Course 7: Building and Nurturing

Dates: This course will begin on Wednesday 26^th January and conclude Wednesday 30^th March 2022.

Time: 7.30 – 9.00 PM

Fee:  25 euro

“I sense that the moment has come to commit all of the Church’s energies to a new evangelization and to the mission ad gentes. No believer in Christ, no institution of the Church can avoid this supreme duty: to proclaim Christ to all peoples.” With this passionate appeal, St. John Paul II reminded all Catholics that the need to live out the Great Commission is as urgent now as ever. The Catholic parish is a privileged locus both for the equipping of the missionary disciple who will carry out the work of evangelization, as well as being a singular place of encounter with Jesus Christ. Tragically, many parishes fail to be effective in either of these regards. In this course we will examine what a parish is called to be, and then explore ways in which every parish can experience renewal through living out the call to mission. Students will be equipped and inspired to be missionary disciples both in and through their parishes.

Topics covered:

1. 1. A vision for mission
   2. Identity of the parish
   3. What does renewal look like?
   4. Leadership and courage
   5. Parish culture and dynamics
   6. Meeting God in truth, goodness, and beauty.
   7. The parish as a place of encounter
   8. Lessons from failure
   9. Exemplars of parish renewal
   10. Launching into the deep

Michael Dopp graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University with Bachelor degrees in Business Administration (BBA) and Philosophy (BA). He then studied at St. Augustine’s at the University of Toronto where he was awarded a Bachelor in Theology (STB) and Master of Divinity (MDiv). He finished his studies at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Michigan where he received a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL) with a concentration on the new evangelisation. Michael has been involved in a variety of ministries dedicated to evangelisation and has been involved in mission projects in Europe, Africa, and North America. Michael completed a three year contract as Principal of Maryvale academy, an independent Catholic elementary school. As of July 1, 2012, he has been employed full time with MRM. Mission of the Redeemer Ministries (MRM) is at the service of the Church, committed to forming Catholics for the new evangelisation. While MRM is proudly based in the Archdiocese of Ottawa, Canada, the ministry is available for service in the Church throughout North America.