Thomas Groome

EDUCATION
Fordham University, M.A; Union Theological Seminary-Columbia University, Ed.D.

BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY
Thomas Groome serves as Director of the Institute of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry. He is Professor of Theology and Religious Education, and was born in County Kildare, Ireland. Prof. Groome holds the equivalent of a master's degree in divinity from St. Patrick's Seminary in Carlow, Ireland, and holds master's and doctoral degrees in religious education from Fordham University and Union Theological Seminary/Columbia University, respectively. His primary area of interest and research is the history, theory and practice of religious education. His most recent book, Educating for Life, A Spiritual Vision for Every Teacher and Parent", published by Thomas More is a book that reflects the way he teaches - full of stories, examples, and good questions. Professor Groome is also the author of: Christian Religious Education: Sharing Our Story and Vision; in 1991, he published Language for a "Catholic" Church, a pastoral manual on inclusive language; and Sharing Faith: A Comprehensive Approach to Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry, which received first place in the Catholic Press Association Awards for 1992. Professor Groome is also the primary author of various religion textbook series from W.H. Sadlier, most recently the Coming to Faith series.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

TEACHING
Catholic Identity
Praxis of Religious Education
Sharing, Faith and Religious Education
Education of Christians: Past, Present and Future
Seminar in Pastoral Theology

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES AND AWARDS

PUBLICATIONS SINCE 2002
“Total Catechetical Education,” in Concilium, Fall 2002

“Spiritual Wisdom: The Horizon of Theological Education,” in Theological Literacy, Rodney Petersen and Don Dietrich, eds, Eerdmans: Grand Rapids, 2002

“Building on a Rock: A Spiritual Foundation for Catholic Education,” in Joseph O’Keefe SJ, (ed., Catholic Teacher Recruitment and Formation. Washington, DC: NCEA, 2002

“Modeling a Catechetical-Liturgical Alliance,” in Liturgical Catechesis, Vol 5, No 3, June, 4 – 7 

“Religious Education and Catechesis: Let's Stay Together,” in The Furrow, Vol 53, No 11, Nov. p 587-593. 

“More than Semantics,” in The Furrow, Vol 53, No 12 December 

“American Catholic Schools and the Common Good,” in Momentum, Vol 34, No 2, April/May 2003, pp. 26-29. 

“Remembering and Imagining: The Tree in the Seed,” in Religious Education, REA Centennial Edition, Vol 98, No 4, Fall, pages 511-520. 

“Total Catechesis/Religious Education: A Vision for Now and Always” in Thomas Groome and Harold Horell, eds.,  Horizons and Hopes. (pp. 1-29) New York: Paulist Press. 

“Forging the Smithy of the Teacher's Soul: The Hope for Irish Education, in Ned Prendergast, and Luke Monahan, eds., Reclaiming the Catholic School. (p. 35-45). Dublin: Veritas, 2003. 

“For and From Faith for the Common Good: The Charism of Catholic Education,”in John Augenstein, et al. eds., One Hundred Years of Catholic Education: Historical Essays for Centennial of NCEA (pp. 179-198). Washington, DC: NCEA, 2003 

“Children and Parents: Two-way Partners in Faith Development,” in Richard Osmer and Friedrich Schweitzer, eds., Developing a Public Faith: New Directions in Practical Theology (p 203-212). St. Louis: Chalice Press, 2003. 

“Catholic Identity in the Public Forum: The Challenge for Religious Educators,” in Faithful Past: Faith-Filled Future, Washington, DC: NCEA, 2003. 

“Conversion or Nurture: When We Thought the Debate Was Over,” in Herbert Anderson, et al, eds., Mutuality Matters: Family, Faith and Just Love (pp. 211-224). Lanham, MD: Sheed and Ward, 2003. 

“May You Be So Blessed,” Foreword to Joe McCarthy, God’s Law of Love. Allen, TX: Thomas More Press, 2003 

“Who Was That Tall Dark Stranger? A Memory of Vatican II,” in W. Madges, and M. J. Daley eds. Vatican II: Forty Personal Stories (pp. 217-220). Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 2003 

“Foreword to Bernard Lee and Michael Cowan, Gathered and Sent (pp. 1-4). New York: Paulist Press, 2004

“Educating For Spiritual Wisdom,”preface to Irish National Secondary School Religion Curriculum. Department of Education: Dublin, 2004

“American Catholic Resilience: Testimonial to Hope,” in Catechetical Leader, March/April, p. 5 and pp. 16-17

“Toward Total Catechetical Education,” in C21 Resources: A Service of Boston College, Winter, 2004 pp. 3-5

Preface to Carl Koch, et al, eds., John Baptist de La Salle:  the spirituality of Christian education. Mahway, N.J.: Paulist Press, 2004 

“Nine Things That Make us Catholic,” Catholic Update, September 2004. Cincinnati, OH: St. Anthony's Messenger Press. 

“Religious Education and Spiritual Formation,” in Structures for Lay Leadership. Washington, DC: FADICA, 2004 

“Good Governance, the Domestic Church, and Religious Education,” in Stephen Pope, ed., Common Calling: The Laity and Governance of the Catholic Church (pp. 195-208). Washington: Georgetown Press, 2004.

“We Believe in the Resurrection,”Catholic Update, Cincinnati, OH: St. Anthony's Messenger Press, March 2005 

“How the Rosary Teaches us to Pray,”  Catholic Digest, October, 2005, 28-34

“Shared Praxis – A Way Towards Educating for Spiritual Wisdom” in Guidelines for Teachers, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment: Dublin, Ireland, 2006, 110-112.

“Catholic Identity and Education in Postmodern Times,” in Le Cheile, No 5, May 2006, 4-6.

“Why We Need the Church,” in Every Day Catholic, St. Anthony’s Messenger Press, April 2006

“Who Then Can Be Saved,” in Every Day Catholic, St. Anthony’s Messenger Press, September, 2006

“The Sacraments – and More” in Every Day Catholic, St. Anthony’s Messenger Press, June 2006

“Le Catechese Fidele Dans un Monde de Dissidents” in Lumen Vitae, Vol 61, March 2006,  101-117

“The Church is Catechetical,” in The Many Marks of the Church, William Madges and Michael J Daly, editors, New London: 23^rd Publications, 2006, pages 79-84

“Total Community Catechesis,” in The Pastoral Review, March/April 2006, 17-23

“Bringing Life to Faith and Faith to Life” in Compass, vol 40, Spring 2006, 17-24

“For a Shared Christian Praxis Approach and Against a Detractor,” in Intercom, Vol 36, No 8, Oct 2006

“Catholic Identity,” in Today’s Parish Minister, Sept 2006, Part 1

“Catholic Identity, in Today’s Parish Minister, Oct. 2006, Part II

“For the Repair of the World,” in The Furrow, Vol 57, No. 10, Oct 2006