By calling upon the individual, communal and professional experience of all those involved in religious education, this unit seeks to establish a common endeavour of dialogue and personal reflection challenging one’s own faith as the primary source of ministry and education. This unit focuses on the theological and educational principles underlying both the nature and process of religious education and emphasises the rationale, content, context and methodological options in this discipline. The unit examines and critiques the social, ecclesial, cultural, philosophical, and theological presuppositions as well as the praxis of religious education, in order to identify the specific nature of faith education as a ministry in the Church, and to plan a specific course of action in line with one’s educative and pastoral ministry.

Prerequisites:

• first level: none
• second level: none

Requirements:
3 hours per week

Assessment:

• first level
  • one 1,000 word book review 
    • or two 500 word short reflection papers - 20%
  • one 2,000 word essay - 50%
  • one 1 hour written examination - 30%
• second level
  
  • one 2,500 word essay - 50%
  • and one of the following:
    
    • one 1,500 word book review - 30%
      • with a 30 minute oral seminar/class presentation - 20%
    • three 500 word short reflection papers - 30%
      • and one 20 minute oral examination - 20%

Bibliography:

• Australian Episcopal Conference. The Renewal of the Education of Faith. Sydney: E. J. Dwyer, 1972
• Congregation for the Clergy. General Directory for Catechesis. 1997.
• Durka, Gloria. The Teacher’s Calling: A Spirituality for Those Who Teach. New York: Paulist, 2002.
• Gallagher, Jim. Soil for the Seed: Historical, Pastoral and Theological Reflections on Educating to and in the Faith. Great Wakering, Essex: McCrimmons, 2001.
• Groome, Thomas H. Christian Religious Education:Sharing Our Story and Vision. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1981.
• John Paul II. Catechesi tradendae. Apostolic Exhortation. 1979.
• Paul VI. Evangelii nuntiandi. Apostolic Exhortation. 1976.
• Ryan, Maurice, ed. Echo and Silence:Contemporary Issues for Australian Religious Education. Katoomba, NSW: Social Science Press, 2001.