MAT Course Descriptions

In this course you will learn the bases for understanding the sacraments, the origin of the sacraments, as well as how the Sacraments are important ways Christ has entrusted to the Church to participate in the mysteries of his life. You will see how each of the seven sacraments are instituted by Christ and have corresponding words and actions that help us live out the mission of the God's spiritual family.  The sacraments are sources of grace in our lives, but God's grace is never forced upon us; it is, rather, proposed and invited. Therefore, you are invited to participate in this course as a way of nourishing not only your mind, but also your soul.

This course serves the purpose of giving the participant an overview of the plot and plan of the entire Bible by investigating introductory methods of biblical interpretation.  These methods of biblical interpretation will allow the participant to identify the main plot of the Bible’s narrative story, the covenants of Salvation History, by identifying the key people, places, and events of the Old and New Testaments.  Additionally, this course serves the purpose of illuminating to the participant that Christ is truly the fulfillment and embodiment of all of the promises and prefigurements of the Old Testament.  As proclaimed by St. Jerome, “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.”

This course will explain what a creed is, its role in the Catholic Church and how it reflects Scripture and the Catechism. It also highlights our belief in a Trinitarian God by exploring in greater depth God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

This course introduces students to a deeper understanding of the Liturgy as “the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed” (SC 10).  Students will discover the richness of the Church’s Liturgical tradition, and study the role of the Trinity in our sanctification through the Liturgy. The course provides students will tools for greater participation and prayer within the celebration of the Liturgy and in this way, can be a means to a renewed relationship with God, who is the source and goal of all Liturgies in the Church.

This course expands the ability to articulate a Catholic approach to moral decision making according to the Church’s teaching. Participants will be formed on how to identify the criteria for determining whether a given action is moral or immoral, understand the relationship between personal moral decision making and the teaching authority of the Church, the process of moral development and how to make a moral decision covering a variety of current issues.

This course is designed to introduce participants to the theological principles of Christian holiness in order to better understand the general directives by which souls can be guided in their journey to the goal of the Christian life. Along the way, the participants will encounter an authentic spirituality centered in Jesus Christ and through him the Trinity as the vital principle of the spiritual life comes to us only through the mediation of Jesus Christ.

In this course, we will not only define prayer, but look at the richness of prayer through the history and lens of the Catholic Church and some of its saintly members.

This course introduces participants to the Catholic Catechism of the Catholic Church and explains its importance, how it's related to the Deposit of Faith, how to enter into its great depths and use it as an effective tool to deepen one's own faith life as well as the faith lives of those we teach. It explains how the Catechism is centered on God and how it pulls from Sacred Scriptures to support its teachings. The purpose of this course is to form participants as catechists, that is, as those who are able to pass on the Catholic faith to others through teaching it.

This course is meant to assist in the formation of Catholic identity specifically in the Catholic School environment.  It will go over the five marks of Catholic Schools and explore Church documents related to Catholic Schools and the nature and mission of Catholic education. It will also address contemporary challenges and some of the Church’s responses to those challenges.

Pauline theology, Romans, authentic Pauline Books are illuminated in this course which focuses on the deep theological writings of St. Paul. Emphasis is placed on the power of conversion, the outreach to the Gentiles and the strength to overcome adversity in the face of persecution. Participants will have the opportunity to understand how the teachings of St. Paul are still very important for those who follow Jesus today.

The first five books of the Bible lay out the foundation of God’s plan for salvation for all. The stories and directives within the Books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy reveal the love of God for His Chosen people and how this plan provides for a pathway to eternity.

This course introduces participants to the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament within the context of a Catholic interpretation of the Sacred Scriptures as outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. To this effect, students will learn the historical setting of the Wisdom Literature, the importance of literary genre, the messages relayed and the use of the “Four Senses”, all while reading in the light of the New Testament revelation of God in Jesus Christ and within the living Tradition of the whole Church. The course is strongly Biblical based, providing students the opportunity to read and study the Wisdom Literature with greater depth and also providing tools for any further Scripture study and for prayer.

Let's explore together the Gospel of John, John's epistles, and the Apocalypse According to St. John, i.e. the Book of Revelation. In the 4th century AD, Saint Gregory said of John's writings that they were "like a little pool in which babies can wade safely, and yet it's a river that can swallow and drown elephants." We could spend our entire lives plumbing the depths of these books of the Bible, but let's just wade in a bit for now.

This course explores a connection between Luke’s Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. It goes into the authorship of these books, dating of the works, structure, themes, and sources. It will explore who Luke was, why he was writing and who he was writing for. It will then take an in-depth look at particular passages in each book and explore what makes Luke's books unique within the larger body of Scripture.

This study course introduces participants to the prophets of the Old Testament within the context of a Catholic interpretation of the Sacred Scriptures as outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  To this effect, students will learn the historical setting of the prophets' messages, the importance of literary genre, and the use of the "Four Senses", all while reading in the light of the New Testament revelation of God in Jesus Christ and within the living Tradition of the whole Church.  The course is strongly Biblical based, providing students the opportunity to read and study the Prophets with greater depth and also providing tools for any further Scripture study and prayer.

This course seeks to demonstrate a connection of the process of conversion with the meaning of the Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism, Confirmation, & Eucharist. It will also explore the evolution of the Sacraments of Initiation throughout the history of the church. Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to recognize that a conscious commitment is essential to grow in faith and a deeper understanding of the meaning of sacrament in one’s life. They will also be able to demonstrate an understanding of concepts underlying the Catholic sacramental vision: sacramental awareness, grace, ritual and symbol, and prayer.

This course is two-fold, initially focusing on the Sacraments of Healing, comprised of Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick. It will explore the gift of Holy Orders and Marriage, as the Sacraments of Service. Combined, these sacraments will strengthen the participant’s understanding of the power of Jesus’ healing, both spiritual and physical, as well as an appreciation of the role of priest, deacons and couples in serving God’s people through their particular role.

This course is designed to teach students the Scriptural basis for the major Marian doctrines of the Catholic Church. These doctrines include the Immaculate Conception, Perpetual Virginity, and Assumption into Heaven, as well as the Blessed Mother's intercessory power. This course emphasizes the Blessed Mother's role in salvation history as the New Eve, the Ark of the New Covenant, and the New Davidic Queen, as described by Old Testament typology and the Gospel accounts of the Blessed Mother.