As registration for the spring semester approaches, the Newman Center is pleased to announce that we will again host a theology course for credit, entitled “Called to Communion.” The course is offered through the National Institute of Newman Studies, located here in Oakland, in affiliation with Duquesne University, and is taught by Mr. Damon McGraw, MAR (Yale), who is presently the Executive Research Fellow of the Newman Institute, and a doctoral candidate in theology at the University of Notre Dame. With the information provided here, anyone registered at universities in Pittsburgh (Pitt, CMU, Chatham, et al.) may register for this course with the assistance of her academic adviser. Some details of the course follow:

Course Details:

• Host School: Duquesne University
• Offering Department: NINSDU
• Course Title: Created for Communion
• Course Number: CLPR 281
• Meeting Days: Tuesday and Thursday
• Time: 3:30-4:45 PM  Jan. 5-April 19
• Location: The Ryan Catholic Newman Center
• at 4450 Bayard St. Lower Level

Some Course Topics

• The Human Quest for God
• Divine Revelation
• The Mystery of the Trinity
• Human Being and the Fall
• Jesus and the Messianic Hope of Israel
• Jesus and the Kingdom of God
• The Crucified Messiah
• The Coming of the Holy Spirit
• Images and Marks of the Church
• The Communion of Saints
• Forgiveness and Resurrection
• Everlasting Life

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to introduce the basic doctrines of faith professed in the Roman Catholic Christian tradition. Students will become familiar with the contemporary exposition of these teachings in the official catechism. They will also delve into primary and secondary sources of Catholic theology including Sacred Scripture, the writings of church fathers, teachers, and popes, as well as constitutions of the Second Vatican Council. The course attempts to display the beauty and coherence of Catholic teaching by presenting its various topics as elements of a metanarrative, an all-encompassing, revealed story of God, the world, and human beings from beginning to end, which provides the “master script” for how Catholics live and think. The central theme is that human beings are created for communion with God, each other, and all of creation. This course takes the shape of a seminar, and thus students are required to come to each class session prepared to contribute their thoughts and questions on the assigned readings. Studying Catholic theology today is like learning a foreign language; one becomes fluent through practicing conversation. The goal of the course is for students to become engaged participants in the Catholic theological tradition: able to interpret and articulate the Christian metanarrative for themselves.

Course Texts

Holy Bible
Readings from Scripture are assigned in every class session.

Catechism of the Catholic Church
Readings from the Catechism are assigned for every session.

Readings Packet
Selections from important Catholic writings are gathered into a packet. A reading from it is assigned in every session.

The Power and the Glory
We read and discuss this acclaimed Graham Greene novel in the  second half of the semester.

From the Prof

Dear Student,

Created for Communion: An Introduction to Catholic Theology is a three credit university course for undergraduates. It does not presume any previous academic study of theology. The course is intended to provide Oakland-area college students with an opportunity to learn Catholic Theology for academic credit. I encourage any student who is interested in Catholic Theology to register for this course. Previous students have found it to be enjoyable, enlightening, and challenging. The course is a seminar, so it is essential that all students come prepared to share their thoughts on the reading assignments for each class session. Our efforts to understand the mysteries of faith will be made in conversation with each other.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me either by email or by phone at (412) 681-4375 x14.

Sincerely,

Professor Damon McGraw
Executive Research Fellow
National Institute for Newman Studies
in affiliation with Duquesne University

The goal of the course will be to introduce students to a scholarly consideration of the Christian Faith.  The course will discuss the historical developments and impact of the Faith, while discovering by reason and revelation how we come to know the true power and will of God.  Attention will also be given to the Christian understanding of the human person, his nature and destiny.

This course is offered through Duquesne University so the proper cross-registration paperwork will need to be filled out; talk to your academic adviser if you’re interested. The primary text for this course will be the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the documents of the Second Vatican Council.   Contact Fr. Mike (412)681-3181 or Prof. Damon McGraw (412)681-4375, with any questions.  Pamphlets on the class are available at the Newman Center or below as a downloadable PDF and contain further information about it.

Origins of Cath Faith, brochure