Next Meeting - This Saturday, May 3rd, 2008

Our next meeting will be Saturday, May 3rd at 9:30am-11:30am.

We will be working through pages 35-156.

If you are presently on the mailing list, I kindly request that you RSVP and let me know whether you are or are not going to be able to make it. Please know that it is important that I hear from you either way--I need to make adequate preparations for seating, food, coffee, etc. Thanks!

If you are not presently on the mailing list and would like to be, please email me at your convinience. Contact information is on the right side of this website.

If you need directions please contact me! Hope to see you!

Excellent Discussion!

Today's Discussion

The theology discussion group today was excellent! Much better than I thought it would be, actually.

I think that this will be a great opportunity for learning more about our faith and a great time for fellowship.

Too Challenging?

A few people who had inquired about the group, and some in the group, expressed concern that it would be too difficult.

Certainly, it should be challenging, no?

Group Orientation Helps with the Reading

But the group setting and discussion orientation seems to be an excellent opportunity, especially for those who find the reading difficult: they have the opportunity to gain some insights, perhaps, from the other people in the group. Certainly, I learned some things today and the group setting helped me with my own understanding of the text: and I have read the book 4 times.

Consider Joining Us! - Saturday, May 3rd, 9:30am

If you feel that this would be a helpful group, please consider joining us at our next meeting: Saturday, May 3rd at 9:30am.

At that time we will be covering up to page 156 of Joseph Ratzinger's Spirit of the Liturgy. This is an extremely reasonable (almost slow) amont of reading to do in 4 weeks for those who are interested.

As always, if you are interested in joining the group please email me. If you plan on attending the next meeting, please RSVP.

Meeting THIS SATURDAY

The Ressourcement Theology Study Group is comfortably growing. We have 14 people who are interested in being kept in the loop as to what we are reading and when we are meeting, and there are 7 people who have said they plan on being at the first meeting on April 5th! Ages range from 20 something to 80 something, so we will be bringing a wide range of experiences to the discussion!

Interested?

See the information below and to the right!

IF YOU PLAN ON ATTENDING THIS SATURDAY, PLEASE RSVP (even if you are already on the mailing list).

April 5th - Next Meeting

Spirit of the Liturgy

April 5th

Our next study will be Ratzinger/Benedict's Spirit of the Liturgy. We will be meeting on Saturday, April 5th at 9:30am in the Vancouver, WA area and will be discussing the first two parts of the book (up to page 111). There are almost four weeks until the meeting, so you have more than enough time to join in!

While you are always encouraged to patronize the many Catholic bookstores in the area, you can find the book at Amazon.com (CLICK HERE).

For more information about the class and about the coordinator, please see the side bar to the right and the information below.

Announcing Theology Small Group in SW Washington / Portland Metro Area

Ressourcement –
Catholic Theology Group
“Catholic Theology with Joseph Ratzinger”

Diving Deeper

Interested in diving a little deeper into the Faith? Dabbling in theology and wishing there were some people to share your interests with? Perhaps you studied theology in school and want to pick it up again?

If you answered “yes” to any of the above questions, then your wish may have come true! Justin Nickelsen is starting a small inter-parish group devoted to diving into the depths of our Catholic theological heritage. No prerequisite required other than a desire to learn and discuss with likeminded Catholics.

Joseph Ratzinger - Benedict XVI

We have a particularly inviting situation on our hands: Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) is the first academic and professional “theologian” to have become “pope”. This affords us the opportunity to study great theology and learn about our present Holy Father. Thus, for the indefinite future, this group will be devoted to the writings of Pope Benedict XVI, “the theologian”.

For More Information

For more information, please contact Justin Nickelsen at 360.907.9648 or by email: nouvelletheologie (at) hotmail (dot) com.

About Justin Nickelsen

Justin Nickelsen is Assistant for Religious Education at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Camas, WA. He studied Theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville, in Steubenville, Ohio.

Justin has been published in Lay Witness Magazine and in 2000 he interned in the Apologetics Department at Catholic Answers, in San Diego, California.

His interests are in Biblical and Historical Theology, with an emphasis in 20th century thinkers often associated with the 'school of thought' referred to as Ressourcement or Nouvelle Théologie: Henri de Lubac, Hans Urs von Balthasar, Louis Bouyer, Jean Daniélou, Yves Congar, Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI), and others.

Justin is part owner of Nickelsen Home Inspections, LLC with affords him ample spare time to continue pursuing his theological studies, writing projects and part-time work at St. Thomas in Camas, WA. He is married with two children and presently resides in Vancouver, WA.