Sacraments and Liturgy

Liturgy Essentials

Fee: $60 | Five Weeks
Prepare for effective liturgy planning in your faith community. Focused on the basics of Catholic liturgy, this course examines how the Constitution on Sacred Liturgy provides the vision for the liturgical life of the Church.

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Topics include the importance of ritual and symbol, liturgical ministry, the importance of proper liturgical space, and the way in which music and popular devotion enhance and expand the experience of meaningful worship.

Topics

Week 1: Course Introduction
Week 2: The Principles of Catholic Liturgy
Week 3: The Four Parts of the Mass
Week 4: Liturgical Ministry, Time, and Space
Week 5: Music and Devotions

Digital text available in the course: James A. Mongelluzzo, Understanding the Liturgy: A Guide to How Catholics Worship. Twenty-Third Publications, 2018.

Content Scholars:

Rev. Msgr. James A. Mongelluzzo, S.T.D. is a priest of the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts, and serves on the faculty at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary.

Jacqueline Regan serves as Associate Dean of Students Affairs and Career Services, Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry.

The Eucharist: At the Heart of Catholic Life

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.

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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.

John in Holy Week and Easter

Fee: $30 | Three Weeks
In this course, participants explore the Gospel of John in Holy Week and themes throughout the Easter season with videos from Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., and Thomas D. Stegman, S.J.

AVAILABLE COURSES

The Gospel of John is used prominently throughout Holy Week and the Easter season in the liturgy. Explore with us what makes John's Gospel unique, the challenge of accepting Salvation, and the story of the final "hour" of Jesus's life. Fathers Harrington and Stegman artfully present on the Passion Narrative in John, through the Resurrection to a discussion on what it means for Christian disciples to carry out the mission of Jesus according to John's farewell discourses. This STM Online: Crossroads course is based on a campus workshop presented in Spring 2011.

Topics

Week 1: Introduction to the Course
Week 2: The Gospel of John is Different
Week 3: John's Passion Narrative

Additional Materials Needed:

All materials provided. Note: this course is based exclusively on video content. Transcripts of the videos are provided.

Although there is a Bible available online, you may wish to have a Bible available in hard copy also. For online Bibles, we recommend:

Content Scholars:

Rev. Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., and Rev. Thomas D. Stegman, S.J.

The Psalms: Prayers for All Times

Fee: $60 | Five Weeks
The Psalms are a collection of ancient songs so deeply expressive of the experience of God that they have been used continually for thousands of years. Join us to learn more about how these scriptures connect to the interior lives of individuals and bind communities in worship.

AVAILABLE COURSES

Explore the structures, genres, and theologies of the Psalms to gain a greater appreciation for them in your own prayer life, and their role in the Church's liturgy.

This course provides an overview of the Psalms guided by Margaret Nutting Ralph's book The Spirituality of the Psalms. Participants will have the opportunity to explore lament psalms, hymns of praise, and wisdom psalms. Special attention is given to Psalms in a worship setting. To help us engage with the Scriptural texts, there will be a guest commentator each week who will provide a video reflection.

Topics

Week 1: Introduction
Week 2: Psalms of Lament
- Guest respondent: the late Fr. Daniel J. Harrington, S.J.
Week 3: Hymns of Praise and Thanskgiving
Week 4: Wisdom Psalms and Entrance Rites
- Guest respondent: Rev. Msgr. James A. Mongelluzzo
Week 5: Psalms in their Worship Setting
- Guest respondent: Rev. Msgr. James A. Mongelluzzo

Special Features

Digital text available in the course: Margaret Nutting Ralph. The Spirituality of the Psalms: Prayers for All Times, Twenty-Third Publications (2016). ISBN-10: 1627851267, ISBN-13: 978-1627851268.

Content Scholars:

Margaret Nutting Ralph (text), director of the Master in Pastoral Studies Program for Roman Catholics, Lexington Theological Seminary;
the late Fr. Daniel J. Harrington, S.J. (video), former professor of New Testament at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry;
and Rev. Msgr. James A. Mongelluzzo (video), a priest of the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts, and faculty member at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary.

Lent 2025: Reflecting Together

Fee: $60 | Six Weeks
In this course, participants reflect together on the Sunday reading during the first five weeks of Lent with voices from different scholars providing insight on how we can grow in this time.

AVAILABLE COURSES

Take an opportunity to read and reflect on the Sunday readings during the first five weeks of Lent. You will be provided with links to reflections on the Lectionary readings (Sunday Cycle: Year C), by a selection of commentators. Each week there will be a discussion forum so that course participants can share and discuss their insights about the Sunday readings.

Special Features

This course includes:

References to the current year's lectionary readings
Current content immediately relevant for this Lenten season
Weekly questions to begin the discussion

Additional Materials Needed:

All materials will be made available in the course.

Content Scholars: Contributors to Catholic Women Preach and America Magazine's The Word Sunday Scripture Reflections

Effective Preaching: Homily Preparation

Fee: $30 | Four Weeks

AVAILABLE COURSES

Learn how to craft an engaging homily, and cultivate the study, prayer, and pastoral practices that will support you as work to feed the congregation on the Word of God. Deepen your appreciation of the sacramentality of the Word, your mediating role as a preacher, and the communal functions of preaching.

Topics include preaching as a vocation, the homiletic form, crafting for the ear rather than the eye, and consultation with the congregation. Based on the Boston College resource Touchstones for Preaching, this course is designed for ordained and lay preachers.

Topics

Week 1: Introduction
Week 2: Crafting the Homily
Week 3: Integrating the Process of Preparing a Homily into One’s Life
Week 4: Using Consultation

Additional Materials Needed
All materials are included on the course site.

Time Commitment
A participant can expect to spend an average of 3 hours each week. This commitment includes both preparation and interaction online.

Content Scholars: Rev. Msgr. James A. Mongelluzzo, S.T.D., a priest of the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts, and faculty member at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary; and Rev. William T. Kelly, S.T.D., a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston.

Sacraments: The Fabric of Catholic Life

Fee: $60 | Five Weeks
This course provides a basic overview of sacramentality and the seven sacraments in the life of a twenty-first century Catholic. Against a backdrop of a sacramental life view and guided by text, this course touches on the historical roots of the renewed sacramental rites as well as the experience of the sacraments.

AVAILABLE COURSES

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. This course examines how each of the seven sacraments integrates the Christian community, empowers us for the mission of discipleship, and brings us into union with Christ. It touches on the historical roots, the renewed sacramental rites, and the experience of sacraments and sacramentality. Videos of sacramental celebrations and suggestions for spiritual practice are offered to enhance the exploration of the content and to deepen discipleship.

Topics

Week 1: Introductory Week
Week 2: Sacramentality: At the Heart of Catholic Life
Week 3: Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist
Week 4: Healing: Eucharist, Reconciliation, and Anointing of the Sick
Week 5: At the Service of Communion: Vocation, Holy Orders, and Marriage

Additional Materials Needed:

All required materials are included in this course.

Content Scholars:

Dr. Barbara Radtke, Sr. Kathleen Hughes, R.S.C.J., Rev. Msgr. James Mongelluzzo

Effective Preaching: Preaching for Children

Fee: $30 | Three Weeks
It's important to understand your audience in order to preach effectively. As an audience, children’s interests can inform homilies that would inspire anyone. Join us to gain a greater appreciation for the issues that children wonder about and their capacity for awe.

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Practice connecting the faith and liturgy to children’s everyday lives. Consider the importance of non-verbal communication in speaking to children’s hearts. This course is ideal for leaders of Liturgy of the Word for Children, as well as catechists, religious educators, or anyone else who works with children to nurture their faith. This workshop is based on the Boston College web site Touchstones for Preaching/ Special Touchstone – Preaching to Children.

This course has a required text: Jim Campbell. 52 Simple Ways to Talk with Your Kids about Faith. Chicago: Loyola Press, 2007.

Topics

Week 1: Introductory Week
Week 2: Seven Characteristics of Children and Three Mysteries of Life
Week 3: Tips for Preaching to Children

Content Scholar: Dr. Ann Garrido, associate professor of homiletics at the Aquinas Institute of Theology.

Jesus Foretold and Fulfilled

Fee: $30 | Three Weeks
Explore the Scriptures of Advent and Christmas for a richer celebration of these seasons. In this course you will have the opportunity to break open the Church's weekday readings for Advent, with emphasis on the dynamic of promise and fulfillment between the Old and New Testament readings as they are organized in the Lectionary.

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Hope for a messianic leader to bring justice, healing, peace, and an encounter with God to the whole world are key. Then, take a closer look at the infancy narratives, and the distinctive ways they allude to the Scriptures and history of the Jewish people to proclaim who the child Jesus is. In addition, there will be recommendations for personal prayer practices in preparation for Christmas. No prior experience in Scripture study is necessary.

Featuring videos with the late Rev. Daniel J. Harrington, S.J.

Topics

Week 1: Introduction to the Course
Week 2: Jesus Foretold and Fulfilled in the Readings of Advent
Week 3: Jesus Fulfilled in the Infancy Narratives

Additional Materials Needed:

Although there is a Bible available online, you may wish to have a Bible available in hard copy also.

For online Bibles, we recommend:

All other readings are downloadable from the course site or available via links to other Internet sites.

Content Scholar:

The late Fr. Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., professor of New Testament, Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, prolific author, and editor, New Testament Abstracts.

Effective Preaching: Preaching at Weddings

Fee: $30
Three Weeks

Check the course schedule for future offerings of this course.

This course, developed by Rev. Msgr. James Mongelluzzo, includes videos on the theology of marriage and on preparing a wedding homily, a survey of the Lectionary passages pertaining to the marriage ceremony, as well as recommendations for meeting with the couple. Participants discuss the videos and readings as a community for conversation, guided by a facilitator.

This course is appropriate for anyone who preaches in their ministry, lay or ordained. It is accessible for beginners and can provide experienced preachers a chance to reflect on and deepen their practice.

Topics

Introductory Week

Week 1: The Theology of Marriage

Week 2: Preparing a Wedding Homily

Special Features

This course includes:

Study aide that guides participants through the assignments;
Weekly questions for discussion and reflection;
Resource page for further study;
Links to all reading materials are included;
Weekly video segments from Touchstones for Preaching (bc.edu/preaching); and
Text transcripts of each featured video.

All Crossroads courses include these features:

Participants have access 24 hours / 7 days a week to the course's password-protected web site.
Each participant belongs to a small Community for Conversation and faith sharing guided by a facilitator.
The course site is usually available to participants at least three months after the course.
An orientation in how to navigate the web site is always available.
Technical assistance is easy to contact and prompt in returning a message.
A Certificate of Active Participation is awarded to those who post at least three messages of substance for each week of content.

Additional Materials Needed

All materials are included in the course.

Time Commitment:

A participant can expect to spend about 3-4 hours each week. This commitment includes both preparation and interaction online.

Content Scholars: Rev. Paul Turner, S.T.D. (videos), a priest of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Missouri; and Rev. Msgr. James A. Mongelluzzo, S.T.D., a priest of the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts, and a faculty member at Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary.

A Sacramental People

Fee: $25
Three Weeks

Based on the Spring 2012 issue of C21 Resources edited by Fr. John Baldovin, S.J., this course provides an opportunity to reflect on and discuss a sacramental view of life. The sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, and Marriage are the focus. This C21 Resources installment is a companion to previous issues that have addressed Eucharist, Holy Orders, and lay ecclesial ministry.

Check the course schedule for future offerings of this course.

NOTE: For a complete overview of Catholic sacramental life, we recommend you also consider eventually enrolling in other C21 Resources courses: The Eucharist: At the Heart of Catholic Life, and Grace and Commitment: The Laity. We also offer a four-week course, Sacraments in Catholic Life.

Topics

Introductory Week
Week 1: A Sacramental View of Life, Baptism, Confirmation, and Marriage
Week 2: Penance, Anointing of the Sick, and Christian Funerals

Special Features

This course includes:

All reading materials available online;
Weekly introductory study aides that guide participants through the course material;
Weekly questions for reflection and discussion; and
A regularly updated Resources page for further study.

All Crossroads courses include these features:

Participants have access 24 hours/7 days a week to the course's password-protected web site.
Each participant belongs to a small Community for Conversation and faith sharing guided by a facilitator.
Site is usually available to participants at least three months after the course.
An orientation in how to navigate the web site is always available.
Technical assistance is easy to contact and prompt in returning a message.
A Certificate of Active Participation is awarded to those who post at least three messages of substance for each week of content.

Additional Materials Needed

Everything you need for this course is provided on the course web site. View this issue of C21 Resources, "Catholics: A Sacramental People." If you prefer a hard copy of this issue, email The Church in the 21st Century Center at church21@bc.edu.

Time Commitment

A participant can expect to spend an average of 4-5 hours each week. This commitment includes both preparation and interaction online.

Content Scholars

The articles were written by various authors under the editorship of Fr. John Baldovin, S.J., professor of historical and liturgical theology at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.

Mini-Courses

Preaching Resources

Liturgy Essentials

The Eucharist: At the Heart of Catholic Life

John in Holy Week and Easter

The Psalms: Prayers for All Times

Lent 2025: Reflecting Together

Effective Preaching: Homily Preparation

Sacraments: The Fabric of Catholic Life

Effective Preaching: Preaching for Children

Jesus Foretold and Fulfilled

Effective Preaching: Preaching at Weddings

A Sacramental People

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