Holy Cross Province and St. Paul of the Cross Province are delighted to share with you this third year of our e-Learning program. This complimentary Passionist Family Formation e-Learning helps to deepen our understanding and appreciation of our Christian faith and our Passionist charism as we focus on themes of theology, ethics, scripture, prayer and worship.
This portal provides you with an access page for each presentation. Under each presenter's photo, click on the red link which says, "For session specifics click here." You will then access the page for the specific presentation. Also, the Zoom Link for this session will be listed on this page. Additionally, each instructor is different. Some give preparation materials for you to read before the their presentation begins. Others may have reflection questions for you to think about after the presentation ends. Lastly, a recording of the presentation will be posted on their respective pages within a few days.
Session 1 - September 12, 2024
Mental Health and a Christian Response
Jessica Coblentz, Ph.D.
Jessica Coblentz is an associate professor in the Department of Religious Studies and Theology at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, where her research and teaching focuses on Catholic systematic theology, feminist theologies, and mental health in theological perspective. She received her PhD from Boston College, her MTS from Harvard Divinity School and her BA from Santa Clara University. Her most recent book, Dust in the Blood: A Theology of Life with Depression (Liturgical Press, January 2022), Jessica considers the harrowing realities of life with depression from a Christian theological perspective. In conversation with popular Christian theologies of depression that justify why this suffering exists and prescribe how people ought to relate to it.
Click here for reflection questions and link to video replay.
Session 2 - October 10, 2024
Navigating Catholic Engagement with U.S. Politics
Steven Millies, PhD
Steven Millies is Professor of Public Theology and Director of The Bernardin Center at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. He earned his BA from Loyola University Chicago and his MA and PhD, from The Catholic University of America. His scholarship explores the Catholic church’s relationship to politics in a perspective that embraces history, theology, law, ethics, sociology, philosophy, and political theory. He was associate professor of political science at the University of South Carolina Aiken. He is author of Joseph Bernardin: Seeking Common Ground (Liturgical Press, 2016) and Good Intentions: A History of Catholic Voters' Road from Roe to Trump (Liturgical Press, 2018). His new book is A Consistent Ethic of Life; Navigating Catholic Engagement with U.S. Politics. He lives in Chicago, Illinois.
Click here for reflection questions and link to video replay.
Session 3 - November 14, 2024
Come, Let Us Consider God and the Earth
Elizabeth A. Johnson, CSJ, PhD
Elizabeth Johnson is Distinguished Professor Emerita of Theology at Fordham University in New York City. A past president of the Catholic Theological Society of America, an award-winning author, and recipient of fifteen honorary doctoral degrees in theology, divinity, and humane letters, she loves to teach and has lectured widely to church and academic groups both at home and abroad. Elizabeth is a Sister of Saint Joseph of Brentwood, NY. She will draw from her newest book, “Come, Have Breakfast: Meditations on God and the Earth” (Orbis, 2024), to explore how loving Jesus draws us into loving the Earth and all our neighbors in the community of life.
Click here for reflection questions and link to video replay.
Session 4 - January 9, 2025
Synod Update: Synodality Is Still a Journey
Julia S. McStravog, ThD
Julia S. McStravog is the Senior Advisor for the Synod at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). She worked on key initiatives for the bishops, including assisting the Vatican Accredited Media Personnel for Pope Francis’s apostolic visit to the United States. She has a ThD in Catholic Studies with a focus on Dialogue from La Salle University, a MA in Interreligious Dialogue from Catholic Theological Union at Chicago, and a BA in Theology from Marymount University. She is a member of the National Council of Synagogues-USCCB Jewish-Catholic Dialogue. She previously worked in Programs on Ethics, Religion, and the Holocaust at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs at USCCB.
Session 5- February 13, 2025
The Word of the Lord Came to Me
Dianne Bergant, CSA, PhD
Dianne Bergant is a Sister of St. Agnes of Fond du Lac, WI, who served on the faculty at CTU from 1978 to 2023. She is Distinguished Professor Emerita of Old Testament Studies She received her PhD from St. Louis University. She served as President of Catholic Biblical Association of America (2000-2001) and as the Rev. Robert J. Randall Distinguished Professor of Christian Culture, Providence College, Providence, RI (2009-2010). She has been awarded several honorary degrees and was editor and writer for many scripture publishers. She has taught and lectured in various places in the United States and in many countries throughout the world.
Session 6 - March 13, 2025
The Theology of Death and Eternal Life
Professor of Systematic Theology
Director of Master of Arts in Theology Program
Robin Ryan is a Passionist priest of St. Paul of the Cross Province. He was born in Richmond, Virginia, and joined the Passionist Community, professing Passionist vows in 1980. Robin was ordained in 1984. He serves as Full Professor of Systematic Theology at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and Director of the Master of Arts in Theology program. He earned a MDiv and a MA degrees at Catholic Theological Union and his PhD in Systematic Theology from The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Robin’s theological interests include the thought of Karl Rahner and Edward Schillebeeckx, the theology of redemption, the mystery of suffering, and contemporary ecclesiological themes and issues. He is the author or editor of several books, including "God and the Mystery of Human Suffering." Robin is a popular speaker at retreats, workshops and conferences throughout the country
Click here for resources used in this session and to access the video and audio replays.
This program draws on Provinces’collaboration with Catholic Theological Union (CTU) in Chicago. Passionist seminarians have attended CTU since its beginning in 1968 and many Passionists have enjoyed sabbaticals there. Holy Cross Province has sponsored laity for a week at CTU for its Summer Institute in June and sponsored individuals who desire to pursue a CTU pastoral degree (Master of Arts in Ministry) for ministry in the Province. We look forward to these programs continuing, complemented by our new series of educational and formational opportunities.