STEP Update, February 2017
Supporting Catholic Schools

From January 29 to February 4, schools celebrate National Catholic Schools Week. This is the annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. Through local events, schools focus on the value Catholic education provides to young people and its contributions to our Church, our communities and our nation.

STEP provides direct service to Catholic schools, teachers and dioceses through our Catholic Faith and Tradition for School Teachers course. If you have questions or would like to schedule a customized group session, please contact our Catholic School Outreach Coordinator, Lisa Orchen.

Lent Begins March 1

A great way to observe Lent this year is to take a course to help renew your baptismal commitment and strengthen your relationship with God and the broader community of believers. Two courses beginning the first week of Lent can help. They are The Creed, through which you will obtain a deeper understanding of what we are professing and how the faith stated in the Creed both informs and challenges living the Christian life today, and On Prayer, which will challenge you  to consider what it means to see yourself as a person of prayer; and what is the relationship between prayer and action, prayer and social justice?

Webinar: Six Abortion Myths
Thousands marched on Washington, D.C., this past weekend to defend human life. Jessica Keating, director of the Notre Dame Office of Human Dignity and Life Initiatives, discusses the myths and realities of abortion in an educational webinar. Additionally, she offers practical advice for promoting a culture of life. Watch the webinar on YouTube.

Toward a Monastic Notion of the Common Good

In a recent article in Church Life Journal, Stephen Adubato writes, "It is said that Christendom has fallen, and societies around the world have entered into a post-Christian phase. These conditions have been exacerbated by a caustic and divisive election season. How are Christians to enter into a society whose values and general framework seem hostile to those of the Christian tradition? Is it possible for Christians to find common ground with others in order to offer significant contributions to society’s development? This implies the need for Christians to develop a nuanced and intelligent response to the needs of a nation divided by political discord..." Read the full article here.