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Mission Studies

What are Mission studies?

Mission is God's work of bring about the Reign of God. The Trinity are constantly creating, healing, reconciling, transforming and uniting the world through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Called by God to serve this mission, the Church is missionary by nature. Its task is to seek, uncover and proclaim God's presence and action in the world. God is especially active wherever people strive for justice, peace, freedom and reconciliation between peoples, religions and the environment. Missiology is the academic discipline that reflects on these various activities of God and articulates the contemporary challenge for the Christian Church.

Why study Mission?

Studying Missiology provides a better understanding of God's mission in the contemporary world, and therefore of the servant role of the Church in furthering that mission. Through exploring the various activities that make up contemporary mission and their relations with one another and with other academic disciplines, as well as with other areas of human endeavour, the student gains a better appreciation of the Church's much needed contribution to society and of his or her own personal role in that missionary effort.

Looking to study in the New Year?

Registrations are now open for the following study programs:

2012	February
	Islam: History, Theology and Culture Study commencement date: Semester 1, 27 February 2012. Sydney. Islam: History, Theology and Culture examines the theological and socio-political history of Islam and focuses in particular upon the emergence of the Qur an, Hadith and basic teachings of Islam; the problems arising from Islam’s rapid geo-political expansion during the and 7th and 8th centuries, its political institutions, internal differentiation and its synergistic encounter with Greek philosophy and science; the development of Sharia law and its system of jurisprudence; and the rich diversity of its theological traditions and cultural expressions. To register please download flyer for full details
2012	March - June
	Interreligious Dialogue (Graduate Course Unit) Study commencement date: Semester 1, 4 March 2012 - 14 June 2012, Sydney. Registrations close on Friday 27th January, 2012. Australia is a multi-religious society in a secular setting. People have come here from every country in the world, bringing with them their languages, cultures and religions - over 120 religions and denominations are named in the 2006 Census! and many have lived here over several generations. Whether by birth, by migration, or by conversion, they are ‘no longer strangers or aliens, but citizens and members of Australian society’ (cf Eph 2:19). What is the appropriate Christian response to the fact of religious diversity? Is dialogue a betrayal of the Church’s evangelizing mission, or an integral part of it? What can we learn from believers in other religions? How can we share with them our convictions? To register please download flyer for details

Mission studies at the Catholic Institute of Sydney

Course units in Missiology are offered at the Catholic Institute of Sydney (www.cis.catholic.edu.au), a Member Institution of the Sydney College of Divinity (www.scd.edu.au).

These units may be audited by anyone for personal growth as an informed and committed Christian. They may also be undertaken by catechists, teachers, religious education coordinators, pastoral workers, clergy and others as part of formal

studies to develop their ministerial and professional competence and to enhance their academic qualifications. The degrees offered are the Bachelor of Theology, a Graduate Certificate in Arts, a Graduate Diploma of Arts and a Master of Arts.

Rev Dr Patrick J. McInerney LSAI (Rome), TheolM (Melbourne), PhD (Australian Catholic University, a staff member of the Columban Mission Institute in the Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations, is the Subject Area Coordinator and one of several lecturers in Missiology at the Catholic Institute of Sydney.

The following units are available:

Evangelising Mi ssion of the Catholic Church MS110/410
Interreligious Dialogue MS342/542
Introducing Islam MS343/543
Mission and the Catholic School - Crossing New Frontiers in the Age of Pluralisation MS309/509
Evangelisation "Old" and "New" - Educational Perspectives MS311/511
Faith, Mission and Culture MS312/512
Justice and the Catholic Church's Mission MS372/572
Scriptural Foundations of Mission MS203/403
Research Project, Independent Guided Study, and Issues in Missiology are also available.

The Catholic Church

This brochure introduces the life, beliefs, practices and spirituality of Catholic Christians. It is written especially to introduce the Catholic Church to believers from other religions, but it can also be used for Christians from other churches, as well as for anyone who wants to find out what the Catholic Church believes and teaches. Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the twenty page brochure presents the key elements of Catholic identity and teaching in summary form. It also gives reference to official Catholic sources where enquirers can find more detailed information on the Catholic Church.

Download order form for The Catholic Church

Mission studies at the Broken Bay Institute

Course units in Mission studies are also offered online at The Broken Bay Institute http://www.bbi.catholic.edu.au

Mission lies at the heart of the Church. It is the Church community's very reason for being. In response to the Church's call to all to be involved in a renewed effort at evangelisation, BBI in partnership with the Columban Mission Institute is developing its missiology offe

rings to support dedicated people wherever their mission lies, locally or globally.

Whether you are called to minister at home or abroad, working in leadership, pastoral work or education, BBI is able to provide units designed for effective missional engagement.

Missiology Offerings at BBI - Printable Information PDF

The following Units are available at The Broken Bay Institute:

Evangelising Mission of the Catholic Church MS110/MS410
Cross Cultural Ministry MS186/MS486
Research Project in Missiology MS391/MS591/MS791
Independent Guided Study MS392/MS592/MS792
Issues in Missiology MS394/MS594/MS794

More courses are currently in the process of being developed.

Breaking Open the Linementa - Proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ in 21st Century Australia

A report on the Sydney consultation in preparation for the 2012 Synod on the 'New Evangelization'. (more)

Download the Lineamenta papers, recommendations and booklet

or

Watch the Lineamenta discussions

Holy Father's Missionary Intention for February:"That in the mission territories where the struggle against disease is most urgent, Christian communities may witness to the presence of Christ to those who suffer."