Content

This unit explores the spiritual life by examining the developmental stages and meditation techniques appropriate for various age groups including children, teenagers and adults. Students explore various approaches including mantra, scripture, symbols, mandala, visualization, body work and spiritual journaling, with an emphasis on Christian meditation. The focus will be on silent meditation and establishing places of silence in the contemporary technological context including schools, parishes and other settings. The unit will include such topics as spirituality and holiness, discovery of identity and intimacy and signs of spiritual growth. Leadership qualities and ethical considerations required for introducing meditation to groups in a variety of settings will also be discussed. Students will engage in professional experience in leading a meditation group at such locations as schools, hospitals, youth groups, parish groups. The framework and insights of the Enhancing Catholic Schools Identity project will be referred to in the teaching of this unit. This unit can be used as a praxis unit including the development of a ‘Project Plan’ that is certified as ‘low risk’ by the Head of Department, and a supervised professional placement including a ‘Placement Contract.’ (see appendix 1)

Unit code: DP3610C

Unit status: Archived (New unit)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 3

Unit discipline: Pastoral Theology and Ministry Studies

Delivery Mode: Face to Face

Proposing College: Catholic Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Describe and analyse images of God appropriate to the various stages of life development;

2.

Assess and apply appropriate models of prayer and meditation in various pastoral contexts;

3.

Demonstrate and reflect on the kind of leadership and communication skills required in Christian meditation settings such as schools, parishes, hospitals, palliative care facilities;

4.

Show how meditation is linked to action in these pastoral situations;

Pedagogy

Lecture, seminars, tutorials

Indicative Bibliography

  • Christie, Ernie. Coming Home: A Guide to Teaching Christian Mediation to Children. Mulgrave: John Garratt Publishing, 2007.
  • Coming to Know, Worship and Love: A Religious Education Curriculum Framework for Catholic Schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. 11 vols. 2003. Reprint, Melbourne: James Goold House Publications, 2007.
  • Keating, Thomas. Invitation to Love. 1992. Reprint, New York: Continuum, 1998.
  • Mason, Michael, Andrew Singleton, and Ruth Weber. The Spirit of Generation Y: Young People’s Spirituality in a Changing Australia. Mulgrave: John Garratt Publishing, 2007.
  • May, Gerald G. The Dark Night of the Soul: A Psychiatrist Explores the Connection Between Darkness and Spiritual Growth. 2003. Reprint, San Francisco: HarperCollins, 2005.
  • Murphy, Michael and Steven Donovan. The Physical and Psychological Effects of Meditation: A Review of Contemporary Mediation Research with a Comprehensive Bibliography, 1931-1988. Sausalito: The Institute of Noetic Sciences, 1997.
  • Pearson, Mark. Emotional Healing & Self-esteem: Inner-life Skills of Relaxation, Visualisation and Meditation for Children and Adolescents. Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research, 1998.
  • Tacey, David. The Spirituality Revolution: The Emergence of Contemporary Spirituality. Pymble: HarperCollins, 2003.
  • Vaillant, George. Aging Well: Surprising Guideposts to a Happier life from the landmark Harvard Study of Adult Development. New York: Little Brown & Company, 2002.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Report

Praxis Report: Professional Practice 1500 word report

1500 25.0
Case Study

Praxis Case Study: Leadership/ facilitation Development 1000 word case study

1000 20.0
Essay

2500 word essay

2500 55.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by John Capper on 31 Dec, 2015

Unit record last updated: 2020-07-22 22:28:12 +1000