St. Mary Student Parish - Graduate Student / Young Professional Discussion Group

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"But we have to celebrate And rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life: he was lost and has been found " —Luke 15:32

Graduate Student / Young Professional Discussion Group

Past Discussions

Disclaimer: This page is meant to both give an indication of the kinds of discussions we have and to make accessible any resources the discussion leader has provided. Everything here is made available with the presenter's permission. Please note that the materials are incomplete and were only meant to supplement the actual discussion; they necessarily leave out any comments which the discussion leader made in person, so they are not representative of the discussion. Also, any views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the community at St. Mary Student Parish.

If you have led a discussion in the past and have any resources that accompanied your discussion or have further references you wish to make available, we encourage you to email the lead team (st.mary.grad-lead@umich.edu).

File formats:

Many of the resources presented here are in Microsoft Word or PowerPoint format If you do not have either of these products, you can download the free Microsoft Word Viewer 2003 or Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer 2003. Alternatively, you can download the OpenOffice Suite, a completely free full-fledged alternative to Microsoft Office. To view pdf documents, you can download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Jump to year: [ 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 ]


2006
8/7/06	Monasticism

6/19/06	Abortion and the Law

5/15/06	Immigration
	We will see "Dying to Live, a migrant's journey", a documentary from the Center for Latino Spirituality and Culture of the University of Notre Dame. Fr. Dan will present the main points discussed in "Strangers No Longer", a Pastoral Letter Concerning Migration from the Catholic Bishops of Mexico and the United States, and an short overview of the bills currently being discussed in the Congress. There will be some time for discussion, and we will have some members of the Immigration Action Team from St. Mary's.
5/1/06	Brainstorming and Planning Session
	This Monday, we'll come up with new ideas for meetings, formats, and activities, as well as topic ideas and presenters for the summer. Bring your ideas and a positive attitude, and we'll get Grad Group shaped up together.
4/17/06	Intelligent Design
	Something called "Intelligent Design" (ID) has recently been in the news, thanks to several Board of Education policy decisions, most notably in Kansas and Pennsylvania, and their resultant court cases.The question at issue has been: should ID be added to public schoolsscience curriculums? Debate has been intense, in no small part because ID theory has been pressed especially (perhaps only?) by Christians. But just what is ID, anyway? Is it a scientific theory? Is it theology? Is it philosophy? And why does it seem to be the province of Christians?
4/3/06	The Case of Terri Schiavo One Year Later: Determining the Authentic Roman Catholic Position and its Consequences for American Law
	March 31st marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Terri Schiavo, the disabled Roman Catholic Florida woman at the center of a contentious national right-to-life case who starved to death after her feeding tube was removed by court-order. The Vatican took a strong and vocal position in favor of Terri's right to life. But was the Vatican's position consistent with traditional Catholic teaching on the provision of food and water to those in a vegetative state? Come find out! All are welcome.
3/20/06	Vatican II
	Come on Monday, when our very own Fr. Tom McClain will be speaking with us! Fr. Tom is going to discuss Vatican II, and the impact on our generation.
3/6/06	Being in Relationships
	Are you in relationship with other people? Or are you 'just social'? Come join us on Monday to think about the different important relationships in our lives, the ones we choose and the ones we don't, and how we can engage in them as Christians.
2/20/06	Playing God by Playing with Our Genes?
	Advances in the field of genetics, and the resulting medical applications of these technologies, may present a novel collection of moral issues for individuals and society at large. Discussion will focus on using the teachings of the Catholic Church to provide direction for the ethical use of genetic technology. Please come and participate in a lively conversation about eugenics, prenatal genetic diagnosis, in-vitro fertilization and other reproductive technologies.
2/6/06	Taize
	This Monday several of the musically inclined members of the Grad Group will be leading us in Taize, a meditative form of prayer. If you've never seen Taize before, it's an excellent way to open yourself to the Spirit, and relax.
1/16/06	Deadly Addiction or Harmless Pastime: how do we know which pleasures are sinful?
	There are many things we like to do, but not everything is necessarily good. How do we know if a pleasurable activity is acceptable or sinful? What makes something sinful? What do we find pleasurable, and what is the purpose of pleasure? Come join us for a thought-provoking discussion about these topics and about how we can think about moral issues in general.

2005
12/19/05	"The Bad Popes"
	The Church has been occasionally saddled with some very wicked popes in the past 2000 years, and some antipopes who weren't that bad. Some evil popes sold bishoprics for fun and profit, while other good popes were installed by their mothers, or who bought the popehood outright. Who were these people? What did they really do? What have we learned from them? Come and find out things that your Sunday School teacher never told you! (presented by a former Sunday School teacher)
12/5/05	Apparitions of Mary
	Guadalupe, Lourdes and Fatima are not the only apparitions from Our Lady in the modern times. Come and hear about other apparitions. We will discuss such questions as: What is the church position regarding apparitions? What does Mary look like in her apparitions? What are the messages that Our Lady has left with us? What signs did Mary leave for us? We will talk a little bit about these and other questions regarding the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother and Mother of God.
11/21/05	The Lord's Prayer, with Fr. Charlie
	Behind each of the words and phrases in the Lord's Prayer lies a rich array of concepts. Take the first word, for instance. Have we spent much time meditating on the word "Our"? Most of us probably have not. But we should. Jesus selected every word deliberately. Perhaps we should spend some equally deliberate time meditating on His choice and why He placed it as the first word of the prayer He taught His disciples. What does it mean to ask that God's kingdom come here on earth? The last two phrases are somewhat mysterious. Would God lead us into temptation? How does God deliver us from evil? The meditations in this book are designed to answer these questions and increase your awareness about what Jesus was teaching us when we pray His beautiful prayer.
11/7/05	Sin and Reconciliation: It's more than just five Our Father's and ten Hail
	The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of the most powerful of the Church's Sacraments, yet often the least sought after by members of the Church. Fr. Dan Reim, S.J. will offer reflections on sin and reconciliation, various approaches to moral examinations of conscience, and how the Sacrament of Reconciliation might be reconsidered. Participants will be invited to discuss: Images of God: God of Justice or Mercy?; Perception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation; Approaches to moral living - Actions or Dispositions.
10/17/05	Catholic Schools
	Catholic Schools have long been a prominent component of Catholic activity and experience. Many of us studied at parish or diocesan schools as children or teenagers, others at Catholic colleges and universities. From all perspectives there are benefits and costs to education in a distinctly and identifiably Catholic environment. We will share our experiences and thoughts about how Catholic education has affected us and those around us, and debate the value of its various characteristics and driving principles.
10/3/05	Overpopulation: Reality or Myth?
	We'll explore the facts behind population trends and resource use, and discuss the Christian response to the idea that 'people are pollution'
9/19/05	Pornography, homosexual acts, pre-marital sex, and other
	We will discuss why or why not these activities might be harmful and how one could go about trying to understand these difficult questions. So come join the thought-provoking discussion!
9/5/05	St. Mary's Cook-out
	Join us at St. Mary's for some food, company, and to meet some new students. We'll be meeting behind St. Mary's at 6pm, and we may go out afterwards. See you there!
8/15/05	Movie and Discussion: The Mission
	We will gather to watch and discuss The Mission, a true story about Jesuit missionaries trying to save an Indian tribe from slavery. Please join us for discussion, snacks, and fellowship.
8/1/05	Bio-ethics and personal security
	Please come share your views as we discuss how medicine is changing, for instance DNA banks, brain enhancers and stem cells. Who makes decisions about the future of medicine? The politicians? The media? The public? The scientists? Come along tonight to learn some, discuss some and eat some snacks!
7/18/05	Putt-Putt Golf Social
	St. Mary's is closed during the week next week. So, instead of the regular discussion, we're going to play putt putt! We'll be playing at Putt-Putt Golf and Games. Meet at the course at 7PM Monday, and plan on going out for ice cream afterwards! Let us know if you need a ride, and we'll arrange pickups from St. Mary's. See you on the greens!
7/4/05	4^th of July BBQ
	Join us at Allmendinger Park for a potluck BBQ to celebrate Independence Day. It will be at 6pm on July 4. Bring any equipment (or toys) for games you'd like to play!
6/20/05	Chuch Latin for Fun
	Vah! Denuone Latine loquebar? Me ineptum. Interdum modo elabitur. Oh! I was speaking Latin again? Silly me. Sometimes it just sort of slips out. Come to Grad Group on Monday and impress your friends! Insult your enemies! And understand exactly what's going on at Easter services! If you're still wondering what "Habemus Papam" means, we'll see you on Monday!
6/6/05	Lord of the Rings: Faith and Fantasy
	Whether or not you are a fan, we hope you'll join us and share your thoughts on this popular subject!
5/16/05	Perspectives on Dating and Relationships
	Everyone out there has a different perspective on dating and relationships. Some people want commitment. Others are afraid. Some don't want commitment. Others are afraid of that. Some think there's a difference between a dating relationship and a relationship relationship. Some think the guy should pay. Some think they should split the tab. Some think the girl should pay. Some think dinner is a bad date idea. Some think that they would be good dating/relationship material. Others think they are not. Some people just wanna get laid. Some people want to wait until they're married. What makes good dating/relationship material? What do men and women want? How do they get there? Does not wanting to get married disqualify them from dating you? What is the purpose of dating? What's the deal with sex? These are some of the questions we'll be exploring. If you are married, single, neither or both, your opinions will be unique so bring them with you... This discussion will extremely opinion/discussion focused, so your perspective will be valuable... so don't be shy!
5/2/05	Grad Group Planning and Social Meeting
	Our next meeting will be a soul-searching, brain-storming, idea-sharing — and socializing too — event! We'll meet as usual at St. Mary's, but rather than our normal presentation/discussion format, we'll have only discussion, about how Grad Group can better serve us all. We'll come up with new ideas for meetings, formats, and activities, as well as topic ideas and Presenters for the summer. Bring your ideas and a positive attitude, and we'll get Grad Group shaped up together.
4/18/05	Natural Law
	We'll explore the idea of natural law -- what is it? how does it work in practice? We'll also toss around thoughts and opinions regarding particular applications of natural law -- both traditional and non-traditional -- and what place it should hold in civil law.
3/21/05	Relationships and God's Plan for Them

3/7/05	The Historical Jesus
	Join us for a critical look into how the Biblical canon - and extracanonical writings - do and do not support common conceptions about the human person of Jesus. Can we prove whether or not he lived and died? What can we deduce about his ministry and his followers? Is the resurrection historically provable? Come discuss these and other questions in light of recent scholarship!
2/21/05	The Da Vinci Code
	We're meeting this Monday at 7pm to discuss The Da Vinci Code. Don't worry if you haven't read the book beforehand. Our expert, multi-media savvy presenters are bringing the book to you -- through some brief audio clips of the book-on-tape and a short slide show!
1/31/05	Discussions Gone Wild!
	Join us at 7pm on January 31st for a free-flowing, wide-ranging discussion of the topics of the day. This meeting will break our traditional form, inviting discussion on topics from Ukraine to the Super Bowl, from Tsunamis to Kwame Kilpatrick. We will meet in the Newman Hall (basement) for two hours. Stop in when you can, bring topics, opinions and if possible, a light snack!
1/3/05	Just War


2004
12/20/04	Male and Female Roles in Our Modern World

12/6/04	St. Nicholas

11/15/04	The Jesuits
	Come on down to St. Mary's tonight for a very interesting discussion led by by Fr. Dan on the Jesuits -- their origin, structure, mission, and spirituality. We'll also have a chance to think about our own callings, in light of Vatican II.
11/1/04	Election 2004

10/18/04	Habitat for Humanity

10/4/04	Evolution
	Our topic for discussion is the Theory of Evolution and what we as Catholics think about it. Topics will include acceptance of the theory by the Church, whether there is a conflict with Biblical creation, scientific validity of the theory, and possible applications to modern social issues.
9/20/04	Prayer in Motion
	The Graduate Students and Young Professional Group invites the parish to attend a special session on personal prayer. Come experience a new dimension in your personal prayer using your body, mind and spirit to pray with the Scriptures. Deepen your connection with God as you pray through movement, music, and guided meditation. Basic movements will be taught which can be done by anyone, regardless of experience or physical limitation.
9/6/04	[Labor Day]

8/16/04	History of Music

8/2/04	Augustine and Aquinas: Original Sin

7/19/04	Liturgical Music

6/7/04	The Gnostic Gospels
	The presentation will be on the Gnostic gospels, gnosticism, and how and why these texts were excluded from the Bible.
5/17/04	Moral Relativism
	Join your fellows once again this Monday, May 17th, at 7:00 pm at St. Mary's for a presentation on 'Moral Relativism'. A presentation will cover basics of the topic, and will be followed by snacks and small-group discussion, and finally socialization.
5/3/04	Gay Marriage

4/19/04	Humanity and Nanotechnology: Judging Enhancements

4/5/04	St. Paul and Early Christianity
	The life and writings of St. Paul
3/15/04	Theology of the Body, How it Relates to Dating
	Dan Dentino, Vice President for Student Affairs at Ave Maria College will lead the discussion. He will cover John Paul II's Theology of the Body, with a special emphasis on how it relates to dating chastity and "how far is too far" in a dating relationship. Refreshments and small group discussion will follow the talk.
3/1/04	The Books of the New Testament

2/16/04	Marriage, Annulment, and Law

2/2/04	Law and the Common Good

1/19/04	Social / Community Sin

1/5/04	The Papacy


2003
12/15/03	Advent party and group evaluation

12/1/03	The Virtue of Hope

11/17/03	The Eastern Rites of the Catholic Church

11/3/03	Old Testament
	We will have a presentation of the general history of the Old Testament, followed by discussion. Is the Old Testament still applicable to us today? Did the New Testament erase, modify, or keep our duties as believers the same as the Old Testament? What did Jesus think of the Old Testament?
10/20/03	Judaism

10/6/03	Beyond Last Rites: Decisions at the End of Life

9/15/03	Morality of Contraception

9/1/03	Labor Day picnic

8/18/03	Protestant beliefs

8/4/03	Shrines and Churches

5/19/03	[Picnic]

5/5/03	Group Brainstorm with the Parish Pastoral Council

4/21/03	Prayer

4/7/03	Faith and Reason

3/17/03	Lent

3/3/03	Edith Stein: Atheist, Philosopher, and Saint
	An extremely quick look at the phenomenology of Edith Stein
2/17/03	Pope John Paul II

2/3/03	Miracles and Apparitions

1/20/03	Designer Babies

1/6/03	Tridentine Rite and the Seminary


2002
12/16/02	Advent

12/2/02	Aquinas for Dummies

11/18/02	Business & Morality: How do they relate to one another?

11/4/02	Eucharist: The Physical Presence of Christ

10/21/02	A Historical Approach to Islam

10/7/02	Women Throughout Church History

9/16/02	Entertainment, Media, & Catholicism

9/2/02	[Dinner at Pizza House]

8/19/02	Mary, Mother of God

7/15/02	Tithing and Charity

7/1/02	Phenomenon Movie and Discussion

6/17/02	Discussion on Israeli/Palestinian Issue

6/3/02	[ Bishop Mengeling addresses current Church scandal at St. Francis Church ]

5/20/02	Environmental Justice

5/6/02	Meditation and the Rosary

4/15/02	Explained Mass

4/1/02	Catholics in Dialogue with Other Christians

3/18/02	RCIA: What's it All About?

3/4/02	The Sacrament of Healing: Reconciliation

2/18/02	Church and State

2/5/02	Theology of the Body

2/4/02	Islam and the Crusades

1/21/02	Multicultural Catholicism

1/7/02	Natural Law


2001
12/3/01	The Book of Enoch
	...and other apocryphal books.
11/19/01	Music and the Church

11/5/01	Moral, theological & practical implications of evolution

10/15/01	Just War and Pacifism in the Catholic Tradition

10/1/01	The Charismatic Church

8/20/01	Irony in the Gospel of John

8/6/01	Contemporary Questions in the Priesthood

7/16/01	The Papacy: Today and Tomorrow

7/2/01	Prayer and Discernment

6/18/01	Social Sin

6/4/01	Why Catholic Schools?

5/21/01	Worship and Music

5/7/01	Irish Church
	How the Irish saved civilization...
4/16/01	Spirituality and Religious Orders
	(Jesuit, Benedictine, & Franciscan)
4/2/01	Vocations

3/19/01	Liturgical Art and Architecture

3/5/01	Hebrew Roots of Christianity

2/19/01	Maintaining a Catholic Family

1/29/01	Catholicism in the Workplace


2000
11/20/00	Jesus and Pluralism

11/6/00	Luke's Gospel

10/30/00	The Afterlife

10/16/00	Stewardship of Creation

9/18/00	Same-sex Marriage

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Featured Events

August 29
Welcome Salsa Dance

Students! The Salsa is "HOT"! Learn to salsa dance with a professional instructor and dance...
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August 31
Candlelight Mass of the Holy Spirit

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September 1
Labor Day Cook-Out in the Courtyard

Looking for a barbecue on Labor Day? Come join us for a late afternoon cook-out in the courtyard. FREE...
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Upcoming Events
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SCHOOL YEAR HOURS

9/7	•	Welcome Picnics and Weekend Masses at St. Mary's
9/10	•	Newman Student Gathering
9/17	•	Newman Student Gathering
9/24	•	Newman Student Gathering
10/1	•	Newman Student Gathering
10/5	•	First Sunday
10/8	•	Newman Student Gathering
10/15	•	Newman Student Gathering
10/22	•	Newman Student Gathering
10/29	•	Newman Student Gathering

Mass Schedule

Sunday:	8:30 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 noon, 2:00 pm (Spanish Mass), 5:00 pm
Monday:	5:10 pm
Tuesday:	5:10 pm
Wednesday:	5:10 pm
Thursday:	5:10 pm
Friday:	12:10 pm

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