Pastoral Approach to Culture

Course Summary

Faith is always expressed within a culture. Culture shapes the way we understand and live the Church's beliefs and teachings. To effectively minister to people today it is important to lead with cultural humility and a deep appreciation for the relationship between culture and faith. This course introduces pastoral ministers to the field of cultural studies and pastoral care strategies for diverse cultural communities.

Successful completion of this course earns 2.5 CEU's.

General Course Objectives

• To know the meaning of the vocabulary related to culture and its importance to effective Catholic ministry.
• To identify ways that ministerial leaders can effectively incorporate the process of inculturation into all aspects of ministry.
• To develop a value for cultural accompaniment in service of the diversity of God’s house.
• To understand the concept of cultural humility through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.
• To develop practical pastoral strategies to support cultural nuance and culturally specific needs in faith formation.

Course Materials

• No books required. All readings are online.

Course Structure and Highlights

• Week 1: Culture and Its Importance in Catholic Ministry

  • To know the meaning of the vocabulary related to culture and its importance to effective Catholic ministry.

• Week 2: Inculturation in Catholic Ministry
  • To know the meaning of inculturation, identifying ways that ministerial leaders can effectively incorporate the process of inculturation into all aspects of ministry.
• Week 3: Catholicism from a Global Perspective
  • To develop a value for cultural accompaniment in service of the diversity of God’s house.
• Week 4: Cultural Humility
  • To understand the concept of cultural humility through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.
• Week 5: Synodality and Culture
  • To develop practical pastoral strategies to support cultural humility and culturally specific needs in faith formation.

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