Catholic Social Tradition and Philanthropy Certificate
Summer Session May 13- July 12, 2024

Overview

Would you like to root your philanthropy more deeply in the Catholic Church’s long tradition of justice-minded principles? Have you always wanted to study these themes but need structure and support in order to do so? Join us for a 9-week certificate course on the “Catholic Social Tradition and Philanthropy.” This course features 9 asynchronous modules with high-level speakers, individual and group reflection, and a capstone project. Weekly live office hours (synchronous and optional) as well as short journal entries will allow you to engage further with speakers and the week’s resources. The office hours will be facilitated by Margie Pfiel, Teaching Professor, Center for Social Concerns at the University of Notre Dame. At the end of the session, participants who complete the minimum required activities will receive a FADICA certificate and join an esteemed group of FADICA CST and Philanthropy Certificate Alumni!

Topics:

1. Introduction to CST
2. Life and Dignity of the Human Person
3. Common Good
4. Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
5. Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers
6. Subsidiarity
7. Care for our Common Home
8. Solidarity as a Virtue

Features:

This course includes:

• Weekly introductions to each new topic;
• Short videos for each week featuring high-level guest speakers such as Dr. Lisa Sowle Cahill, Sr. Helen Alford, and more;
• Weekly questions for reflection and discussion;
• A live office hour each week with a scholar facilitator;
• A page of further resources about topics discussed in this course;
• A course “buddy” for discussion and to encourage accountability; and
• End of the course “peer to peer” reflection

New material will be released weekly but all content will remain accessible until three months after the course ends. Participants have access 24 hours/7 days a week to the course’s password-protected web site. Technical support and orientation to the course site is available.

Time Commitment:

Course participants should expect to spend two hours/week on course assignments, one hour in live discussion most weeks, and 5-10 hours on a capstone project (completed throughout the course). There will be one live peer-to-peer discussion near the end of the course, scheduled at the convenience of each small group. We understand that schedules are busy, but we aim to create a cohort of participants who are fully engaged with the material.

Course Audience:

This course is designed for Catholic/faith-based donors and senior professionals working in the philanthropic sector at a strategic level.  You do not have to be a FADICA member to register, but we do ask you to speak with Lindsay McGregor (lmcgregor@fadica.org) for a brief conversation before registering if you are not a FADICA member.  We encourage groups to take this course! Consider bringing 2+ members from your organization and committing to dialogue and impact in your institutional setting.

Course Facilitators:

Margaret R. Pfeil, Ph.D. holds a joint appointment in the Theology Department and in the Center for Social Concerns at the University of Notre Dame. She is a Faculty Fellow of the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies.

Margaret Kowalsky, MTS, Director Program and Impact, FADICA