The St. Bernard’s Course Catalog is a document of record issued every academic year containing information related to the courses offered throughout the curriculum. This document sets out the “beating heart” of the School: its mission to form and to educate takes place primarily in the classroom, in the midst of an encounter between faculty and students as they seek together ever greater knowledge and love of God. To view our 2024 - 2025 Course Catalog, click here.
The location of a course is designated below by one of two geographic areas, indicating the location from which the live course is taught. Students who are within commuting distance to that location are encouraged to attend class in person. All Catholic theology courses online can be accessed synchronously for those unable to attend in person or not in commuting distance. Live course times are listed in Eastern Standard Time (EST) and Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Further details on distance learning can be found here.
Summer 2025 Courses
May 12th - June 27th (Session I) | June 30th - August 15th (Session II)
Application deadline for Session I is April 25th; application deadline for Session II is June 20th.
Add/drop deadlines (with 100% refund) are May 19th [Session I] and July 7th [Session II].
ROC (Rochester Campus)
Session I
B/C360: Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologiae (Stephen Loughlin, Ph.D.)
A consideration of the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas through an examination of the nature, structures, and materials of the work of his maturity, his Summa Theologiae. Through a close reading of portions of this text, this course will cover issues central to both theological thought and the fully lived vibrant Christian life, specifically the nature and extent of God’s revelation to us through Sacred Scripture, the nature and limits of our understanding of God’s existence and nature, the work of creation, the establishment and nature of the human person, his place within creation, and the return that the human person makes to God (in Whom his happiness consists, considering the means both natural and supernatural by which this return is affected). The sum of these considerations will show that St. Thomas’s treatments of these perennial concerns (and others) continue to influence strongly people both within and outside the Faith, and these across all social strata and profession and not just simply theologians and philosophers.
3 credits | ROC and Online
Wednesdays, 6:00 - 9:00pm EDT, May 14th, May 21st, May 28th, June 4th, June 11th, June 18th, June 25th
CP613: History of Philosophy: Modern and Contemporary (Matthew Pietropaoli, Ph.D.)
With regard to the modern era, this course will survey the main philosophers of the rationalist, empiricist, and Kantian traditions, from Descartes through the nineteenth century. This will introduce the student to the authors of the 19th and 20th century studied in the contemporary era who respond to the major themes/positions of the modern era. It is with regard to the latter that this course explores the two major school of philosophy in the contemporary era, namely analytic philosophy, on the one hand, and phenomenology and existentialism, on the other.
3 credits | Online
Tuesdays, 6:00 - 9:00pm EDT, May 13th, May 20th, May 27th, June 3rd, June 10th, June 17th, June 24th
Session II
A205: Introduction to Biblical Studies (Matthew Ramage, Ph.D.)
The sequence of Sacred Scripture courses at St. Bernard’s is meant to instill habits and skills of reading the Bible that will nourish the spiritual life of the student and candidate for ministry. This first course lays a foundation for all other Scripture courses. It intends to head off simplistic and hackneyed interpretations of Dei Verbum and instead to pursue the development of a rigorous ecclesial hermeneutic. Students will learn the practical building blocks and essential theoretical principles for a Catholic theological approach to the interpretation of Sacred Scripture. Topics treated include biblical geography, biblical history, biblical languages, biblical narrative, the framework of theology, textual criticism, historical criticism, biblical canon, patristic interpretation, the four senses of Scripture, philosophical hermeneutics, and Dei Verbum.
3 credits | Online
Wednesdays, 6:30 - 9:30pm EDT, July 2nd, July 9th, July 16th, July 23rd, July 30th, August 6th, August 13th
B/D435: Contemplative Prayer: A Monastic Immersion (Lisa Lickona, S.T.L.; Fr. Isaac Slater, OSCO)
This course will introduce students to the world of contemplative prayer within the context of Catholic theology and lived experience. Three online classes focusing on the experiences of prayer in the lives of the saints will serve as preparation for the five-day retreat at the Abbey of the Genesee. During the retreat, students will be invited to the experience of contemplation within a monastic environment that fosters silence, presence, stillness and spaciousness.
3 credits | Abbey of the Genesee
July 28th - August 1st, 2025. Retreat Course format. Not included in the One Free Summer Audit. Learn more here!
C/D375: Atonement: Soundings in Biblical, Trinitarian, and Spiritual Theology (Margaret Turek, S.T.D.)
The theme of atonement takes us to the very heart of the mission of Jesus Christ. It should be cause for concern, then, that a conspicuous characteristic of much of contemporary theology and catechesis is the absence of efforts to understand the Cross of Christ as a work of atonement. This course examines the central importance and perennial value of the mystery of atonement in the face of the modern aversion to it. Rooted firmly in Sacred Scripture and drawing insights from the writings of Popes Benedict XVI and John Paul II, as well as Hans Urs von Balthasar and St. Therese of Lisieux (among others), the course aims to elucidate the Cross event as a dramatic epiphany, shaped in response to sin, of the staggering love of God for us, while we were yet sinners. In addition to exploring the atoning work of Christ in view of its closeness to and distance from the old covenant history of eliminating sin, the course uncovers resources and unfolds implications for a renewed spirituality of atonement in which we personally participate in the atoning mission of Christ.
3 credits | Online
Wednesdays, 6:00 - 9:00pm EDT, July 2nd, July 9th, July 16th, July 23rd, July 30th, August 6th, August 13th
C/D397: The Whole Breadth of Reason: Faith, Science, and Technology (Siobhan Latar, S.T.D.; Apolonio Latar, S.T.L.)
Are faith and science compatible? What is the appropriate way to respond to the exponential growth of technology in our time? This course is designed to provide an understanding of science and technology within the intelligence of faith. Students will learn how having a Christian philosophical foundation allows for a truer vision of science and technology in contrast to contemporary naturalistic worldviews. It will offer a framework for students to think about and relate to modern technologies and contemporary issues, in order to have “the courage to engage the whole breadth of reason” (Pope Benedict XVI, “The Regensburg Address”). Topics will include, but are not limited to: scientism, the nature of science, contemporary medicine, genetic engineering, and artificial intelligence.
3 credits | Online
Tuesdays, 6:00 - 9:00pm EDT, July 1st, July 8th, July 15th, July 22nd, July 29th, August 5th, August 12th
CP621: Philosophy of Nature (TBD)
This course offers an examination of the ancient and medieval accounts of the natural world, specifically their understanding of nature, change, space, time, purpose, chance, and the principles upon which they rest. This is perhaps the most fundamental of all philosophy courses and, together with logic, establishes the vocabulary basic to the whole of the Catholic philosophical tradition.
3 credits
Dates TBD
D210: Lord, Teach Us to Pray: An Introduction to Prayer and Discernment (Lisa Lickona, S.T.L.)
What is prayer? How does one pray? What is discernment? Is it possible to discover God’s will and respond to it? What does it mean to make “spiritual progress”? This course attempts to answer these questions by drawing on classical texts from Scripture and Tradition. The emphasis throughout the course will be on both theology and practice, as students bring their own lived experience into dialogue with the witness of Jesus, Mary, and the saints.
3 credits | ROC and Online
Mondays, 6:00 - 9:00pm EDT, June 30th, July 7th, July 14th, July 21st, August 4th, August 11th
Spring 2025 Courses
January 6th - April 25th, 2025
(Note: Add/drop deadline is January 31st)
ROC (Rochester Campus)
A203: New Testament (Matthew Ramage, Ph.D.)
New Testament will introduce students to the literature, history, and theology of the New Testament. It focuses on key books of the New Testament with a primary focus on Jesus of Nazareth, the four canonical gospels, and the development of early Christianity.
3 credits | Online
Every other Wednesday, 6:30 — 9:30pm EST, 1/15, 1/29, 2/12, 2/26, 3/12, 3/26, 4/9, 4/23
A327: Biblical Wisdom Literature (Matthew Ramage, Ph.D.)
An exploration of the search for wisdom in classical biblical wisdom literature, with an emphasis on such topics as the quest for meaning, happiness, and coping with unanswered questions. This exploration will be compared with contemporary searches as revealed through human experience, life’s tasks, joys, and disappointments, and, above all, in the human search for God. The course will include a treatment of the psalms, the classic prayers in the Bible and Jewish/Christian prayer life.
3 credits | Online
Every other Wednesday, 6:30pm — 9:30pm EST, 1/8, 1/22, 2/5, 2/19, 3/5, 3/19, 4/2
B/C310: Catholic Social Teaching (Michael Sauter, MATS)
This course examines the development of Catholic Social Teaching from an historical and theological perspective. Students will become familiar with the numerous social documents of the Church, beginning with Rerum Novarum. The content and implications of these documents will be discussed and evaluated. The life and work of Dorothy Day and other key figures in the area of Catholic social teaching will be offered as examples of how we can integrate social teaching into our ministries and spirituality.
3 credits | ROC and Online
Every other Wednesday, 6:00pm — 9:00pm EST, 1/15, 1/29, 2/12, 2/26, 3/12, 3/26, 4/9, 4/23
B/C470: Secularism and the Relevance of Belief (Marco Stango, Ph.D.)
“Secularism” is the epochal phenomenon that has determined over the past centuries a progressive emancipation of society and culture from the centrality of religion in general and Christianity in particular. While some tend to interpret secularism as a merely political phenomenon, this course explores the genesis, development, and nature of secularism understood as a broader spiritual attitude of the West, born in modern times and still shaping our minds today. More precisely, the course puts to test the interpretative thesis that the process of secularization of the West began when the Christian experience could not be perceived any longer as the “concrete universal” of Europe. In engaging contemporary theorists of secularization, the course will focus upon Charles Taylor’s A Secular Age and related texts.
3 credits | Online
Every other Tuesday, 6:00pm — 9:00pm EST, 1/7, 1/21, 2/4, 2/18, 3/4, 3/18, 4/1, 4/15
B301: The Gift of Meaning: The History of the Church (Lisa Lickona, S.T.L.; Matthew Kuhner, Ph.D.)
“All those in history who have really done anything with the future have had their eyes fixed upon the past” (G.K. Chesterton). This course will provide a survey of Church history, tracking the Church of God across time and space from Pentecost to our present day. The course content will privilege a theological approach to history: it will investigate the historical unfolding of the Church’s doctrines, charisms, and spiritualities, and will assess the temporal development of the institutional Church. The investigations undertaken will be accompanied by a determined effort to learn from history for the sake of the present.
3 credits | ROC and Online
Every other Tuesday, 6:00pm — 9:00pm EST, 1/7, 1/21, 2/4, 2/18, 3/4, 3/18, 4/1, 4/15
C/D334: Catholic Bioethics at the End of Life (Amanda Achtman, Lic.)
This course examines a range of issues and controversies, from the determination of death itself, to euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, advance directives, hospice and palliative care options, organ donation, extra/ordinary care, and artificial nutrition and hydration. Topics are grounded in a broader discussion of Church views on suffering and death. Additional cutting-edge bioethical issues such as gender dysphoria, artificial wombs, CRISPR gene editing, and COVID-related ethics, are considered, alongside classic landmark ethical cases, and helpful narratives from the rich history of Catholic health care. Secular bioethical frameworks and arguments are examined. Issues are considered in a highly practical light, with emphasis given to real-world applications in pastoral, academic, and health care settings.
3 credits | Online
Tuesdays, 6:30pm — 8:30pm EST, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/18, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22
C/D398: Catechesis and the New Evangelization: Content, Method, and Challenges (Matthew Kuhner, Ph.D.)
In Catechesi Tradende, Pope St. John Paul II contends that “the definitive aim of catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ...” (§5). Taking this statement as a point of departure, this course explores the nature, content, and method of catechesis. It does so in the context of the call for a New Evangelization, which proposes a renewed emphasis on the Church’s missionary nature and the mission-character of discipleship itself. After addressing the history of catechesis and its sources in Scripture and Tradition, the course will focus upon the Church’s penetrating reflection on catechesis in the 20th and 21st centuries. Attention will be given to present-day challenges, as well as recent catechetical models which attempt to address these challenges. The general aim of the course is to answer two fundamental questions: (1) “what is catechesis?” and (2) “how can catechesis bear fruit in our age?"
3 credits | ROC and Online
Every other Tuesday, 6:00pm — 9:00pm EST, 1/14, 1/28, 2/11, 2/25, 3/11, 3/25, 4/8, 4/22
C215: Introduction to Theological Studies (Lisa Lickona, S.T.L.)
This course orients students to the various aspects of Catholic theological studies and the way Catholic theology functions in the faith community. Key issues such as faith, revelation, scripture, tradition, the magisterium, and theological method are explored with an eye to how they are integrated into the entire discipline of theology. The course aims at helping to develop a framework in which to understand how one engages in theological reflection. Specific theological terms will be defined and discussed. (Formerly "Orientation to Theological Studies")
3 credits | ROC and Online
Every other Thursday, 6:00pm — 9:00pm EST, 1/16, 1/30, 2/13, 2/27, 3/13, 3/27, 4/10, 4/24
C216: Grace, Nature, and Christian Anthropology (Lisa Lickona, S.T.L.)
This course will examine Christian Anthropology through the lens of the relationship between nature and grace. Main themes considered include predestination (of Jesus Christ, and of humanity in Jesus Christ), human nature in relation to grace, the meaning of the person, original sin, and justification.
3 credits | ROC and Online
Mondays, 6:30pm — 8:30pm EST, 1/6, 1/13, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 2/24, 3/3, 3/10, 3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/7, 4/14
C228: Ecclesiology and the Theology of Ministry (Rev. Benjamin Roberts, D.Min.)
A historical and theological overview of the Christian understanding of ecclesiology and ministry, with the Second Vatican Council as a primary point of reference. Topics include: the foundations of ecclesiology and ministry in the New Testament, the expressions of ecclesiology and ministry in the history of the Church, Apostolic succession, the nature of and relationship between the hierarchy and the laity, the local and the universal Church, and the Church and the world. Ecumenical engagement will also be addressed through the course. (Formerly "Theology of Church and Ministry")
3 credits | Online
Mondays, 6:30pm — 9:30pm EST, 1/13, 1/27, 2/10, 2/17, 3/10, 3/24, 4/7, 4/21
CP605: Beyond Deception: Logic and the Freedom of the Mind (Stephen Loughlin, Ph.D.)
An examination of the three activities that define reason (Understanding, Judgment, and Discursive Reasoning), and the development and practice of the techniques that perfect them (definition, the judgment of truth and falsity, the manipulation of propositions, and the formation of a sound argument). The course considers the defects that commonly affect sound reasoning (fallacies), the distinction between sound and cogent reasoning (deductive vs. inductive reasoning) and the criteria that govern the difference between the two, and lastly what constitutes Normative Persuasion Dialogue and how such is to be distinguished from other speech acts.
3 credits | ROC and Online
Wednesdays, 6:00pm — 9:00pm EST, 1/8, 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26, 3/5, 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/23
CP612: History of Philosophy: Medieval (Marco Stango, Ph.D.)
A survey course beginning with St. Augustine, through the rise of Scholasticism, and to its end. Emphasis is placed upon the thought of St. Augustine, Boethius, St. Anselm, St. Bonaventure, St. Thomas Aquinas, John Duns Scotus, and William of Ockham. The relations between faith and reason, and metaphysical, anthropological, and ethical teachings will be emphasized as they develop the thought received from the ancient Greek philosophers and prepare the way for the rise of modern philosophy.
3 credits | Online
Every other Tuesday, 6:00pm — 9:00pm EST, 1/14, 1/28, 2/11, 2/25, 3/11, 3/25, 4/8, 4/22
CP671: Classic Texts in Catholic Philosophy (Marco Stango, Ph.D.)
This course introduces the students to a close reading of a classic work from the Catholic philosophical tradition. For this reason, the works that may be studied include texts from the ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary age. According to the model presented in Fides et Ratio by St. Pope John Paul II, “faith and reason are like two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth.” The classics of philosophy selected for this course are examples of the attitude described in the encyclical letter, either because they present an understanding of reason that is open to faith, or because they present in an exemplary way the modality in which philosophical reason works once informed by faith. This course is the capstone course for the Master of Arts in Catholic Philosophy.
3 credits | Online
Thursdays, 6:00pm — 9:00pm EST, 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27, 3/6, 3/13, 3/20, 3/27, 4/3/, 4/10, 4/24
D207: Canon Law and Ministerial Leadership (Rev. Aaron Kelly, J.C.L.)
An introduction to Canon Law, especially as applicable to parish ministry. A particular focus will be given to the canon law of marriage. In addition to a brief summary of the history and development of Canon Law, and a brief survey of the structure of the Roman Curia, an overview will be given according to the organization of the 1983 Code of Canon Law:
I. General Norms (canons 1–203)
II. The People of God (canons 204–755)
III. The Teaching Function of the Church (canons 756–833)
IV. The Sanctifying Function of the Church (canons 834–1258)
V. The Temporal Goods of the Church (canons 1259–1310)
VI. Sanctions in the Church (canons 1311–1399)
VII. Processes (canons 1400–1752)
3 credits | ROC and Online
Every other Thursday, 6:00pm — 9:00pm EST, 1/16, 1/30, 2/13, 2/27, 3/13, 3/27, 4/10, 4/24
D218: Issues in Pastoral Care (Jessica Cole, D.Min.)
This course examines a variety of issues surrounding pastoral care and ministry in the parish. We will explore stages of faith development, OCIA, ministering to Gen Z, family ministry, Eucharistic affiliation, death and dying, and the current USCCB Strategic Initiatives. The course focuses on practical application of pastoral theology in ministry
3 credits | Online
Every other Tuesday, 6:30pm — 9:30pm EST, 1/7, 1/21, 2/4, 2/18, 3/4, 3/18, 4/1, 4/15
