Genius of Women
The St. Lawrence Institute of Faith and Culture
Know the truth . . . Do the good . . . Appreciate the beautiful . . . Live in unity.
This year the St. Lawrence Center will begin a new initiative, the Institute for Faith and Culture. We can envision the ministry of the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center in the form of a pyramid. At the base of the pyramid we have our evangelization outreach, social and athletic activities. While the formation is not in depth, it is meant to reach a large number of people. The middle of the pyramid represents our catechetical and spiritual formation program. Through catechetical and theology classes, spiritual direction, liturgy and retreats, the student’s formation becomes more complete.
We Can Build on the Foundation
People from all over the world come to study and teach at the University of Kansas. KU is one of the primary places in the Midwest and the premier place in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas where people from a diversity of cultures, beliefs and ideas meet. The St. Lawrence Institute of Faith and Culture will be a voice of the Church that will bring the light of Jesus Christ on campus. It will engage the larger culture(s), bring the Catholic intellectual, moral, liturgical and spiritual traditions into conversations in the larger world and form future leaders in the world and in the Church.
Faith and Culture
When we speak of faith, we mean the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the gift of the Catholic intellectual, moral, liturgical and spiritual tradition that we have received and are called to pass on to others. Culture requires further explanation. The Vatican II document Gaudium et Spes devotes an entire section to the Church's engagement of culture. It emphasizes the fundamental importance of culture in the full development of the human person, the many ways in which salvation and culture are linked, and the mutual enrichment of the Church and cultures throughout the history of civilizations. At the beginning of the section, the document offers a definition of culture:
The word “culture” in its general sense indicates everything whereby man develops and perfects his many bodily and spiritual qualities; he strives by his knowledge and his labor, to bring the world itself under his control. He renders social life more human both in the family and the civic community, through improvement of customs and institutions. Throughout the course of time he expresses, communicates and conserves in his works, great spiritual experiences and desires, that they might be of advantage to the progress of many, even of the whole human family. GeS 53.
The document recognizes that a person comes to a true and full humanity only through culture and that Christians have an obligation to work with all people to build a more human world. The document goes on to describe one of the principles for the proper development of culture which is also one of the principal ideas that influence the creation of this institute:
Furthermore, when man gives himself to the various disciplines of philosophy, history and of mathematical and natural science, and when he cultivates the arts, he can do very much to elevate the human family to a more sublime understanding of truth, goodness, and beauty, and to the formation of considered opinions which have universal value. Thus mankind may be more clearly enlightened by that marvelous Wisdom which was with God from all eternity, composing all things with him, rejoicing in the earth, delighting in the sons of men. GeS 57.
The Objectives of The St. Lawrence Institute of Faith and Culture:
1) To promote the encounter between the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the cultures of our time so that they may be increasingly open to the Christian faith.
2) To foster the Church’s relations with the world of culture and other religions so that dialogue between faith and culture will be maintained.
3) To facilitate dialogue at KU so that the relationship between faith and reason may be maintained.
4) To complement the professional and technical education received at KU with a human formation.
5) To form students at KU so that they will go on to become leaders in the world and in the Church.
6) To retain students at KU and increase the number of students in catechetical classes, liturgical and music ministries at St. Lawrence.
The Activities of The St. Lawrence Institute of Faith and Culture
The Annual Lecture Series
Each academic year a lecture will be offered by a prominent speaker who will address issues of faith and culture. These on-campus lectures will be open to all people with the objective of addressing issues of faith and culture to the entire KU community. Members of St. Lawrence will also participate in activities that engage other religions and cultures.
The Catholic Professor Series
Catholic professors at the University of Kansas will be invited to speak on their academic work and their Catholic faith. They will be invited to give a talk on how their Catholic faith impacts, affirms and challenges their work and how their work impacts, affirms and challenges their faith. These talks take place at the rectory and reach the faculty and staff of KU as well as the permanent community at St. Lawrence.
Catholic law students and faculty at the University of Kansas will be encouraged to join the St. Thomas More Society to help them integrate their Catholic faith with the study and practice of law. The students and faculty will address current and perennial issues of the law through the Catholic faith perspective. Activities will include speakers, social gatherings, educational opportunities. While directed to Catholic law students, the St. Thomas More Society activities will be open to all law students, faculty and staff.
Catholic Student Professional Groups
The Institute will oversee groups for students in various fields of study to help prepare them to integrate their Catholic faith with their future professions. Issues will include integrating their faith and living a virtuous and balanced life as professionals in their fields. Activities will include speakers, social gatherings, educational opportunities.
The Genius of Women is a show that offers members of the University of Kansas community to share their artistic gifts and talents which honor the genius of women. The show is open to the entire KU community.
The Young Catholic Scholars
The St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center, a ministry to higher education at the University of Kansas, is in a unique position to start a new program of formation of college students. Following the renowned Integrated Humanities Program at KU in the 1970s and the Young Catholic Scholars program at the St. Lawrence Catholic Center in the 1990s, St. Lawrence is seeking to provide a deeper formation for a select group of students who have the ability and desire to strive for truly human flourishing. Many students who passed through the Integrated Humanities Program have gone on to make a real impact on the world through their work in the world and in the Church. The students who were a part of the Young Catholic Scholars program continue to be active members of the Church. Some of our current students are asking for a different type of educational experience.
The Young Catholic Scholars program is the next step beyond the basic catechetical formation offered to students at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center. After completing the core courses in the catechetical program and demonstrating the ability and desire to be a part of an advanced education and formation program, students will be admitted to the Young Catholic Scholars program.
Components of the YCS program:
1) Academic Courses: The Institute will offer four three-hour courses based on a great books program for credit that would fulfill general or liberal art’s requirements. The students will be encouraged to take one year of Latin and expected to take one year of a modern language. They will be encouraged to take courses in literature, history and music and art appreciation that will lead to a well-rounded liberal art’s education. The first course will be offered this Fall 2009 for college credit. For more information please contact Fr. Steve Beseau, frstevenpb@st-lawrence.org.
2) Community Gatherings: The students and staff of the program will gather on a regular basis for meals and activities to foster friendships. One of the key components of the gatherings will be the memorization of poems and songs.
3 ) Cultural Events: Since St. Lawrence is affiliated with a major university, students in the program will have opportunities to attend concerts, plays, lectures and other cultural events.
4 ) Religious Activities: Students will live the liturgical year. They will have a daily schedule of prayer and participate in the liturgical life at St. Lawrence through membership in the choir and assisting in liturgical roles. Each year the students in the program will participate in a Holy Week retreat.
5) Travel: The Institute will provide two primary travel opportunities. Each year will begin with a trip to the Colorado mountains to experience what some call God’s second book of revelation. It will provide an opportunity to strengthen the community. Every other year, the members of the program will travel to Rome and Florence to experience Catholic arts and culture. Attendance at and participation in academic conferences around the country will also be encouraged.
| Upcoming Events (Next 10 Upcoming Events) | |
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Mon, November 8
7:00 PM |
Lecture Series University of Notre Dame professor, Peter Kilpartick will speak on the Role Beauty Plays in Science and Technology |