Year 1
This module presents the key philosophical concepts as developed within the Thomistic tradition, including (1) natural being, (2) human being, and (3) the source and end of being. Students will acquire an overview of philosophical anthropology, ethics, philosophy of knowledge, and ontology. As a preparation for studying Catholic theology, students will explore the following questions:
• What is the relationship between faith and reason?
• Relevance of philosophy for faith and Christian religion?
• How do theology and philosophy interact?
“The study of sacred [scripture] is the soul of sacred theology” the Second Vatican Council pronounced in the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verbum. This module focuses on three major areas in biblical studies within the Catholic tradition: the inspiration of scripture, the canon of scripture, and modern magisterial development in the principles of biblical exegesis. In this module, students are offered opportunities to read primary sources first hand, and develop a solid theological and exegetical understanding of the three core areas of focus in this module.
This course is composed of two parts: in the first part on the Doctrine of God, we will introduce the understanding of the “One God” and the “Triune God” in the Catholic theological tradition, and invite students to reflect on the significance of God being “one and three” to Christian spiritual life. Important theological issues related to the Doctrine of God (e.g. predestination) will also be introduced. In the second part of the course, the focus will be put on the self-communication of God in its fullness—the Incarnation. The life of Jesus Christ and his salvific work related with his life will be examined. The course will help students to learn essential terms related to Doctrine of God and Christology (e.g. person, relation, and Christ’s divine human/divine nature), so as to understand the fundamental importance of divinity and perfect humanity in Christ for the salvation of humanity.
In this module, the Christian personal and spiritual development is scrutinized in the ecclesiastical context and the framework of psychosocial developmental theory in order to study and foster the sanctification of Christians. Also, the usage of basic counselling skills in the pastoral context are studied, which may be applied to enhance the awareness of pastoral care.
This module will explore the activities, strategies, and the influence of the Catholic mission in China. It will study key figures and movements such as Matteo Ricci, the Chinese rites controversy, and the eventual establishment of the Catholic hierarchy and the vicissitudes of the Church vis-à-vis political changes, which will be accompanied by a critical examination of principles drawn from church directives on colonization (Maximum Illud) and modern- day global challenges (Evangelii Gaudium).
This module consists of two sections, Mariology and Ecclesiology. In the Mariology section, students will be introduced to the four Marian dogmas – Mother of God, Perpetual Virginity, Immaculate Conception, and Assumption – by examining relevant church documents and spiritual sharing, so as to help students to understand Mary’s special role in the history of salvation and her importance for spiritual life. In the Ecclesiology section, we will explain the description of the Church in Lumen Gentium of Vatican II, such as the Church as the Kingdom of God, the body of Christ, the people of God, and the relationship between the Church and Mary. Based upon this, we will then guide students to the essential understanding of the Church: the sacramentality of the Church and the ecclesial communion. At the end of the course, students should be able to understand the fundamental role that the Church plays in our life of faith.
This module aims at introducing (1) what the Church means by liturgy; (1) the basic principles of the whole Christian worship, spirituality and prayer; and (2) the central role that the liturgy plays in the whole activity of the Church. More specifically, the course covers fundamental concepts, elements, and structures of liturgy (liturgical year; liturgy of hours). Historical developments and dangers of corruption will be analysed, guided by the deep connection between Liturgy and Theology (lex orandi lex credendi).
Faith must be inserted in daily life and oriented to transform also the society we live immersed in. Human and Christian responsibility need to be exercised in family life, in work, in social life, in politics, and the church. This course aims to study the Social Doctrine of the Church mainly through the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, a unique document to which Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI and St. John Paul II have frequently referred to. The course is divided in two parts. In the first part we will cover some foundation topics, such as:
– The Church’s mission and Social Doctrine.
– The dignity of human person as the core and foundation of Catholic Social Teaching.
– The Principles of the Church’s Social Doctrine.
In the second part of the course we will tackle the teachings of the Church in some specific areas:
– Family as the vital cell of society.
– Human work.
– Economic life.
– The political life.
– The international community.
– Safeguarding the environment.
– The promotion of peace.
– Transformation of culture.
Year 2
In this course, students will study sacramental theology in three units. In the first unit, students will explore what is a sacrament and the general principles of sacramental theology. The second unit will cover the study of each of the seven sacraments, which includes the biblical, historical and theological investigations of the sacraments. In the third unit, students will consider the implication of sacramental theology for the celebration of the sacraments and Christian spiritual life.
The module introduces students to a variety of approaches and methods of pursuing and deepening research in religious and theology. Students learn to command the tools and techniques of academic theological research. Students learn to appropriate the rich Catholic doctrinal tradition in an authentic and fruitful way. Practical exercises in aid of deepening understanding and in training research methods are facilitated.
This course aims to explore the moral teachings of the Church as explained in Pope John Paul II's Encyclical Letter Veritatis Splendor. It examines the competence of the Church in speaking about moral issues and the nature of its teaching as a service to freedom. It then explores the Christian vocation not only as a responsibility to do good and avoid evil, but also as a call to holiness of life. The relation between freedom and law are then taken up, followed by an exploration of the relationship between conscience and truth. Then we will tackle the meaning of the fundamental option and its relation to particular choices of man. And then we will examine the three elements that need to be weighed in judging the morality of an action, taking up critically recent trends of consequentialism and proportionalism and also highlighting the importance of the moral object of the action. Going back to the topic of holiness, we examine the need for heroism on one hand, and divine mercy on the other, in order to fulfil the requirements of the moral law. Finally, we examine the link between faith, morals and evangelization.
Students will further study and reflect upon the Theology of the Body of Pope John Paul II to explore the mystery of creation in terms of Divine Love: the human body, and its nuptial attribute, and the subject of conjugal and familial morality in accordance to the Divine plan of human love.
The dissertation integrates the taught materials and demonstrates the student’s in-depth understanding of the field of Catholic Studies, and the ability to work independently. Students work individually with a supervisor on a specific topic chosen in consultation with and guidance by the supervisor. Students deepen the tools and techniques of research and move to organize and integrate their knowledge in form of a theses (dissertation) in a chosen area of specialization in theology (Christian Philosophy, Biblical Studies, Church History, Systematic Theology, Christian Ethics, Catholic Social Teaching, Christian Spirituality and Counselling).
Work cannot be commenced until the dissertation proposal has been accepted by the university. The final dissertation has to be defended publicly before a committee of three professors.
