Ecclesiology & History

Using Scriptural passages that highlight the Church of the Origins, we examine the rising of the Christian community and the progressive self-awareness of the community as it organized to respond to the call of the Gospel and the needs of the times.  We then continue by considering the Church’s self-understanding (ecclesiology) as it developed, especially from Trent to Vatican II. In the final portion of the course we highlight tasks confronting the Church in the contemporary world: Church as mystery; prophetic and pilgrim People sent to announce and celebrate salvation; community of disciples that witnesses and serves.

Instructor: Fr. Joseph Boenzi, SDB, Director of the Institute of Salesian Studies (ISS);Professor of Theology and Spirituality at the Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology in Berkeley; Former Professor at the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome (until his appointment as Director of ISS in 2017).