"Faciendi et Credendi" means, in Latin, "Believing and doing." For the Christian, this should evoke the Letter of James: "What good is it if someone says he has faith but does not have works?" (2:14). It also evokes the idea that the study of religion involves both the beliefs and practices of a religious community. Finally, it recalls that students of theology and religious studies are engaged in both classroom learning and active participation in volunteer service, ministry, etc.

Faciendi et Credendi is the blog for the Religious Studies/Theology Program at Loras College. It is an ongoing, public account of student progress that the program requires of all its majors. The blog provides an electronic “space” for students to reflect on their experiences as a major and on the relationship of those experiences to other facets of their life at Loras.

In order to post to the blog, first find the appropriate topic by clicking on the Blog Prompts tab. Find the prompt based on how long it has been since you declared your religious studies/theology major. Then, return to the Home tab and click on New Post in the top right corner of the page. This will open an html editor where you can type your post.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Practicum Reflection


Describe the progress on your capstone project (thesis or practicum).  List 2-3 topics you plan to discuss when you present your capstone to the program faculty and fellow seniors. 


This semester, really since the start of January, I Have been doing my practicum at Holy Spirit Parish in Dubuque. While there I have had the chance to get involved in many different areas of the parish. I have really liked the variety of experiences I have had there because it allowed me to see the parish from so many different perspectives.

I think probably the most unique aspect of my practicum has been the computer work I have done. I have helped the parish to update all the information on their website by communicating with members across the parish to gather up to date information and then updating the website code to reflect those changes. Before becoming a parish made up of three churches, it was a pastorate and some references to it in that form still existed so I went through specifically searching for those as well. Drawing from my computer science background, especially my class in Human Computer Interaction,  I also looked at the website from a usability and aesthetic  and made suggestions for other things to be changed. Another computer job I did was to update the spreadsheet of all the computer-related hardware(laptops, desktops, printers, monitors). This required me to go through everyone's office and verify and record all the technical specs of their hardware.

Another main part of my work at Holy Spirit Parish has been my work with highschoolers and the youth ministry program there. I started leading a 10th grade religious education small group in the fall before I even started thinking about my practicum. This is really what led to me doing my practicum at Holy Spirit  Parish as I had already been working with the youth minister there and was able to have her be my mentor for my practicum. As a result of this I have done lots of work with high schoolers this semester, especially confirmation candidates. I have continued teaching my small group all of whom are also in confirmation prep to be confirmed this month, I was on the team to organize and put on the Holy Spirit overnight confirmation retreat, I have helped with a confirmation class session, I have helped plan two youth group events, and I've been to several meetings of the Youth Leadership Team to name just few ways I've been involved with the youth of the parish this semester.

I've learned so much from my practicum at Holy Spirit Parish this semester! I think the most valuable learning tool for learning about parish life and ministry is to get out and be immersed in it and I was certainly able to do that this semester.

Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)