Current Crossroads Courses
Categories
Saint Mary Magdalene
07-30-2025
Fee: $30 | Four Weeks
Who was Saint Mary Magdalene? What does scripture tell us about her ministry? What impact does her saintly life have on us today? This course explores the imagery of Saint Mary Magdalene, both positive and negative, that have shaped our view of the Apostle to the Apostles.
ENROLL NOW
This course also explores the impact of her life on the ministry of women in the church. To complement the informative text and videos, a scripture study text is included to provide an optional prayer experience of St. Mary of Magdala as portrayed in the Gospels
This course has an optional text: Dinah Chapman Simmons. Mary Magdalene: Apostle to the Apostles. Little Rock Scripture Study, 2018.
(Little Rock) (Amazon)
Content Scholars:
- Madeleine Boucher, Ph.D. (text) is a former professor of New Testament and director of the Women's Studies Program, Fordham University
- Barbara Reid, O.P., (video) is Carroll Stuhlmueller, CP, Distinguished Professor of New Testament Studies and President of Catholic Theological Union at Chicago.
- Christine Axen, Ph.D., (video) is a medieval scholar and professor at Fordham University and Manhattan College.
- Mary Catherine Hilkert, O.P., (video) is professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame.
- Sandra Schneiders, I.H.M., (video) is professor emerita of the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley.
- Nontando Hadebe, Ph.D., (video) is a theologian and senior lecturer at St. Augustine College in South Africa.
- Dinah Chapman Simmons (optional prayer text) is director of Sacramental Preparation and Liturgy at Saint Benedict Parish in Halifax. She also serves in parish ministry in the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth.
Image Credit: Original photo by Fr. Ted Bobosh (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Show More
A Church of and for the Poor
07-30-2025
Fee: $30 | Three Weeks
“The poor you will always have with you” (Matt 26:11)
Jesus’s words are as true as ever with today’s volatile economies and extreme financial inequality.
ENROLL NOW
In pursuit of a 21st Century Christian discipleship, join a guided conversation focused on the many faces of poverty. Explore the biblical and theological roots of the Church’s continuing commitment to the poor, evaluate several proposals about ways to respond to poverty, and converse with others about what it means to be a Church of and for the poor. This course uses the issue of C21 Resources The Poor: What Did Jesus Preach? What Does the Church Teach? edited by Rev. Kenneth R. Himes, O.F.M.
Topics
- Week 1: Course Introduction
- Week 2: The Many Faces of Poverty
- Week 3: How We Respond in the Face of Poverty
Additional Materials Needed
All materials are included in the course. View this issue of C21 Resources, "For the Poor: What Did Jesus Preach? What Does the Church Teach?" If you prefer to have a hardcopy of C21 Resources, request one from The Church in the 21st Century Center at church21@bc.edu.
Content Scholar: This issue of C21 Resources was edited by Rev. Kenneth Himes, O.F.M., professor of theology at the Boston College Theology Department.
Image: Lazarus and the Rich Man by Nigel Lawrence, used with permission.
Show More
Teaching Religion to Children: Creative Strategies and Best Practices
07-16-2025
Fee: $60
Explore teaching as a vocation, the various types of learners, different approaches to presenting content, and ways to create sacred space and pray with students in the classroom.
ENROLL NOW
Sharing the treasure of Christian faith with the next generation can be a real challenge. It’s not enough for children to learn doctrine, but they need to find meaning in the faith for their lives.
Focused on the elementary and junior high catechist and religious educator, this course explores the fundamental questions facing educators: Who are my students? What should I teach? and How do I teach it effectively? Participants will learn about the developmental needs of their students and their diverse learning styles as well as different strategies and resources to provide a quality faith-based education. This course is not dependent on any catechetical textbook series.
Topics
- Week 1: Introduction
- Week 2: Who are my Students?
- Week 3: What Should I Teach?
- Week 4: How Do I Teach It? Part I: Strategies
- Week 5: How Do I Teach It? Part II: Holistic Student Formation
Additional Materials Needed
Joe Paprocki. The Catechist’s Toolbox: How to Thrive as a Religious Education Teacher. Loyola Press, 2007. (Loyola Press) (Amazon)
Content Scholars
- Joe Paprocki, D.Min., (text) is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press. He has over 35 years of experience in ministry and has taught at the high school, college, and general-adult levels. He is the author of numerous books and he presents to audiences across North America.
- Thomas H. Groome, Ph.D. (videos) is professor of theology and religious education, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, and former director of Boston College’s Church in the 21st Century Center.
- Melinda Brown Donovan, M.A. (video, article) served as associate director for continuing education, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, through May, 2019.
- Anne Krane, M.Ed., M.Div. (video) is a Pre-K teacher and Ministry Coordinator at St. Columbkille Partnership School. She is also the host and creator of the Breakfast with God program.
- Fr. Quang Tran, S.J. (video) is a Jesuit priest of the Central Southern Province. He is originally from New Orleans, LA. and is currently a doctoral student in counseling psychology at Boston College. He is a co-host of the Breakfast with God program.
Teaching Religion to Adolescents
07-16-2025
Fee: $60 | Five Weeks
Drawing upon theology, developmental psychology, and religious education, this course addresses the questions: Who are my students? What should I teach? and How do I teach it effectively?
ENROLL NOW
Young people today are growing up into a world making complex demands of them: in school, the marketplace, personal relationships, and in the use of technology. Join us to explore the developing capacities and needs of adolescents. Draw from Scripture and Church teaching to increase your skills as a teacher (or parent) for helping teens understand and deepen their faith, strengthening them as they rise up to respond to the world around them. This course equips catechists and religion teachers with the resources and strategies needed to teach adolescents about the Catholic faith with inspiration and confidence.
Topics
- Week 1: Introduction
- Week 2: Who Are My Students?
- Week 3: What Should I Teach?
- Week 4: How Should I Teach? - Part 1. Adolescent Appropriate Strategies
- Week 5: How Should I Teach? - Part 2. Holisitic Student Formation
Additional Materials Needed
All materials provided in the course.
Content Scholars
Jared Dees, M.Ed., M.A., (videos) is an author and the creator of the website The Religion Teacher, which provides practical resources and effective teaching strategies to religious educators; Dr. Max Engel (videos) is assistant professor of education at Creighton University; Dr. Thomas H. Groome (videos), professor of theology and religious education, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry; Dr. Patrick Manning (articles and videos) is assistant professor of pastoral theology at the Immaculate Conception Seminary and School of Theology at Seton Hall University; Dr. Theresa O’Keefe (videos) is associate professor of the practice of youth and young adult faith at Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry; Susan B. Reynolds (videos) is a Ph.D. student in Theology and Education at Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry
Show More
The Eucharist: At the Heart of Catholic Life
04-12-2025
Fee: $30 | Three Weeks
The Eucharist is like a precious jewel, and as we view it from many angles and perspectives, we deepen our appreciation of its value and beauty. the meaning of the Eucharist, the theme of real presence, Eucharist as sacrifice, and the connection between Eucharist and justice.
ENROLL NOW
This course provides guided discussion around the Fall 2011 issue of C21 Resources, a publication of Boston College’s Church in the 21st Century Center. This issue, entitled “The Eucharist: At the Center of Catholic Life,” edited by John Baldovin, S.J., contains articles by a variety of authors, excerpts from key ecclesial documents, and poems. Attention is given to parents handing on the faith in reference to Eucharist, praying the liturgy of the Eucharist, and a brief look at the current translation of the Roman Missal.
Topics
- Week 1: Introduction to the course
- Week 2: Real Presence and Sacrifice; Parents, Children, and Eucharist
- Week 3: Justice; Liturgy of the Eucharist; Adoration
Everything you need for this course is provided on the course site. View this issue of C21 Resources, "The Eucharist: At the Center of Catholic Life" (PDF). If you prefer a hard copy of C21 Resources, email The Church in the 21st Century Center at church21@bc.edu.
Content Scholars
Various scholars contributed articles, under the editorship of Rev. John F. Baldovin, S.J., professor of historical and liturgical theology at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.
Show More
The Church: People of God on a Mission
03-26-2025
Fee: $60
“Communion, Participation, and Mission,” the theme for the Synod on Synodality reflects the life and aspiration of the Catholic Church. How do we come together in Christ with our human diversity? How do we contribute through our various vocations and ministries to the shared life of faith? And how do we carry the message of the Gospel out into the world in fruitful ways?
ENROLL NOW
In this course we reflect on these issues of being church as well as the Church’s teaching role, sacramentality, differences of culture, and the tension between the Church’s transcendent nature and its engagement with the human world.
“We are convinced that the Church must look with penetrating eyes within itself, ponder the mystery of its own being, and draw enlightenment and inspiration” -Pope Paul VI Ecclesiam Suam
This course has a required text Morris Pelzel, Ecclesiology: The Church as Communion and Mission. Chicago: Loyola Press, 2002. (Loyola Press) (Amazon)
Topics:
Week 1: Introduction to the Cours
Week 2: The Gathering of Disciples
Week 3: Living Baptism in the Church Today
Week 4: Rooted in Word and Sacrament
Week 5: Forming an Evangelizing Church
Week 6: The Church’s Mission
Content Scholars:
Morris Pelzel (text) is the Director of Academic Technology and the Digital Liberal Arts Collaborative at Grinnell College. He also teaches graduate level theology courses online for Creighton University.
Richard Lennan (video) is Professor of Systematic Theology at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.
Margaret Eletta Guider, O.S.F. (video) is Associate Professor of Missiology at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.
John F. Baldovin, S.J. (video) is Professor of Liturgy at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.
Hosffman Ospino (video) is Associate Professor of Hispanic Ministry and Religious Education at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.
Ernesto (Neto) Valiente (video) is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.
Show MoreCrossroads course "Categories" are important for earning an online certificate which requires coursework from categories that align with the pilars of the Catechism. You can see the name of the categories by hovering over the letter with your mouse.
| Course | Description | Weeks | Categories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Faith Formation for a Vibrant Church | Adult faith formation plays a vital role in animating the local church. Recognize opportunities in your faith communities where faith formation can be nurtured without adding elaborate programs. | 5 | |
| At the Heart of Parenting | Reflect on the impact of parenting on your relationship with God. Topics include: a parent's spiritual gifts, companions for support in parenting, and prayer. | 5 | P |
| Autumn Blessings: Spirituality in the Second Half of Life | This course examines the spiritual tasks in the second half of adulthood. Reflect on hope, forgiveness, mercy, self-love, and the meaning of discipleship at this stage of life. | 5 | P |
| The Online Book Club: Barking to the Choir | In this book Fr. Boyle shares compelling stories of his “homies,” reflecting on the importance of acknowledging the humanity of all people, clarifying God’s vision of kinship for all of us. | 4 | M |
| The Best of James Martin, S.J. in America | Drawing on articles from America magazine, join us to discuss how Martin’s insightful reflections and commentary might shape your idea of Christian living in today’s world. | 4 | M T |
| Black Catholic Spirituality | Explore the Black Catholic experience in the U.S., from the lives of enslaved believers to the Black Lives Matter movement, and the deep faith, prayer, and community that they bring. | 4 | P T |
| The Online Book Club: Building a Bridge | Fr. Martin stepped into intense controversy with this essay calling for compassionate, open, two-way dialogue, applicable beyond the Catholic Church and its LGBTQ+ faithful. | 5 | P M T |
| Call to Conscience | This course urges that we guide decisions by the voice of conscience in our hearts and the wisdom of our faith community and traditions, by wrestling with the tensions in between. | 3 | M |
| Catholic Social Teaching: Living Faith in Our Social Context | This course draws attention to key themes of Catholic Social Teaching, e.g., human dignity, human rights, common good. It provides an opportunity to discuss issues such as a just wage and a just war. | 5 | M |
| A Catholic View of Today's Families | Reflect on pastoral challenges and opportunities in the changing realities of post-modern family life in the U.S. We enter the dialogue through the voices and experiences of real families. | 3 | M |
| Christian Faith and Moral Character | What sort of person are you trying to be? Rather than a list of commandments, this course examines a fundamental element of moral experience: the formation of a person's character. | 5 | M |
| Church: A Spirit-led Community of Hope | Do you think of the church as Spirit-led? Is the Church a vehicle or an obstacle of hope? Explore these issues and relevant developments on Vatican II teaching. | 3 | T |
| A Church of and for the Poor | Explore the biblical and theological roots of the Church’s commitment to the poor, evaluate several responses to poverty, and discuss becoming a Church of and for the poor. | 3 | M T |
| The Online Book Club: The Church of Mercy | What does it mean for the Church to be merciful? In Pope Francis’s vision for the Church, mercy actively reaches out to rescue and heal societies and systems, as well as individuals. | 5 | M T |
| The Church: People of God on a Mission | “Communion, Participation, and Mission” reflect the life and aspiration of the Catholic Church. How do we come together with our diversity in fruitful mission? | 6 | T |
| The Creed: What We Believe | More than a statement of belief, learn how the Creed is a prayer, a revelation, a way of life, and the shared identity of the Christian community. Explore who God is, and the meaning of faith. | 5 | T |
| Effective Preaching: Homily Preparation | Learn how to craft an engaging homily and integrate the preparation process into your life. | 4 | P S |
| Effective Preaching: Preaching at Weddings | Review a theology of marriage and then learn the techniques to effectively craft and deliver a meaningful wedding homily. Appropriate for lay and ordained presiders. | 3 | S |
| Effective Preaching: Preaching for Children | Join us to gain a greater appreciation for the issues that children wonder about, and their capacity for awe. Practice connecting the faith and liturgy to children’s everyday lives. | 3 | S |
| Encountering Jesus | In this course, access some of the best modern scholarship on encountering Jesus in the Scriptures. Join the conversation to learn not only who Jesus was in the 1st century, but also what he might mean in the 21st century. | 3 | B |
| The Engaged Parish | Adult faith formation plays a vital role in animating the local church. Recognize opportunities in your faith communities where faith formation can be nurtured without adding elaborate programs. | 5 | |
| The Eucharist: At the Heart of Catholic Life | The Eucharist is like a precious jewel. Join the conversation as we view it from many angles and perspectives to deepen our appreciation of its value and beauty. | 3 | S |
| Faithful Unity Amid Polarization | As we experience growing polarization, there are reasons for hope. A gospel vision of unity and contemplative awakening and practice can bring peace, understanding, and loving solidarity. | 3 | P T |
| Finding a Moral Compass | This course explores what prompts moral concern, the sacredness and dignity of being human, our social nature, the common good, and the process of discernment. | 4 | P M |
| Following the Star | In this course, take a reflective look at the experience of the Magi in traveling to see the Christ child, honoring him, and departing by a different way. | 3 | P |
| Forming Tomorrow's Disciples | Faith formation educators (K-12 to college), guide learners to make meaning and respond to God’s call by attending to the whole person: intellectual, social, ethical, and spiritual. | 6 | |
| Franciscan Spirituality | Beginning with the lives of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare of Assisi, this course explores the foundational elements of Franciscan spirituality including the centrality of Christ. | 6 | P T |
| The Gift of Prayer | Rooted in the Catholic tradition, this course explores the foundations of prayer and reflects on different ways to engage in prayer, communally and individually. | 6 | P |
| The Gospel of John | Symbolized by an eagle, John is distinctive for its lofty spiritual vision, and its spiraling presentation of the message of Jesus. Join our quest through this Gospel to discover a Word of glory. | 5 | B |
| The Gospel of Luke | Discover the person of Jesus as seen by the Evangelist Luke as the Healing and Reconciling Savior. Discuss key distinctions of Luke's Gospel, as well as spiritual practices for Scripture. | 3 | B |
| The Gospel of Mark | Discover Mark’s vision of Jesus as the mysterious “Son of Man,” misunderstood and rejected. Study this stark portrayal of the power revealed through the crucifixion. | 3 | B |
| The Gospel of Matthew | Matthew shows us a vision of Jesus as incarnate Wisdom, the living Law of God. Explore what it means to live this Law and find out how Emmanuel dwells with those who believe forever. | 3 | B |
| Grace and Commitment: The Laity | Family life, participation in the faith community, activities in the public square and the workplace are all locations for the laity’s role in the mission of the Church. | 3 | T |
| The Grace of Friendship | Explore the joys, opportunities, and responsibilities of friendship, and discover how our relationships point to our friendship with the God who loved us first. | 3 | P M T |
| The Online Book Club: Hallelujah Anyway | In this book Lamott rediscovers mercy in the everyday messiness of life and connects it to kindness and forgiveness to ourselves and others. | 5 | P |
| The Online Book Club: Hillbilly Elegy | Engaging Vance's complex portrait of the white working class who feel excluded, discuss assumptions that foster conflict and sustain oppression. | 5 | M |
| History of the Church I: The Beginnings through Medieval Period | Church history tells stories woven into the fiber of the church as people of God. Explore the people and events shaping culture and society in the church across the centuries. | 5 | T |
| History of the Church II: The Reformation to Vatican II | From the Great Papal Schism and the Reformation to Vatican Council II, explore the events, people, and themes that shaped the Church and what they say about our faith. | 5 | T |
| Ignatian Spirituality | Discover St. Ignatius of Loyola, with the spiritual practices and methods of discernment that have defined the Society of Jesus. Explore their how they can renew your life in God. | 6 | P T |
| The Online Book Club: I'm Still Here | Join us in discussing Channing Brown’s experiences as she grows to love and celebrate Blackness while navigating the many barriers in pursuit of racial justice. | 4 | M |
| Jesus Foretold and Fulfilled | Let the readings for Advent and Christmas come to life, with emphasis on promise and fulfillment between the Old and New Testaments, the Infancy Narratives, and spiritual practice. | 3 | B S |
| Job: Make it Make Sense | The Book of Job, a complex and beautifully poetic text, famously deals with the difficult question of human suffering. Offering no easy answers, it wrestles with important questions of life and faith. | 5 | B |
| John in Holy Week and Easter | The Gospel of John is used prominently throughout Holy Week and the Easter season. Fathers Harrington and Stegman artfully present on the Passion Narrative in John and on the Johannine themes throughout the Easter season. | 3 | B S |
| The Joy of the Gospel | Pope Francis calls us to be engaged in the joy of the Gospel, embracing a vision that transforms the Church into an evangelizing community, inviting the world to encounter Christ | 5 | T |
| The Online Book Club: Laudato Si' | Discuss the encyclical’s wide-ranging implications. Decide for yourself the impact it may have on the way you and your local community address the needs of the planet. | 4 | M T |
| Lent: Reflecting Together | Take an opportunity to read and reflect on the Sunday readings during the first five weeks of Lent. Join in discussing our gifts from God. | 6 | P B S |
| Liturgy Essentials | Plan inspiring liturgies in your community by understanding the Church’s vision for the liturgy, the importance of ritual and symbol, liturgical space, music, popular devotion, and specific ministries. | 5 | S |
| Living Community: Insight from L'Arche | Discover the transformative power of vulnerability, and how the diversity of human abilities can lead to a deeper encounter with one another and with God. | 6 | P T |
| Mapping Your Inner Landscape | Examine the path toward sustaining spiritual growth while embracing 21st-century life through the dynamic of change, balance and solitude, and the power of gratitude. | 5 | P |
| Mary, the Mother of Jesus | Explore three key events in the life of the Blessed Mother: the Annunciation, the Visitation, and the proclamation of her Canticle. Delve more deeply into the biblical sources and live out the Gospel message. | 3/4 | B T |
| Mission and Spirituality: A Xaverian Journey | Beginning with the life of founder Theodore James Ryken, explore the pillars of Xaverian spirituality which continue to animate the Xaverian Brothers and their partners today. | 6 | P T |
| New Testament Visions of Faith | Explore the various images of faith presented in each of the Gospels, and the letters of St. Paul including seeking right relationship, transforming our vision, and abiding in God. | 6 | B T |
| Old Testament Narrative | Would you like a better grasp on how all the pieces of the Old Testament fit together? This course maps out the main arc of the Old Testament narrative through Creation, Covenant, Prophecy, and Kingship. | 5 | B T |
| Ordinary Sacredness: Xaverian Values for Everyday Life | Explore the sacredness of the ordinary through the five core spiritual values in the Xaverian tradition: humility, simplicity, trust, compassion, and zeal, and how God forms us in everyday life. | 6 | P T |
| A People of Hope | Inspired by the Jesse Tree, this course unpacks the Advent theme of hope as lived out by our forebears in faith. | 3 | P B T |
| Paul's Letter to the Romans | St. Paul’s message to the Romans is appropriate to our times as he calls us to love and community, following the faithfulness of Jesus, empowered with hope by the Holy Spirit. | 6 | B |
| The Online Book Club: Prayer - Our Deepest Longing | Are you looking for a deeper prayer life? Guided by Fr. Rolheiser's book, examine those obstacles that impede prayer. | 5 | P |
| The Psalms: Prayers for All Times | Let the Church's songbook enrich your life. Discuss psalms of lament, hymns of praise, wisdom psalms, and Psalms in the worship setting. | 5 | P B S |
| The Online Book Club: The Rebirthing of God | John Philip Newell calls for a rebirth of Christianity in order to counter its collapse in contemporary Western cultures. | 5 | P |
| Retiring Gracefully | Explore how God is present in the sometimes perplexing and uncertain process of retirement, from anticipation to realization of life after full-time employment. | 5 | P |
| Revitalize the Church | It is a challenging time in the Church, with a range of scandals contributing to a breakdown in trust. Engage with an alternative perspective to discuss the potential for renewal and revitalization. | 3 | T |
| A Sacramental People | Understand how the Sacraments transform the believing community into the Body of Christ, both by displaying the grace of God to us, and revealing Christ through us. | 3 | S |
| Sacraments: The Fabric of Catholic Life | Sacramentality is the evidence of God’s presence in the world. Investigate how the sacraments of initiation, healing, and communion help us to recognize this presence throughout our lives. | 5 | S |
| Saint Mary Magdalene | Explore the imagery of Saint Mary Magdalene, her role as Apostle to the Apostles and the impact of her life on the ministry of women in the Church. | 4 | B T |
| Spiritual Practices | Examine Catholic spiritual practices, ranging from traditional practices such as the Rosary and lectio divina, to centering prayer, praying with images, and hospitality. | 3 | P T |
| Spirituality Matters | What is spirituality? What is at the heart of prayer? What does community have to do with spirituality? Examine these questions and unpack the nature of spirituality. | 5 | P T |
| Teaching Religion to Adolescents: Creative Strategies and Best Practices | Drawing upon theology, developmental psychology, and religious education, this course addresses the questions: Who are my students? What should I teach? and How do I teach it effectively? | 5 | |
| Teaching Religion to Children: Creative Strategies and Best Practices | Explore teaching as a vocation, the various types of learners, different approaches to presenting content, and ways to create sacred space and pray with students in the classroom. | 5 | |
| Unsung Scriptures | Explore New Testament texts that are often less “trodden” in preaching, scripture studies, and reflections: Hebrews, the catholic letters, and Revelation. | 6 | B |
| Voices of Hispanic American Catholicism | How can we welcome the “breath of fresh air” blowing from Hispanic Catholic cultures in the U.S.? Hispanic Catholicism is truly a treasure that enriches the Church, gifts both old and new. | 3 | T |
| Xaverian Spirituality | Beginning with the life of founder Theodore James Ryken, explore the pillars of Xaverian spirituality which continue to animate the Xaverian Brothers and their partners today. | 4 | P T |