Unlock Your Inner Voice: Join Our Spiritual Writing Workshop!
- Full-Day Workshop
- On campus
- Mary Ward Centre, Loretto College, University of St. Michael’s College,
- 70 St. Mary Street
- Saturday, March 29
- 10:00 am-3:00 pm
- $100.00 (includes HST)
Longing to connect on a deeper level? Looking to explore questions that keep arising? Come. Be inspired. Follow your pen into Mystery. Pray on paper. Write towards a deeper understanding of who you were, who you are, and who you are called to be.
No previous writing experience is necessary.
Come to our safe, affirming circle with an open heart, an empty notebook, and leave with a practice that will challenge, console and delight. We follow the Amherst Writers and Artists Method in which you learn to trust your own voice.
**Coffee will be provided, please plan to bring a litterless lunch or purchase lunch from a local café**
Learning Outcomes:
In this workshop, participants will:
Explore a Reflective Writing Practice: Participants will practice a unique method of approaching personal writing practice that encourages introspection, creative exploration, and a deeper sense of self-awareness.
Deepen Spiritual Insight and Connection: Participants will explore their inner experiences and spiritual questions, fostering a deeper connection to self and others within a supportive, reflective community.
About the Instructors
Kate Marshall Flaherty has taught writing as a spiritual practice, meditation and mindfulness, and now teaches in the social responsibility and sustainability modules at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto. Author of seven books of poetry, Kate guides Stillpoint writing workshops in the Amherst Writers and Artists Method. She and Susie have written together for decades.
Susie Whelehan spent 32 years teaching children that God loved them as they were, and recently co-facilitated a course called “Poetry, Prayer and the Political Moment” in Continuing Education at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto in the Fall 2024 semester. She writes poetry (and has published one poetry collection, The Sky Laughs at Borders), essays, memoir, and guides Oasis writing workshops in the AWA method.
Questions?
Application Form TBA
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Unveil the Mysteries of Mediaeval Women
- A Modern Symposium at Mediaeval Prices
- Saturday, April 5, 2025
- Registration: 8:30 am | Symposium: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
- Alumni Hall, Room 400, 121 St. Joseph St., Toronto
- Cost: $150.00 Includes lunch & coffee/tea
Overview
The great mediaeval French writer, Christine de Pisan, wrote about The City of Ladies, an idyllic community of great women of the past. Real mediaeval cities and their women, however, diverged significantly from Christine’s ideal.
Mediaeval cities were lively and complex environments. They were filled with people: rich, poor, and middle class all living in close quarters. They were places of opportunity and danger. People flooded to cities to establish businesses, to find a new start in life, to leave their past behind, or to hide from the law. They were also replete with cut-purses and cut-throats, rogues and rapists. Women were very much a part of city life: apprentices and servants, noble ladies and ladies of the night, wives and widows, nurses and nuns, all lived within the walls of mediaeval cities. We shall explore the real cities in which women lived and worked by exploring life and culture in various cities across mediaeval Europe.
Hosted by Jacqueline Murray, University Professor Emerita, University of Guelph and Fellow, St Michael’s College
Sessions & Speakers
8:30-9:00 Registration and morning coffee
9:00-9:10 Welcome, Jacqueline Murray, Host and Convenor, University of St Michael’s College & Mediaeval Studies, University of Toronto & History, University of Guelph
9:10-10:00 Sisters of Beaune: Caring for the Sick in the Late Middle Ages, Isabelle Cochelin, History & Mediaeval Studies, University of Toronto
Abstract: We often imagine that mediaeval women were forced to choose between marriage and the cloister. There were, however, multiple other options which scholars have only started to explore. One example is the sisters working in hospitals, such as those at the hospice of Beaune. Founded in 1443, by Nicolas Rolin and Guigone de Salins, a lay couple, who even wrote a rule to structure the sisters’ daily life. What do we know about these women who played a key role within late mediaeval society? How did their life differ from that of nuns, whose governing norms were usually written by churchmen)?
10:00- 10:30 Coffee Break
10:30-11:30 From Merchants to Servants: A Consideration of Women in Sixteenth- and Seventeen-Century Scotland, Cathryn Spence, History & Centre for Scottish Studies, University of Guelph
Abstract: In late mediaeval and early modern Scottish towns, women occupied a variety of economic positions. They were merchants, moneylenders, and servants and they forged and maintained relationships across social classes. Using Edinburgh as a case study, we will investigate the economic, social, and religious connections that affected their lives, including where they lived, which parts of the city they went to, their daily tasks, and their subsequent impact on their city.
11:30-12:30pm Constança of Girona: Conversion and Agency in Late Mediaeval Catalonia, Alexandra Guerson, New College, University of Toronto, and Dana Wessell Lightfoot, History, University of Northern British Columbia
Abstract: In the Summer of 1391, Jewish communities throughout the Kingdom of Castile and the Crown of Aragon were attacked by mobs and often faced the choice of death or conversion. In the Catalan city of Girona, a young Jewish woman named Bellaure converted to Christianity, taking the name of Constança, sparking a conflict with her Jewish husband. We will trace Constança’s story over three decades as she divorced, remarried, managed property, loaned and borrowed money, becoming one of the most active women connected to the Jewish community of Girona during a pivotal time. Throughout this period, she successfully cultivated ties with both Jews and Christians, navigating such relationships despite increasing conflict.
12:30-2:00 Mediaeval Lunch (Fr Madden Hall in Carr Hall, just across St Joseph’s St)
2:00-3:00 Rhyme by Rhyme: Women and Men in Poetic Dialogue, Konrad Eisenbichler, Victoria College, University of Toronto
Abstract: In the late summer of 1540, there was an exchange of sonnets between a group of noble women in Siena and Alessandro Piccolomini, at that time a student at the University of Padua. This exchange illustrates the level of linguistic and poetic competence among women who were not, by any means, professionally engaged with the world of letters or with poetic composition. The women responded per le rime, that is, by re-using Piccolomini’s rhyme scheme and even his rhyme words. This exchange of poetry identifies a network of women writers who knew each other personally and were aware of each other’s participation in this particular poetic venture.
3:00-4:00 Geoffrey Chaucer, Cecily Chaumpaigne, and Female Labour, Sebastian Sobecki, English & Mediaeval Studies, University of Toronto
Abstract: Geoffrey Chaucer is the most famous poet of the later Middle Ages. While The Canterbury Tales are widely familiar, less is known about Chaucer’s life in London, and a court case that surrounded Chaucer and a servant woman, Cecily Chaumpaigne. This case raises questions about what we know (and don’t know) about her relationship with Chaucer. This paper will summarise what we know about the relationship between Chaucer and his servant Cecily Chaumpaigne and will introduce new findings that have implications for our understanding of female labour in late-mediaeval London.
4:00-4:30 General Discussion & Concluding Remarks
Questions?
Register Now
SMCE4009 W25 – Mediaeval Symposium: Cities of Women in the Middle Ages
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- 5 Weeks
- Tuesdays, February 25—March 26, 2025
- 6pm-8pm
- Muzzo Family Alumni Hall Room 400 (121 St. Joseph St.)
- $339 (includes HST & materials)
Immerse yourself in the heart of Irish culture with this interactive, in-person course. Over five weeks, you’ll learn the fundamentals of hurling, the fastest field sport, and Gaelic football, Ireland’s most popular game. Discover the beauty of céilí dancing, blending cultural theory with hands-on practice, and try your hand at making traditional Irish recipes like báirín breac. Finally, enjoy a screening of the acclaimed Irish-language film Kneecap, followed by a discussion on the politics of minority languages in Modern Ireland.
Learning Outcomes
Through this course, learners will:
Experience Irish cultural traditions, including sport, dance, cuisine, and language.
Explore the historical and contemporary significance of Irish cultural practices in shaping national identity
Investigate the role of tradition, media, and politics in the preservation and evolution of Irish culture.
Session Descriptions
Week 1 – Tuesday, February 25th, 6pm-8pm – Hurling. Learners will receive the opportunity to learn the fundamental skills of the fastest field sport in the world.
See Pa Sheehan on Breakfast Television discussing Hurling here!
Week 2 – Tuesday March 4th, 6pm-8pm – Gaelic football. Learners will receive the opportunity to learn the fundamental skills of the most popular sport in Ireland.
Week 3 – Tuesday March 11th, 6pm-8pm – Céilí dancing. This class will involve some theory-based content in which the learners will investigate the legitimacy of the céilí dance as characteristic of Irish culture. Learners will also be able to learn some céilí dances from expert teachers.
Week 4 – Tuesday March 18th, 6pm-8pm, Food. This class will enable the learners to make some traditional Irish recipes such as báirín breac and learn about the significance of the dish and how its significance has progressed in contemporary Ireland.
Week 5 – Tuesday March 25th, 6pm-8pm, Film. We will watch the highly acclaimed Irish language film, Kneecap. This will be followed by a discussion on the politics surrounding minority languages and what role these languages can play in contemporary Ireland.
About the Instructor
Pa Sheehan, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, in the Celtic Studies program at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto. Pa holds a Professional Master’s in Education from the University of Limerick which focused on the teaching of both Irish and French. Pa is in his fifth year teaching in the Celtic Studies Program at St. Mike’s. He had previously spent two years teaching Irish at the University of Montana and at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Born in the beautiful west of Ireland, Pa’s work assuages any feelings of homesickness he may encounter. He has taught courses on Irish language, literature, traditional music, mythology, minority language media and sport. Pa’s classroom tends to be a loud place where students are encouraged to engage in discussion and debate.
Questions?
Please get in touch with ce.stmikes@utoronto.ca
Application Form
SMCE4006 W25 – Experience Ireland: Sport, Dance, Food, and Film
Immerse Yourself in Irish Culture.
- 5 weeks
- Tuesdays, January 14- February 11, 2025
- Online Via Zoom
- Time: 6pm – 8pm
- $339 (includes HST)
This 5-week virtual course provides an introductory exploration of the culture, sport, language and literature of Ireland. Delve into the role of nationalism and amateurism in shaping the Gaelic Athletic Association (including special visits from GAA Players), experience the significance of traditional Irish music, and uncover the history of the Irish language and modern revival efforts. Learners will explore the work of acclaimed author Sally Rooney, discovering how her writing reflects Ireland’s evolving cultural identity.
Learning Outcomes
In this course, learners will:
Explore the historical and culture evolution of Ireland through traditions in sport, arts and language
Draw connections between culture and national identity, and how each impacts the other
Investigate tradition and modernity in Irish culture, and the contemporary influence of Irish history on life in contemporary Ireland
Session Descriptions
Week 1 – Tuesday January 14th, 2025, 6-8pm – The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and nationalism. This class will focus on how nationalism played a fundamental role in the initial success of the GAA and how that role has progressed since the foundation of the Irish Free State in 1922 right up until the 100th anniversary and commemoration of Bloody Sunday in November 2020.
Week 2 – Tuesday January 21st, 2025, 6-8pm – The GAA and amateurism. This class will focus on how amateurism was essential to the establishment and initial popularity of the GAA. It also questions the legitimacy of amateurism in the modern GAA. Current GAA intercounty players will be invited to share their experiences and opinions at these classes.
See Pa Sheehan on Breakfast Television discussing Hurling here!
Week 3 – Tuesday January 28th, 6-8pm – Traditional Irish music. This class will explore the creation of Comhaltas and how it contributed to the prominent role Irish traditional music plays in defining Irish culture today, especially in a postcolonial Ireland.
Week 4 – Tuesday February 4th, 6-8pm – History and sociolinguistics of the Irish language. This class will investigate the language shift which took place in Ireland from Irish to English over a number of centuries. We will explore how Irish is used today in Ireland, the efforts being made to reverse language shift and what the future may hold for the language.
Week 5 – Tuesday February 11th, 6-8pm – The contemporary Irish novel. This class will explore some of the most acclaimed contemporary Irish novels. We will appraise their ability to reflect the culture of Ireland today.
About the Instructor
Pa Sheehan, Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, in the Celtic Studies program at the University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto. Pa holds a Professional Master’s in Education from the University of Limerick which focused on the teaching of both Irish and French. Pa is in his fifth year teaching in the Celtic Studies Program at St. Mike’s. He had previously spent two years teaching Irish at the University of Montana and at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Born in the beautiful west of Ireland, Pa’s work assuages any feelings of homesickness he may encounter. He has taught courses on Irish language, literature, traditional music, mythology, minority language media and sport. Pa’s classroom tends to be a loud place where students are encouraged to engage in discussion and debate.
Questions?
Please get in touch with ce.stmikes@utoronto.ca
Application Form
SMCE4005 W25 – From Gaelic Fields to Contemporary Fiction: Irish Sport, Arts and Language
CE Course Registration
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Awaken Your Creativity.
- Half-Day Workshop, In Person
- Saturday, January 25
- 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
- Mary Ward Centre, Second Floor, Loretto College
- 70 St Mary Street Toronto ON M5S 1J3
- $65.00 (includes HST)
This workshop introduces participants to the foundations of the Expressive Arts.
Explore your creative voice through poetry, visual art, and movement prompts designed to awaken and heal your creative spirit. Whether you are blocked in your creative process or want to learn a new approach to creativity, this workshop will provide a few hours of self-discovery and joy.
Learning Outcomes
In this workshop, participants will:
Gain a clear understanding of the fundamentals of Expressive Arts as a foundation for personal creative practices.
Develop tools and techniques to access and express one’s own creative voice.
Engage in collaborative, creative activities within an enjoyable, supportive community setting.
About the Instructor
Dr. Iris J. Gildea is an Associate Professor at the University of St. Michael’s College and teaches in the Book & Media Studies Program. She has taught at St. Michael’s for ten years.
Iris’ work and research are at the intersections of art, media, trauma and feminist studies. Most of her courses focus on various aspects of critical media studies. She writes and publishes on trauma theory and art as a mode of meaning-making and healing, often with a focus on survivors of gendered violence and childhood trauma.
Iris received her PhD from the University of Toronto in Comparative Literature with a dissertation on Paul Ricoeur’s phenomenological hermeneutics. She loves the intersections of theory and art, seeking always to expand structures of knowledge and meaning-making. Outside of her university teaching, Iris leads poetry and expressive arts workshops in community. She also teaches meditation. When not writing, teaching or making art, Iris is in nature hiking with her dog. She splits her time between Cortes Island in British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario.
Questions?
Apply Now
SMCE4007 W25 – Introduction to the Expressive Arts
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- 3 Hours
- Thursday, February 6, 5:00—8:00
- On campus at the University of St. Michael’s College, Room: Mary Ward Centre, Second Floor, Loretto College (70 St. Mary St)
- $50 (includes HST)
This workshop invites you to discover the “eco-self” — a deep connection between our personal healing and the natural world. Through creative writing, discussions, and guided meditation, we’ll explore how connecting with nature can support both personal and environmental healing. No experience with poetry is needed.
By the end of the workshop, you’ll understand what the eco-self is and how it can support your own healing and contribute to environmental justice. You’ll also leave with practical tools and exercises to keep building this connection on your own.
Learning Outcomes
In this workshop, participants will:
Understand the concept of the eco-self and its role in personal healing and environmental justice.
Identify the connection between eco-spirituality and individual well-being, and how this connection contributes to collective environmental justice efforts.
Apply tools, writing prompts, and practices to develop and sustain a healing relationship with one’s eco-self and eco-spirituality.
About the Instructor
Dr. Iris J. Gildea is an Associate Professor at the University of St. Michael’s College and teaches in the Book & Media Studies Program. She has taught at St. Michael’s for ten years.
Iris’ work and research are at the intersections of art, media, trauma and feminist studies. Most of her courses focus on various aspects of critical media studies. She writes and publishes on trauma theory and art as a mode of meaning-making and healing, often with a focus on survivors of gendered violence and childhood trauma.
Iris received her PhD from the University of Toronto in Comparative Literature with a dissertation on Paul Ricoeur’s phenomenological hermeneutics. She loves the intersections of theory and art, seeking always to expand structures of knowledge and meaning-making. Outside of her university teaching, Iris leads poetry and expressive arts workshops in community. She also teaches meditation. When not writing, teaching or making art, Iris is in nature hiking with her dog. She splits her time between Cortes Island in British Columbia and Toronto, Ontario.
Questions?
Please get in touch with ce.stmikes@utoronto.ca
Application Form
SMCE4004 W25 – Poetry and the Eco-Self: Exploring Healing Connections with Nature
CE Course Registration
Transform Stories into Action.
- One-Day Workshop. In person.
- Saturday, March 1
- 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Charbonnel Lounge, Elmsley Hall, 81 St Mary Street Toronto ON M5S 1J4
- $115 (Includes HST)
Today’s world has no shortage of problems—heartbreaking, persistent ones that are not easily solved. We also know, however, that determined action taken by everyday people is the only way to spark lasting change. How can we begin to move from identifying problems to impactful resistance?
In this one-day workshop, six celebrated Canadian children’s authors will discuss the personal connections to broader issues that inspire their work, offering insights into how storytelling can be a powerful tool for change. Participants will explore how children’s literature can provide a vehicle for communicating complex messages, engaging in thoughtful dialogue, and gaining insight into the process of researching and writing for young audiences.
The workshop will culminate in a hands-on session, empowering attendees to begin developing actionable ideas for fostering social responsibility and transformation within their own contexts and communities.
Learning Outcomes
In this workshop, participants will:
Learn about how storytelling & children’s literature serves as a powerful medium for addressing complex social issues and inspiring change, hearing directly from Canadian authors whose own work deals with complex challenges.
Develop actionable strategies for initiating transformation in your own communities and contexts.
Featuring the following speakers:
Joyce Grant, Can You Believe It? How to Spot Fake News and Find the Facts
Naseem Hrab, Weekend Dad and The Sour Cherry Tree
Hadley Dyer, Watch This Space: Designing, Defending and Sharing Public Spaces
Rochelle Strauss, The Global Ocean and One Well: The Story of Water on Earth
Inna Figotina, Trilingual Me! Moi Trilingue
Rabia Khokhar, award-winning elementary educator & activist
Questions?
Register Now
SMCE4000 W25 – Oh, The Change We Will Make: Inspiring Social Impact through Children’s Literature
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Enseignement Religieux en milieu catholique 1ere partie
- Durée: 16 semaines
- Dates: du 30 janvier au 31 mai 2025
- Horaire: le mardi soir de 19h à 21h et le samedi de 8h15 à 11h15
- Cours: Éducation religieuse en milieu scolaire catholique, 1ère partie
- Formatrice: Marilena Berardinelli, EAO
- Format: En ligne, webinaires en direct et asynchrone
- Frais: $50.00 frais d’inscription | $495 frais de scolarité
Nous contacter: Pour toute question relative aux cours menant à une qualification additionnelle, communiquez avec Disha Makhijani à ce.stmikes@utoronto.ca.
Inscrivez-vous
SMCE 5000 W25 – AQ: Éducation religieuse en milieu scolaire catholique, 1ère partie
It All Starts with a Story: Five Celebrated Children’s Authors on Talking to Young People About Social Change
Free Panel Discussion
- Thursday, November 28
- 7:00-8:00 pm
- Online via Zoom
- Register for the link to this free event
Stories have the power to open young minds to the world around them, inspiring conversations about social, political, and environmental issues. In this online panel discussion, six celebrated children’s authors will discuss how their works tackle these important themes and how literature can be a catalyst for sparking meaningful discussions with young people. The authors will share their experiences in addressing complex, often difficult subjects through storytelling, offering insights on how adults—parents, educators, and mentors—can help guide children through these conversations, fostering understanding, empathy, and action.
Speakers
Joyce Grant: How To How to Spot Fake News and Find the Facts
Hadley Dyer: Watch This Space: Designing, Defending and Sharing Public Spaces
Rochelle Strauss: The Global Ocean and One Well: The Story of Water on Earth
Inna Figotina: Trilingual Me! Moi Trilingue
Rabia Khokhar: Award-winning elementary educator and activist
Questions?
Please note registration for this event is now closed.
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- 5 Weeks
- Tuesdays, April 1—April 29, 2025, 6:30-9:00 p.m.
- In-person at the Kelly Library Print Studio, 113 St. Joseph Street
- $360.00 (includes HST & materials)
Spread the word with your hand-made posters. In this introductory letterpress course, learners will combine text and simple image techniques, making posters to express opinions, share messages, invite others to events, or to share your favourite quote or song lyric. Letterpress printing uses wood and metal type to impress the text into the paper, a simple but effective printing process.
About the Instructor
Andrew Huot is a book artist and bookbinder in Toronto, ON, Canada, where he operates Big River Bindery. He taught bookbinding, conservation, and preservation at the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois for 12 years. In addition to conservation and bookbinding, he teaches bookbinding and book arts in his Scarborough studio, for the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild, and at arts centers around Toronto. He holds a Masters in Book Arts from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and his artists’ books use photographs, linoleum cuts, and text to share the humorous side of everyday life. His artists’ books are in collections including the Art Institute of Chicago, Yale University, Emory University, and Ontario College of Art & Design. See more of his work at bigriverbindery.com and andrewhuot.com
Questions?
Please contact ce.stmikes@utoronto.ca
Apply for this course.
SMCE4003 W25 – Letterpress Poster Printing
- 4 Weeks
- Wednesdays, March 5—March 26, 2025
- 6:30-9:00 p.m.
- In-person at the Kelly Library Print Studio, 113 St. Joseph Street
- $290 (includes HST & materials)
In this intermediate course, learners will be working with more advanced book structures. We will explore three variations of hard-covered books with single and multiple sections. The first style dresses up single-signature pamphlet books. The second, Sewn Board Binding, is a variation allowing for flat opening of the book. The last, Case Bound Book, has the traditional look of a shelf-ready hardcover tome. All three structures are sewn and glued, covered in cloth and paper, and can be used as journals, sketchbooks, or artist books.
Learning Outcomes
In this workshop, participants will:
Develop skills in creating advanced book structures
Learn techniques of sewing, gluing, and covering books with cloth and paper
Explore the practical applications of these book forms for personal projects, such as journals, sketchbooks, or artist books, and their potential for customization
About the Instructor
Andrew Huot is a book artist and bookbinder in Toronto, ON, Canada, where he operates Big River Bindery. He taught bookbinding, conservation, and preservation at the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois for 12 years. In addition to conservation and bookbinding, he teaches bookbinding and book arts in his Scarborough studio, for the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild, and at arts centers around Toronto. He holds a Masters in Book Arts from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and his artists’ books use photographs, linoleum cuts, and text to share the humorous side of everyday life. His artists’ books are in collections including the Art Institute of Chicago, Yale University, Emory University, and Ontario College of Art & Design. See more of his work at bigriverbindery.com and andrewhuot.com
Questions?
Please contact ce.stmikes@utoronto.ca
Apply for this course.
SMCE4002 W25 – Hard Cover Books (Intermediate)
- 4 Weeks
- Wednesdays, January 8—January 29, 2025, 6:30-9:00 p.m.
- In-person at the Kelly Library Print Studio, 113 St. Joseph Street
- $290.00 (includes HST & materials)
Creative book design strengthens stories and ideas, bringing them to life in exciting new ways. In this workshop, learners will be introduced to techniques for three-dimensional bookmaking. Concentrating on accordion folded variations, we will construct tunnel, carousel, and flag books. Tunnel and carousel books have historically been used for children’s books or keepsakes, and the flag book combines the accordion with dynamic pages that move as you open the book. These structures are ideal for making artist books, children’s books, and unique presentation items.
Learning Outcomes
In this workshop, participants will:
- Understand the historical and practical applications of three-dimensional bookmaking techniques, such as tunnel, carousel, and flag books, in artistic and children’s literature.
- Learn to construct intricate book forms using accordion fold techniques to enhance both form and narrative.
- Experiment with interactive book structures to craft personalized objects that engage readers in new ways.
About the Instructor
Andrew Huot is a book artist and bookbinder in Toronto, ON, Canada, where he operates Big River Bindery. He taught bookbinding, conservation, and preservation at the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois for 12 years. In addition to conservation and bookbinding, he teaches bookbinding and book arts in his Scarborough studio, for the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild, and at arts centers around Toronto. He holds a Masters in Book Arts from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and his artists’ books use photographs, linoleum cuts, and text to share the humorous side of everyday life. His artists’ books are in collections including the Art Institute of Chicago, Yale University, Emory University, and Ontario College of Art & Design. See more of his work at bigriverbindery.com and andrewhuot.com
Questions?
Apply for this course.
SMCE4001 W25 – Sculptural Books: Carousel, Tunnel, & Flag Books
Discover the Richness of Islamic Tradition
- Duration: 4 weeks
- Day(s): Wednesdays
- Date: Wednesday, October 9 to Wednesday, October 30, 2024
- Time: 6:00 pm-9:00 pm
- Location: Online, via Zoom
- Fees: $150
Course Overview
“Islam 101” explores the basics, traditions, and values of the religion of Islam and the Muslim community. This course provides a platform to discuss and reflect on different aspects of Islamic faith and civilization.
Learning Outcomes/Objectives:
1. The “Islam 101” course teaches respect for people’s diverse religions, cultures, and backgrounds.
2. It explores diverse cultural and religious traditions of the Muslim community.
3. It helps students understand common values of Abrahamic faiths and builds relationships between diverse traditions.
4. It provides a platform to discuss and reflect on different aspects of Islamic faith and civilization.
5. It provides responses to common questions about Islamic faith and contemporary issues.
Student Experience
The “Islam 101” course is suitable for students with different educational levels or professional backgrounds, who are interested in learning more about diverse cultures and traditions of the Islamic faith and the Muslim community.
Course Outline
Week 1:
Introduction: Basic Understanding
- Meanings of Islam
- Pillars of Islam
- Articles of Faith
- The Quran
- Prophet Muhammad
Week 2:
Islamic Law
- Sources of Islamic Law:
- Primary Sources: Quran, Traditions of Prophet Muhammad, and Consensus of Muslim scholars
- Secondary Sources: Analogy, Consideration of the Public Interest of the Community, Prior Revelations to Islam, People’s Cultures, etc.
- Islamic Schools of Thought
- Reasons and Ethics of Juristic Differences in Islam
Week 3:
Universal Values of Islam
- Sacredness of People’s Lives, Properties, and Honor
- Freedom
- Justice
- Human Respect and Dignity
- Care for the Environment
- Equality and Equity
- Security and Safety
- Mercy for All
- Human Fraternity
Week 4:
Islamic Way of Life
- Realistic Discourse
- Flexibility and Adaptation
- Peaceful Co-existence
- Work for the Common Good
- Community Involvement
- Muslims in Canada
About the Instructor
Dr. Wael Shehab holds a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from Al-Azhar University and brings over two decades of experience in the area of the proposed course.
Related Courses
SMD 102 – Dialogues: Principles and Practices
SMCE – Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue
Thank you for your interest in SMD 203 – Islam 101
Unfortunately, the course you have selected is currently not open for enrolment. Please request a notification below so that we may promptly notify you when enrolment opens.
SMCE Course Enquiry
Questions?
Engage in the Art of Interfaith Dialogue
- Duration: 4 weeks
- Day(s): Mondays
- Dates:
- Monday, October 7
- **No Class Monday, October 14**
- Monday, October 21
- **No Class Monday, October 28**
- Monday, November 4
- Monday, November 11
- Time: 6:00 pm-9:00 pm
- Location: Online, via Zoom
- Fees: $150
Course Overview
In this course, we will explore various contemporary approaches to interreligious dialogue and engagement, with a special emphasis on selected examples of such dialogue in Canada and the Greater Toronto Area. Including the four Modes of Dialogue as defined by the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue (PCID ) and Dr. Leonard Swidler’s Decalogue of Dialogue. Students will have an opportunity to reflect on the potential of interreligious dialogue to foster mutual respect, practices of humility and hospitality, and collaboration on social issues.
About the Instructor
Instructor Fr. Prakash Anthony Lohale, OP is the Director of the Office for Interreligious Dialogue at the Archdiocese of Toronto, and an experienced facilitator in interreligious dialogue, fostering mutual respect and collaboration on social issues.
Learning Outcomes
Through their participation in this course, students will:
- Identify and describe different contemporary models for understanding religious diversity, including but not limited to the relationship(s) between Christianity and other religious paths.
- Reflect critically on lived examples of interreligious dialogue and collaboration in Canada, the Greater Toronto Area and students’ own local contexts.
- Cultivate greater personal openness to, and tools for, interreligious dialogue and engagement.
Related Courses
SMD 203 – Islam 101
SMCE – Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue
Questions?
Thank you for your interest in our course.
Unfortunately, the course you have selected is currently not open for enrolment. Please request a notification below so that we may promptly notify you when enrolment opens.
SMCE Course Enquiry
Explore World Religions and Cultivate Global Understanding
The Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue is designed to introduce students to the spirituality of many different religions and faith communities that are our neighbours, leading to meaningful dialogue and new points of connection with other people.
Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue Overview
What could be possible if we understood each other better?
The Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue aims to equip learners with tools to build meaningful connections across differences. Learners will explore the tenets, histories and traditions of major religions around the world alongside strategies for respectful and effective communication that encourages understanding.
This fully online program consists of 8 4-week courses taught by faith leaders. Throughout the program, learners will develop an introductory understanding of other faiths and explore topics exploring the intersection of interfaith encounters within aspects of culture and history in a deeper way. Learners of all faiths will bring their own knowledge and perspective to interactive sessions, and a final reflection project will provide space for applying course concepts to learners’ unique contexts and communities.
Diploma Outcomes
By the end of the program, students will be able to:
- Understand and recount the historical origins, central teachings, devotional practices, and social/political influences of at least four major religions (informational and confessional aspects)
- Identify the major texts of at least four religions and explain how those texts are used in each religious practice (informational and confessional aspects)
- Articulate how more than one religion engages in religious topics such as peace and justice, prayer and mystical experience, etc. (relational and practical issues)
- Demonstrate the relationship between religion and culture through the arts and education (relational and practical issues)
- Engage in meaningful dialogue with men and women of other religions at either a personal or institutional level. This does not mean that every student will be members of dialogue teams; rather, through experiential learning, they will come to understand the nuances of interfaith dialogue that can occur at every level: personal, local groups, and the larger institutional (when available).
Admission Requirements
- Admission is open to people of all faith traditions.
- A prior degree is not required to apply.
Fees
Thanks to a generous donation from the Scarboro Foreign Mission, we are able to offer all courses at a significantly reduced rate of $150. We are grateful for their support in providing accessible learning for all.
Program Requirements
The diploma comprises 8 12-hour courses, each offered over 4 weeks. (4 weeks at 3 hours per week).
Each course is delivered online via Zoom. Learners will also access an online Learning Management System where they will access readings and lecture materials as well as participate in reflective discussions.
Courses
All learners are welcome to enroll in individual courses based on their interests. There is no obligation to complete the entire diploma program to participate in a course.
Learners who wish to receive the Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue must complete the following requirements:
- 2 mandatory introductory courses:
- A Catholic Approach to Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations
- Theories and Practices of Dialogue
- 2 courses from Category I (faith-based courses)
- 2 courses from Category II (topics in interfaith encounter)
- 2 additional courses from either category
- Learners who wish to receive the diploma will complete a capstone reflection course
Category I: Faith Communities of Toronto and the World
These courses focus on the informational and confessional aspects of acquiring knowledge of another faith tradition’s history and beliefs as that faith tradition defines itself.
- First Nations spiritualities
- Buddhism
- Christianity: an Ecumenical Approach
- Hinduism
- Islam
- Judaism
- Sikhism
- Religious architecture/Sacred Spaces (cross-listed in Category 2)
Category II: Topics in Interfaith Encounter
These courses focus on the relational and practical issues that emerge in interfaith encounters.
- Women and Religion
- Religion, Migration and World Geography
- Global Christianity/inculturation
- Peace and Justice
- Prayer and Mysticism
- Religious architecture/Sacred Spaces (cross-listed in Category 1)
- Education and World Religions
- Religious Texts
Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue: Fall 2024 Courses
SMD 102 – Dialogues: Principles and Practices
SMD 203 – Islam 101
Thank you for your interest in our SMCE Diploma in Interfaith Dialogue.
Unfortunately, the course you have selected is currently not open for enrolment. Please request a notification below so that we may promptly notify you when enrolment opens.
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