Sunday School

Weekly sessions offer Holy Cross students opportunity to learn more about Catholicism

Holy Cross students’ ongoing desire to gain a better understanding of their faith has led the Chaplains’ Office over the years to offer students numerous opportunities to explore religious beliefs in greater depth.

In a new series, titled “Catholicism 101,” Holy Cross professors and chaplains are speaking on a variety of topics on several Sundays from 8:15 to 9 p.m. in the McCooey Chapel this semester.

The benefits are two-fold, according to Rev. William R. Campbell, S.J., assistant chaplain.

“There is the presentation and exchange of relevant information that deepens the faith awareness of the students who participate,” he says. “A second, but no less important, goal is the sense of community that develops among the participants. We hope they learn more about their faith and experience fellowship at the same time.”
 
This education series complements the other programs sponsored by the Chaplains’ Office, both spiritual (Spiritual Exercises, Manresa and Escape retreats, Christian Life Communities, and others) and service-oriented (Student Programs for Urban Development).

The first two events in the series were met with success. On Feb. 10, the first Sunday of Lent, Joanne Pierce, associate professor of religious studies, gave a talk on Lenten practices. On Feb. 17, Marybeth Kearns-Barrett, associate chaplain and director of service and social justice, addressed feminist theology and spirituality.

The next talk on Feb. 24, by Rev. James Hayes, S.J., rector of the Jesuit community and associate chaplain, will focus on Jesuits and their governance, which is meant to draw attention to the 35th General Congregation of the Society of Jesus, currently occurring in Rome. On April 13, Rev. Thomas Worcester, S.J., associate professor of history, will give a talk titled “A History of the Papacy” which will precede Pope Benedict’s April 15-20 visit to the United States. The talk on the “Environment and Spirituality” to be delivered by Alice Laffey, associate professor of religious studies, on April 20 falls on the same week as Earth Day.

The complete schedule follows:

Feb. 24
GC 35: Jesuits and their Governance
Fr. James Hayes, S.J., Rector of the Jesuit Community and associate chaplain

April 6
Humanae Vitae – 40 Years Later
Mary Roche, assistant professor of religious studies

April 13
A History of the Papacy
Rev. Thomas Worcester, S.J., associate professor of history

April 20
Environment and Spirituality
Alice Laffey, associate professor of religious studies

April 27
Liturgy and Worship
Paul Covino, associate chaplain and director of liturgy

Related Information:

• Chaplains’ Office