Grace and Commitment: The Laity

Fee: $30
Three Weeks

Check the course schedule for future offerings of this course.

This course provides guided discussion on the laity’s roles in the mission of the Church.  Discussion is based on the Fall 2010 issue of C21 Resources, a publication of Boston College’s Church in the 21st Century Center.  This issue, “The Vocations of the Laity,” edited by Dr. Edward P. Hahnenberg, contains fourteen short, informative articles and excerpts from relevant Church documents.  Join the conversation about how family life, participation in the faith community, activities in the public square and the workplace, and leadership in Catholic institutions such as hospitals and schools are all locations for the vocations of the laity in today’s Church. 

Topics 

Week 1: Vocation in the Family, the Community, College Life, and the Public Sphere
Week 2: Ministry, Pastoral Co-Responsibility, and Lay Leadership of Catholic Institutions

Special Features

This course includes:

• Reading 32 pages of material; 12 different authors; 2 Church document excerpts;
• Weekly questions for reflection and discussion;
• A weekly introduction and study guide; and
• A regularly updated Resources page to use for further study.

All Crossroads courses include these features:

• Participants have access 24 hours/7 days a week to the course's password-protected web site. 
• Each participant belongs to a small Community for Conversation and faith sharing guided by a facilitator.
• The course site is usually available to participants at least three months after the course.
• An orientation in how to navigate the web site is always available.
• Technical assistance is easy to contact and prompt in returning a message.
• A Certificate of Active Participation is awarded to those who post at least three messages of substance for each week of content.

Additional Materials Needed

Everything you need for this course is provided on the course web site.  View this issue of C21 Resources, "The Vocations of the Laity."  If you prefer a hard copy of the issue, email The Church in the 21st Century Center at church21@bc.edu.

Time Commitment

A participant can expect to spend an average of approximately 4 hours each week.  This commitment includes both the assigned reading and interaction online.

Certificate Requirement Categories

• Themes of Our Christian Tradition

Content Scholar:

The articles were written by various scholars, under the editorship of Dr. Edward P. Hahnenberg, associate professor of theology, Xavier University.