CE | Poetry, Prayer and the Political Moment

  • Overview:

    This series will be faciliated by Mary Jo Leddy, author, academic, activist, and by Susie Whelehan, poet, facilitator and artist.

    The political realities of our time summon us to poetry and prayer. These, in turn, summon us to more. Poetry can awaken us to beauty and suffering, hope and action. Over the course of four weeks we will let poems do what they do best: awaken us to what is and become aware of our place in it, be it our neighbourhood, city, country or planet.

    Using the ancient practice of Lectio Divina, we shall devote time to poems by Margaret Atwood, Wendell Berry, Julia Esquival and others who have engaged with their own time, in their own place, and see where they take us.

    This course is invitational. Participants will have opportunities for oral and written responses to the poems. You do not need to be a poet or writer to participate in the series. You need only to have a pen, a notebook and a willingness to risk being touched by both poetry and prayer.

    The themes of the series will reflect the signs of the times:

    • War and Peace (2 sessions)
    • The Climate Crisis
    • Who Is My Neighbour?

    Format

    This series is comprised of weekly 2 hour sessions over 4 weeks. We will read and contemplate poems chosen in light of a particular contempoary issue. There will then be time for written reflection on / responses to the poems at this moment in history and in our own lives.

    Scheduling

    The series is scheduled for early fall on Thursday evenings from 4-6pm. The course will begin on Thursday September 12, and will conclude on Thursday October 3. The location will be the Mary Ward Centre, located inside Loretto College Residence, 70 St. Mary St.

    Cost

    The cost for the full 10 hour series is $226 and will include coffee and refreshments.

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Alice in the new Wonderland: Contemporary Issues through the lens of children’s literature

  • Date: Wednesday, September 18 to Wednesday October 23

    Time: 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

    Location: Sep 18, Sep 25, Oct 2 and Oct 23: Mary Ward Centre, Loretto College Residence, 70 St. Mary St

    Oct 9 and Oct 16: Room 105, Kelly Library, 113 St. Joseph St

    Cost: $282.50 (includes the cost of materials, HST, and light refreshments.)

    Overview:

    This multi-session course explores contemporary societal issues and provides a forum for learning about the issue and facilitated discussion. A children’s non-fiction or fiction book is used as a tool to present and explore the issue. Part of the session will focus on how participants can use the children’s book to explore the issue with young people in their lives.

    Format:

    This 6-week series is comprised of 2-hour weekly sessions. The 2 hour weekly sessions begin with a 45-60 minute talk led by the guest speaker providing an introduction to the session, the contemporary issue, and an illumination of it through a children’s fiction or non-fiction book. Following the presentation, the speaker will facilitate a discussion among participants about the issue. Attendees will have the opportunity to purchase the authors’ books on the U of T Bookstore website and in-store prior to the start of the course. Each of the weekly sessions will focus on a prominent contemporary issue. Below is the author schedule:

  • Instructors:

    The series will be hosted by the Continuing Education Division with a member of the staff serving as the host for the series. Each week will feature a guest speaker who is the author of a children’s book which will be used as a springboard and tool to explore the issue. Read more about our instructors and their weekly sessions below:

    Week 1 – Joyce Grant

    Critical thinking (about what you see and read online) and Media Literacy In this session, author Joyce Grant will discuss her book “Can You Believe It? How to Spot Fake News and Find the Facts”, illustrated by Kathleen Marcotte. Audience members will reflect and discuss the following:

    • What apps do the young people you care for use?
    • What are your concerns around their use of social media?
    • How equipped are they (and you) to spot misinformation?
    • What is something you’ve seen online recently that you’ve wondered about?
    • What do you want for your young person around social media safety?

    Week 2 – Naseem Hrab

    Helpers and Healers: Picture Books That Say the Things We Can’t Whether it’s loss, divorce, abuse, or natural disasters, the world is a challenging place to navigate no matter your age. Join Governor General Award-winning author Naseem Hrab as she talks about her books Weekend Dad and The Sour Cherry Tree, and explores how reading and writing picture books can help us process emotions, promote healing, and say what seems difficult or even impossible.

    Week 3 – Hadley Dyer

    Why are public spaces important? Because they belong to all of us. That’s the central argument of Watch This Space: Designing, Defending and Sharing Public Spaces, a unique book for young readers that introduces different types of public spaces, why we need them, and how best to use them. In this lecture, Hadley Dyer will explore what makes successful public spaces work, the ins and outs of sharing and designing public spaces, and the issues surrounding teenagers in public spaces. She’ll describe how she works with subject experts to make difficult, complex issues accessible and engaging to young readers and provide insight into the publishing process. A skills trainer who has supported emerging writers and editors at home and abroad, Hadley will also discuss Canada’s reputation for creating bold, socially conscious nonfiction for children and young adults. Audience members will reflect and discuss the following:

    • What is unique and important about nonfiction for children and teens?
    • How can nonfiction for young readers inspire hope and action?
    • How do children’s authors and publishers approach subject matter that may be intimidating even to adults?
    • How can books for young readers be useful resources for post-secondary students and other adults?

    Week 4 – Rochelle Strauss

    Award-winning author Rochelle Strauss discusses children’s non-fiction books as powerful tools to build environmental literacy. Using her books as an example, she will showcase how non-fiction books can teach young and old alike about ocean and climate science, inspire and empower environmental action, provide reasons for hope and help combat eco-anxiety. Books included in this dialogue will be The Global Ocean and One Well: The Story of Water on Earth, as well as Rochelle’s upcoming book Well Aware. Sample questions might include: Have you ever had to navigate discussing environmental issues, or address eco-anxiety, with others in your life (young or old)? How did you approach those discussions and what tools did you find helpful? How do you navigate your own eco-anxiety? What other ways can you use books as stepping stones for exploring the environment and environmental issues? What role do you feel storytelling plays in fostering empathy? How else can we build empathy and a sense of connection to nature? What ideas do you have for integrating books into everyday activities, besides just as bedtime stories? How else can we facilitate further discussions about the issues presented?

    Week 5 – Ella Russell

    Author and editor Ella Russell will discuss the ways children’s literature is tackling topics of self expression, degendering activities and material items, and building confidence in personal preferences while encouraging kids to respect and celebrate others’ preferences. Ella will use their picture book, Pink Is for Everybody, to examine how books can deconstruct gender essentialism by removing gender from conversations about how we express ourselves through clothing and colour and celebrating personal preferences.
    Audience members will have an opportunity to reflect and discuss the following:

    • How are colours used in gendering material items, marketing, and media aimed at kids? What is the impact of using colour in this way?
    • How do kids determine how to express themselves? How do internal reflection and external ideals factor in?
    • What common trends have you seen in children’s literature about self expression and/or gender expression? (In your childhood and now!)
    • How might you approach important lessons in stories so that kids don’t feel like they’re being lectured? (Relatable characters? Emphasis on the positive? No finger wagging?)
    • How would you approach the inclusion of “heavy” topics in kids’ books? Do the topics of gender identity and gender divides necessitate “heaviness”? What are the potential benefits and/or consequences of removing “negative” aspects or context from the conversation?

    Week 6 – Inna Figotina and Rabia Khokhar


    In this combined session, two books will be used as guides to present and facilitate discussion.

    Rabia’s presentation will start with a focus on the power of children’s literature and its role in acting as a springboard for contemporary topics. She will use the picture book Abuleita and Me written by Leonarda Carranza and illustrated by Rafael Mayani to guide the group around a discussion on anti-racism. The book does a great job of showing the importance of small and big actions we can all take to fight against racism. As well, it centers an integrational relationship which shows that there is a role and place for all within anti-racism work. Throughout the session, participants will be given opportunities to examine specific events carefully and critically in the story. They will hopefully leave the session with vocabulary, skills and passion to engage in anti-racism work in their own capacities.
    Audience members will have an opportunity to reflect and discuss the following:
    • Why is children’s literature powerful?
    • What is/was your favourite children’s book?
    • What is Anti-Racism? What does it look, sound, feel like?
    • How do Abuleita and her granddaughter need each other to fight racism?
    • How can you connect the events that happened in the story to ‘real’ life?
    • What 1-2 ways do you feel inspired to engage in your own anti-racism journey?

    Inna’s presentation will center around “Trilingual Me! Moi, trilingue!” which is an identity-affirming text that celebrates the immigrant experience and the second language acquisition journey. This bilingual children’s book highlights plurilingual identities and overcoming adversity. The book is written in both English and French and it rhymes in both languages. During the session, participants would be invited to engage in the session by reflecting on the languages they speak and reflect on their own language learning journey.

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  • ***IMPORTANT NOTE*** When submitting your form please do not resubmit if you receive an error message. We will contact you if there is an issue with your submission. Thank you.

  • Cancellation and Withdrawal Policy Form

    Student withdrawal, course cancellation and transfer guidelines associated with all Continuing Education courses and programs can be found here.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

  • Date: Tuesday September 10 to Tuesday October 1

    Time: 6:30 pm – 9:00 pm

    Location: Kelly Library Print Studio, Second Floor, John M. Kelly Library, 113 St. Joseph St, Toronto

    Cost: $226 (includes the cost of materials and HST)

    Course Description:

    In this workshop students will be introduced to the process of letterpress printing in the Kelly Library print workroom. We will print both type and imagery on the press, so students should bring a quote or phrase to set in type. Students will complete hand printed work that could be a postcard, bookmark, or other keepsake.

    Week 1: Letterpress printing – setting and printing text

    Week 2: Letterpress printing and Linoleum Cut Prints – Carving the block

    Week 3: Linoleum Cuts Prints – Printing the block

    Week 4: Printing practice – working on your own projects, combining the methods

    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

    …

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  • ***IMPORTANT NOTE*** When submitting your form please do not resubmit if you receive an error message. We will contact you if there is an issue with your submission. Thank you.

  • Cancellation and Withdrawal Policy Form

    Student withdrawal, course cancellation and transfer guidelines associated with all Continuing Education courses and programs can be found here.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

CE | Irish Studies Course

  • Continuing Education: Community Learning

    Irish Studies

    Overview:

    From Gaelic games to language, literature, and music, this comprehensive course offers a multifaceted exploration of Irish culture and heritage, inviting participants to deepen their understanding and appreciation of Ireland and Irish culture.

    Format and Dates:

    This 12-week course is comprised of 2-hour weekly in person sessions on Tuesdays in Fall 2024 – starting on Tuesday September 3, and running to Tuesday November 19, from 6pm-8pm. The series will also include opportunities to practice Gaelic football, hurling, and Irish Dancing outdoors on the St. Mike’s campus.

    Location:

    The course will be held inside Alumni Hall Room 400 (121 St. Joseph St, Toronto). On September 10 and September 17, students will also be taken outdoors for the second hour to practice football and hurling.

    • Week 1: The Gaelic Athletic Association
    • Week 2: Amateurism in the Gaelic Athletic Association (followed by an introduction to playing Gaelic football)
    • Week 3: Nationalism in the Gaelic Athletic Association (followed by an introduction to playing hurling)
    • Week 4: History of the Irish language + sociolinguistic behaviours in Ireland today
    • Week 5: Irish language for beginners
    • Week 6: Irish language for beginners
    • Week 7: Irish language for beginners
    • Week 8: Contemporary Irish language poetry
    • Week 9: Traditional Irish Music: Comhaltas and Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann
    • Week 10: Irish dancing (theory and practice)
    • Week 11: Contemporary Irish literature (focusing on Sally Rooney’s Normal People)
    • Week 12: Conclusion

    About the Instructor:

    The series will be led by Pa Sheehan. Pa is Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream, in the Celtic Studies Program at the University of St. Michael’s College (USMC) in the University of Toronto. He has taught courses such as Introduction to the Irish Language, Intermediate Irish, Writing Ireland, Traditional Music in Ireland and Scotland, Blasket Island Writings, Sport in Ireland, Celtic Mythology, The Celtic Book and The Celts in the Modern World.

    Hailing from Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare, Ireland, Pa grew up with a passion for the Irish language and the sport of hurling, two passions he has brought with him to Toronto, both in his professional and personal life.

    Pa also hosts a podcast, ‘Irish in Toronto’.

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  • ***IMPORTANT NOTE*** When submitting your form please do not resubmit if you receive an error message. We will contact you if there is an issue with your submission. Thank you.

  • Cancellation and Withdrawal Policy Form

    Student withdrawal, course cancellation and transfer guidelines associated with all Continuing Education courses and programs can be found here.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Diploma Outcomes

    By the end of the program, students will be able to:

    1. Understand and recount the historical origins, central teachings, devotional practices, and social/political influences of at least four major religions (informational and confessional aspects)
    2. Identify the major texts of at least four religions and explain how those texts are used in each religious practice (informational and confessional aspects)
    3. Articulate how more than one religion engages in religious topics such as peace and justice, prayer and mystical experience, etc. (relational and practical issues)
    4. Demonstrate the relationship between religion and culture through the arts and education (relational and practical issues)
    5. 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

    Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

    Admission is open to people of all faith traditions.

    A prior degree is not required to apply.

    Please submit your application:

    https://www.rsmtheology.utoronto.ca/prospective-students/degree-programs/application-for-diploma-in-interfaith-dialogue/

  • Fees

    Tuition fee per course: $150

    Note: Tuition fees for all courses are supported by a generous donation from the Scarborough Foreign Mission.
  • Program Requirements
    • The diploma comprises 8 courses, most of which will be made up of 12 hours of contact time (4 weeks at 3 hours per week).
    • The program will continue to be delivered in a synchronous format online by Zoom or Microsoft Teams. A learning management system will be introduced as the platform through which participants access the course, the remote class link and resources. The learning management system will also offer online discussion spaces and reflection sharing among participants.
    • The program structure will remain the same, with the exception of the reflection paper, which will replace the capstone project that was discontinued while the program was administered by the Faculty of Theology.

    The diploma requires: 

    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

    Reflection (new)

    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
    		 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 (could be category I as well)
    • Education and World Religions
    • Religious Texts
  • Fall 2024 Courses

    Introduction to Islam

    This course will introduce participants to the diverse cultural and religious traditions of the Muslim community. It will assist participants in developing an understanding of the common values of Abrahamic as well as provide a platform to discuss and reflect on different aspects of Islamic faith and civilization. The course will also provide responses to common questions about Islamic faith and contemporary issues.

    • Course schedule: The course will be scheduled on a weekday evening from 6:30pm – 9:30pm online for four consecutive weeks in either October or November 2024.
    • Instructor: TBA
    • Location: Remote

     

    Dialogue – Principles and Practices

    This course delves into contemporary approaches to interreligious dialogue, with a focus on examples from Canada and the Greater Toronto Area. The ideal candidate will have expertise in religious studies or a related field, with a commitment to promoting mutual respect and understanding among diverse religious communities and experience teaching online.
    • Course schedule: The course will be scheduled on a weekday evening from 6:30pm –9:30pm online for four consecutive weeks in either October or November, 2024.
    • Location: Remote

Questions?

Please contact ce.stmikes@utoronto.ca