roman Catholic Church; an opportunity to study the liturgical texts for each sacrament; an understanding of how symbols and rituals function in everyday life, in society, and in religion; a background knowledge applicable to a pastoral setting; an appreciation of the relationship between liturgical worship and Christian living; an application of this understanding in catechesis; and an insight into some of the pastoral and catechetical issues surrounding the sacramental preparations, celebration of Rites and pastoral opportunities.

BI 611 Synoptic Gospels/Acts
Sacred Scripture, the soul of theology, provides an essential foundation for understanding one’s ministry. This course consists of an examination of the three synoptic Gospels:  Matthew, Mark, and Luke, including a consideration of the interrelationships among the three Gospels, as well as an investigation of the Acts of the Apostles. 
Specific attention will be given to the questions of authorship and theological purpose, audience, dates and significant themes in each individual Gospel and Acts. Various interpretive methods, some classical and others more modern, will be employed. 
Three major points that will be addressed are the Pentecost, the first apostolic evangelizations and the Missionary letters of St. Paul.

BI 944 Book of Revelation
Love of the Word of God involves becoming ever more deeply informed about its origin, meaning, and application.  This course is designed to give the participant an appreciation of the Book of Revelation by a careful study of the text as Sacred Scripture and how we approach its use as preachers and as a Church.
A study of Revelation will require careful thought about the pastoral problems caused by popular fundamentalist interpretations.  In addition, the participant will learn how it has influenced Christian thinking about worship, justice, witness, and the linkages that must exist among them.
The course will cover the entire Book of Revelation and draw upon the disciplines of pastoral theology, moral theology and church literature.  Students will be expected to participate in small-group discussions with collaborative effort among the group. 

Distance Learning Program for the Diaconate
The Pontifical College Josephinum
7625 North High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43235
1-877-9DEACON (toll free)
1-877-933-2266
deacons@pcj.edu