PCS 407 - Reconciliation: The Empowering Grace of Vulnerability
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course presents the Sacrament of Reconciliation as an encounter with Divine healing and transforming love, reflects on the roles of priest and community, and creates a contemporary celebration of reconciliation that responds to diverse pastoral needs. There have been many sacraments of forgiveness and reconciliation in the history of Catholicism. Private confession evolved during the Middles Ages and become dominant in the modern church; Other rituals preceded it and new approaches and rituals - like Restorative Justice - are emerging today.
Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
Rev. Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan, MA, D.Min, ARCWP, a Sister for Christian Community, is one of the founding members of the People’s Catholic Seminary. She is a member of the pastoral team at Mary Mother of Jesus Inclusive Catholic Community in Sarasota, Florida. Bridget Mary presides at liturgies, officiates at weddings and offers sacramental ministry. She is an author of twenty books including The Healing Power of Prayer: New and Expanded Edition and Praying with Women of the Bible. Her work in communications media include programs about women priests on Google and YouTube. She is dean of the D. Min. and M.Div programs for Global Ministries University. Bridget Mary was ordained a priest in the first USA ordination in Pittsburgh on July 31, 2006 and was ordained a bishop in Santa Barbara, California on April 19, 2009. Her blog is http://bridgetmarys.blogspot.com/
Course Facilitators
Course Format
This course is offered as an independent study or in a cohort model. Cohorts meet in Zoom to foster an interactive learning community.
Dr. Mary Theresa Streck, ARCWP
Rev. Dr. Mary Theresa Streck, Ed.D., D.Min, ARCWP is one of the founding members of the People’s Catholic Seminary. She is a member of the pastoral team at the Upper Room Inclusive Catholic Community in Albany, NY. She presides at liturgies, officiates at weddings and offers sacramental ministry. She is currently the lead program coordinator of the ARCWP Program of Preparation team. Mary Theresa is an educator and artist who designs and creates sacred arts. She earned a Doctorate in Education Leadership from the Sage Colleges, a Doctorate in Ministry from Global Ministries University and certificate in spiritual direction from Holy Ground, a spiritual direction training program. She was ordained a priest on September 15, 2013 and is a commissioned member of the Federation of Christian Ministries.