Transcript Teaching Vocation and Discernment Across the Curriculum

Lessons Learned
from the Little Way Learning Community: Teaching
Vocation and Discernment Across the Curriculum
Dr. Melanie-Préjean Sullivan
Director of Campus Ministry
EXPLORE THE WORLD. START WITHIN.
Background
• Theology of Discernment, 2008 (98th percentile)
• Whispers, Nudges and a Couple of Kicks, 2009
• CIC Network for Vocational Undergraduate
Education conference, Indianapolis, 2013
• Knights of the Round Table, 2013
• Little Way Learning Community Grant, 2014-2016
• Future Plans: YOU
EXPLORE THE WORLD. START WITHIN.
Knights of the Round Table
September 17, 2014 - Frazier Hall 4 pm
EXPLORE THE WORLD. START WITHIN.
Ideas Imbedded within the Grant
Explore the world. Start within.
What DOES that mean?
Avoid silo effect (BMS) spiritual/religious/
theological/not my field
What is discernment? How do/can we
practice, transmit, teach such skills
within our respective disciplines?
EXPLORE THE WORLD. START WITHIN.
Discernment Questions to Ponder
The place God calls you to is the place where
your deep gladness and the world’s deep
hunger meet.
― Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking: A Theological ABC
• What do you LOVE to do? (self)
• At what are you very GOOD? (others)
• What does the world need?
EXPLORE THE WORLD. START WITHIN.
Practical skills for classroom use
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Journal prompts
Mindfulness; intentional silence
Free writing, in-class assignments
Interviews
Research
Spiritual Autobiography
Theology Reflection…Ultimate Question,
SO WHAT?
EXPLORE THE WORLD. START WITHIN.
SO WHAT ?
For me to be a saint means to be myself.
Therefore the problem of sanctity and
salvation is in fact the problem of finding out
who I am and of discovering my true self.
~Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation
EXPLORE THE WORLD. START WITHIN.
Resources
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Thomas Del Prete. Thomas Merton and the Education of the Whole Person.
Christine M. Bochen. Thomas Merton Essential Writings
James Martin, SJ. Becoming Who You Are
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Peter Senge, et al. Presence. An exploration of profound change in people, organizations, and society.
Andrew Newberg et al. Why God won’t Go Away. Brain science and the biology of belief
Minna Proctor. Do You Hear What I Hear? An unreligious writer investigates religious calling.
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Tim Clydesdale. The Purposeful Graduate. Why colleges must talk to students about vocation
Sharon Daloz Parks. Big Questions, Worthy Dreams
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Wilkie and Noreen Cannon Au. The Discerning Heart. Exploring the Christian Path
Edward P. Hahnenberg. Awakening Vocation. A Theology of Christian Call.
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Melanie-Prejean Sullivan. Whispers, Nudges, and a Couple of Kicks. A guide for those who teach and practice discernment
EXPLORE THE WORLD. START WITHIN.