Presented by LOYOLA-metro

Liverpool Living Theology 2009

A Summer School on Christian Faith
understanding your everyday faith

Held from Monday, 27th July to Friday, 31st July 2009
at
HOPE UNIVERSITY
Everton Campus, Liverpool

Main Speaker - Nick King SJ
on
'The Four Gospels'

This course will look at each of the four gospels, concentrating on how they begin and how they end, to try and give a feel of what they are each aiming to do, and to show how different they are. In the final lecture, we shall either deal with particular difficulties that arise in the course of the week, or give an overview of “Jesus and the Four Gospels”.

Nick King SJ teaches New Testament at Oxford, after many years in South Africa. He recently published a translation of the New Testament, and is currently working on a translation of the Greek version of the Old Testament.

1. Ethics for a Complex Century - Gerry J Hughes SJ

 

Ethics and the sciences

Life and death

Sexual Ethics

Ethics and Human Rights

Pluralism and Relativism in Ethics

The aim of the course is to explain why contemporary ethical issues seem even less clear than they did: is this true, or is it an illusion? This question will be the focus of dis-cussions of some central areas of moral controversy; and the final lecture will attempt to draw some general conclusions.

Gerry J Hughes is tutor in philosophy at Campion Hall, University of Oxford, where he was Master from 1998—2006. As an undergraduate he read classics and philosophy at Oxford; and his PhD in philosophy was gained at the University of Michigan. He was head of the Philosophy   Department at Heythrop College, University of London for more than twenty years, and he has written several books and many articles on ethics and philosophy of religion; he is especially interested in the ethics of Aristotle.

2. Two Sides of the Gospel : Gift and Call - Gerry O’Mahony SJ

There are nearly twenty images in the Gospels that have two sides to them.  There are sheep and there are shepherds.  There are fish and there are fishers.  Thee are the enlightened and the enlighteners; and so on.  Which side is the more  important?  Which side is impossible without the other?  Hard-working Christians tend to stress the wrong side.  This course makes for peace of mind and effective living.

Gerry O’Mahony SJ was born in Wigan and ordained in 1964.  He taught for four years (including one year in Widnes) He was R.E. adviser to teachers in the Liverpool Archdiocese 1971-1981.  He has been working as a retreat-giver at Loyola hall from 1983 until the present. He is the author of many books, including “A Way in to the Trinity” (2004).

3. Spirituality / Discernment - Ruth Holgate, Director of Loyola Hall

Living as Christians in a complex world involves making decisions, but we do not find it easy to discern the ‘will of God’.  How do we know if we are doing what God wants? How can we freely discern, and listen to, the quiet voice of God when so many other aspects of life demand our attention? Drawing on the insights of Ignatius of Loyola, this course will consider a theology of discernment that underpins a practical and life  enhancing approach to Christian decision making.

Ruth Holgate, a lay woman and Jesuit Associate is currently  Director of Loyola Hall having been Director of the Ignatian Spirituality Centre,  Glasgow.  Ruth had previously been on the staff of Loyola Hall.  As a  spiritual director and retreat giver in the Ignatian tradition, Ruth has a particular interest in  discernment and decision making and how we articulate a living, practical faith. 

4. Beyond the frontiers: social ministries in the Church - Jim Conway SJ

This course will examine the role of social ministries in the Church. It will draw upon key concepts of Catholic Social Teaching, such as solidarity, to propose a catholic approach to social ministry and explore the relevance of such concepts in relation to prevailing contemporary issues like migration & poverty. Our reflections will be aided by considering some of the solidarities formed by Jesus [with the outcast, the tax  collector, the unclean etc] and by pondering the implications of these ‘solidarities’

James Conway SJ is an assistant priest at a large parish in Stamford Hill, North London and coordinator of its social outreach programme. He is qualified in youth & community work and has extensive experience of  social outreach to migrants.

5. Reading Galatians - Josette Zammit Mangion IBVM

One of the earliest writings of the New Testament, Paul's letter to the Galatians is an excellent example of contextual theology.  This short letter includes the longest narrative of Paul's encounter with Christ, a detailed account of his dispute with the Jerusalem church about the Law, and an appeal to ethical behaviour.  We will read the letter together and use it as a basis for an exploration of some of the major Pauline theological themes.  Please bring a bible, preferably NRSV.

Josette Zammit Mangion, a member of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is a Visiting Lecturer at Heythrop teaching on the BA in Abrahamic Religions and in New Testament studies.  She is currently finishing her PHD on the Letters of Paul.

6. Old Testament - John Twist SJ

Over recent years Catholics have become much more informed on the Scriptures than they realise, and to a large extent they now have knowledge comparable to that of members of other Christian Churches.  Nevertheless, for many there is a fear of the Old Testament: it seems puzzling, it can appear nasty, and to many it has no obvious meaning.   This course aims to show that anyone can gain from the Books of the Old Testament, providing they are guided into them, and encouraged to           approach them as an exploration. A possible bonus is that some may find this area absolutely fascinating once they learn their way around the varied books.  Please bring a bible with you.

John Twist is at present Chaplain at Stonyhurst College, Lancs, but has spent many years working in parishes.   In recent years he has twice done courses in Israel on Scripture, and had the experience of seeing many of the sights that are mentioned in books of the Bible.  

For more details and to obtain a course booklet contact
LOYOLA-metro at SFX Church
0151 298 1911