Teaching Meditation and Prayer (DP9611C)

Postgraduate, 24.0 points

Content

This unit develops the skills to teach meditation and prayer in a variety of contexts. It will consider the spiritual life across the lifespan and meditation methods appropriate for various age groups including children, teenagers and adults. Students will explore various approaches such as scriptural and mantra meditation, mindfulness, breath, symbols, and the place of the body in meditation, with an emphasis on Christian approaches. The focus will be on silent meditation, and establishing places of silence in a contemporary context. Leadership qualities and ethical considerations required for teaching meditation to groups in a variety of settings will also be discussed. Students will engage in the teaching of meditation and prayer at such locations as schools, hospitals, youth groups, parish groups, universities, aged-care facilities, retreat centres and homes.

Unit code: DP9611C

Unit status: Approved (Minor revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Pastoral Theology and Ministry Studies

Delivery Mode: Blended

Proposing College: Catholic Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Critically analyze the biblical and theological background for meditation and prayer in the Christian tradition in a contemporary context.
2.

Critically analyze spiritual growth at various stages of life development.
3.

Assess and apply appropriate models of prayer and meditation in various pastoral contexts.
4.

Demonstrate and assess the leadership and communication skills required in Christian meditation settings such as schools, parishes, hospitals, palliative care facilities .
5.

Assess and articulate the fruits of meditation and prayer, and show how meditation is linked to action in these pastoral situations.
6.

Demonstrate a capacity to research a specific topic in meditation in a critically rigorous, sustained and self-directed manner.

Unit sequence

DP8001C and DP8002C required as a Pastoral Studies unit

Pedagogy

Learners will engage in intensive mode with lectures, workshops, facilitated peer discussion, electronic resources and professional experience.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Christie, Ernie. Coming Home: A Guide to Teaching Christian Mediation to Children. Mulgrave: John Garratt, 2007.
  • Kabat-Zinn, Jon. Mindfulness for Beginners: Reclaiming the Present Moment and your Life. Boulder, CO: Sounds True, 2012.
  • Keating, Thomas. Invitation to Love. New York: Continuum, 1998.
  • Keating, Thomas. Intimacy with God. New York: Crossroad, 2001.
  • Mason, Michael, Andrew Singleton, and Ruth Weber. The Spirit of Generation Y: Young People’s Spirituality in a Changing Australia. Mulgrave: John Garratt, 2007.
  • May, Gerald G. The Dark Night of the Soul: A Psychiatrist Explores the Connection Between Darkness and Spiritual Growth. San Francisco: HarperCollins, 2005.
  • Treleaven, David A. Trauma-Sensitive Mindfulness: Practices for Safe and Transformative Healing. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2018.
  • Stead, Tim. Mindfulness and Christian Spirituality: Making Space for God. Louisville: John Knox, 2017.
  • 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 2000 30.0
Portfolio

Note: a component of the portfolio is engaging in professional practice to which a hurdle task is attached.

 5000 70.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 28 Jul, 2025

Unit record last updated: 2025-07-28 09:25:41 +1000