AMS - Year 1 - Sp 102 Theological Reflection and Spirituality - September 2026

Advanced Ministry Studies

 THEOLOGY YEAR

COURSE: CATHOLIC SPIRITUALITY AND THEOLOGICAL RELEFCTION   

Course Description:

This class delves into the meaning of Catholic spirituality and its necessary connection to theological reflection. Through a brief review of core themes of Catholic spirituality and how spiritual traditions have developed in the life of the Church, the participants will understand how spirituality and spiritual practices are always grounded in religious tradition and thereby mediated by cultural and historical context.

Understanding spirituality leads to theology as a practice of creative and critical reflection on our necessarily mediated, historical human experiences of God, the Scriptures, the Church and more.

Participants will learn and engage in a process for critical theological reflection, highlighting the tight bonds in Catholic tradition between faith and reason.

Together, contextual Catholic spirituality and critical theological reflection will be seen as a positive presentation of the social role of faith, seeking to present a positive vision to challenge contemporary naïve, ideological understandings of Christianity and it social implications, especially as seen in the US via Catholic integralism and white evangelical nationalism.

Course Objectives: 

Participants will:   

1. Develop a foundational understanding of key themes in Catholic spirituality
2. Understand the various spiritual traditions in the Catholic Church in the context of historical mediation of understanding of God, sacraments, Church, etc.
3. Articulate the nature of theology as critical reflection on spiritual impetus
4. Learn the skills for theological reflection
5. Apply those skills with reference to a specific case study

Date: Saturday September 26, 2026 

Time: 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (Breaks and Lunch time included)  

Format: Zoom Live Class  

Professor: Dr. Marc DeMonico, Ph.D

Dr. Marc DeMonico, Ph.D 

Is Director of Communications and Online Education at Saint Luke Institute since 2024, Marc brings a diverse background as a national Catholic ministry leader and strategist, theologian, and digital communications consultant. He has supported lay ministry training and development at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, worked with the Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM) and has many years of experience in a wide variety of ministerial and leadership endeavors, from parishes, to local and national faith-based organizations. He possesses skills in digital media strategy and communication, having worked with an array of nonprofit and small business clients.

He holds a Ph.D. in Historic and Systematic Theology from the School of Theology and Religious Studies at The Catholic University of America. He earned an M.Div. as a lay person from the Washington Theological Union, and an M.A. in Systematic Theology. He holds a B.A. in Theology and Philosophy with a minor in Justice, Peace and Conflict Studies from Saint Bonaventure University. Marc has written, studied and lectured in the areas of ecclesiology, theology of ministry, ecumenism, theology of liturgy, as well as Catholic social teaching. He has been an adjunct professor of undergraduate theology at Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore and Marymount University in Arlington, Va, and has written peer-reviewed theological articles for several journals.

Note: This class is eligible for ongoing formation. Those not registered in the Advanced Ministry Studies but would like to take the class as ongoing formation please use discount code:  AMS-Sp 102 for a 50% discount.