New, Free, Online Lenten Course from SHMS

What do Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day, Oscar Romero, and Etty Hillesum all have in common? They all had very interesting journeys of conversion.

The stories of all four of these Catholics will be featured in a new, free, online course offered by Sacred Heart Major Seminary (SHMS) as a Lenten reflection.  The course is titled “The Journey of Conversion.”  It is taught by Dr. Patricia Cooney Hathaway, Professor of Spirituality and Systematic Theology.

The course will begin on the first Sunday in Lent, February 26, and concludes on April 8.

The course is intended to illustrate the journey to our true selves in God “through the compelling life stories” of these four individuals.  As the course description says, “Their journeys of conversion illuminate and provide guidance for our own” lives.

As the course description says . . .

“The class will be conducted online giving students the freedom to engage with the material and complete course tasks around their own schedule. The class will consist of six modules which can be completed according to the individual’s own pace.

Six ‘at your own pace’ Modules

“Each module will be hosted by Dr. Cooney Hathaway and will include:

• Lecture Video (~20 minutes)
• Lectio Divina Exercise (~10 minutes)
• Personal Assessment Quiz (~5 minutes)
• Supplemental Reading Material

“The goal of the course is not to deliver a high level of rigor or stress, but instead engage Catholics who want to learn more about their faith.

“Consider this a Lenten study or retreat experience, done at your own pace.  This is an opportunity to grow deeper in your relationship with the Lord and with others.”

The six modules are:

1: The Dimensions of Conversion
2: Life Stories of Conversion – Thomas Merton
3: Life Stories of Conversion – Dorothy Day
4: Life Stories of Conversion – Oscar Romero
5: Life Stories of Conversion – Etty Hillesum
6: Where To Go From Here

Upon signing up for the course, students receive a username and password for accessing the online class.  To register for the course or to find out more about it, click on this link.

About Dr. Patricia Cooney Hathaway

As noted, Dr. Patricia Cooney Hathaway is a Professor of Spirituality and Systematic Theology at SHMS.  She holds an M.A. in Religious Studies, and a PhD in Systematic Theology, Spirituality, Human and Spiritual Development, both from Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

Dr. Cooney Hathaway was Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology and Director of the Spiritual Direction Program at the Washington Theological Union for two years before moving to Detroit.  She became a full time member of the SHMS faculty in 1988. She served as chairperson for the MA/MAPS degree committee from 1994 to 2015. In 2017 she was appointed chairperson of the STL Degree committee.

Dr. Cooney Hathaway is the author of the book “Weaving Faith and Experience. A Woman’s Perspective.”  The book is part of the Call to Holiness Series on Catholic Women’s Spirituality published by St. Anthony Messenger Press.

Dr. Cooney Hathaway has been involved in the ministries of spiritual direction and pastoral counseling for over twenty years.  She is a member of the Catholic Theological Society of America. She has done extensive lecturing nation-wide in the areas of theology, spirituality and the relationship between human and  spiritual development. Dr. Cooney Hathaway is married to Judge Thomas M.J. Hathaway and has a son, Thomas Jr. and a daughter, Victoria.

Seven Free Courses

“The Journey of Conversion” is one of seven, free, online courses offered by SHMS.  Information on all seven courses is available here.

Having taken most of these courses I can heartily recommend them.  The SHMS instructors are top notch.  The courses are definitely worth the 30 to 40 minutes of time it takes to watch the video, do the exercise, and take the quiz.