Professional Learning Opportunity

THCT608 Theology of Marriage and Holy Orders.
August 3 and 4, 17 and 18, 9am – 5pm delivered live online via Zoom

Marriage and Holy Orders are the Catholic Church’s sacraments at the service of communion. After receiving the sacraments of initiation, those consecrated for ecclesial leadership and those consecrated for the duties and dignities of being a Christian spouse enter into a special relationship with the Church through the sacraments of service. 

Download the flyer here

This unit studies the theology of Marriage and Holy Orders by considering their biblical and theological foundations, historical development, ritual enactment, and contemporary issues in dialogue with pertinent ecclesial documents.  The Catholic sacrament of Marriage is studied as a lifelong partnership between a baptised man and woman – a contract, covenant and sacrament. The distinctive nature of sacramental marriage is addressed within our contemporary sociological context, and questions of divorce, remarriage and communion will be explored.  In considering Holy Orders, the unit will analyse: Vatican II’s teaching on the priesthood of the faithful and its relationship to the ministerial priesthood; the three degrees of Holy Orders; the restoration of the permanent diaconate; and the Church’s teaching on the Catholic priesthood, celibacy and gender.  

Teachers, clergy, seminarians, liturgists, pastoral associates, parishioners and all who have an interest in Catholic sacraments are welcome to register for this professional learning seminar (not for academic credit with no assessments) which is also being offered as a postgraduate unit (for academic credit or audit). This rich live-online learning opportunity will provide you with access to your choice of 12 learning hours drawn from the sessions presented by Professor Johnson and guests. 

The cost of the Professional Learning Seminar (12 contact hours over 8 sessions in total) is $600 per person.

Those registering as professional learners will choose 8 out of 16 unit-sessions on offer, with no assessment obligations. If you wish to attend more than 8 sessions, a fee of $75 applies for each additional session. (You may wish to seek sponsorship from your parish or school to share the cost.)

Professor Clare Johnson will be leading this unit, with the assistance of special guest lecturers Dr Daniel McGrath and Very Rev Peter Williams, AM.

Download the Session descriptions here

Closing date for professional learning registrations is July 26 2024.

Register here as Professional Learner

The ACU Centre for Liturgy can provide a certificate of attendance for teachers participating in this seminar as part of their ongoing professional learning requirements. 

THCT 608 is also being offered as a postgraduate unit, for academic credit or audit. (N.B. The closing date for enrolment as a postgraduate student or auditor is July 21, 2024)

For more information about enrolling as a student download the flyer here.

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