Courses
at the Stella maris institute
From God or Not? An Introduction to Discernment
Tuesdays at 7:30pm — apr. 28, may 5, may 12, 2026
Instructor: Brad Bursa, director of evangelization, Stella Maris
Ever wonder how you can discern whether a thought, word, feeling, or desire is from the Lord or not? This mini-course will teach you basic principles for discernment according to St. Ignatius of Loyola that will deepen your prayer and enhance your ability to follow God’s will.
- Session 1: What is discernment and its history?
- Session 2: Ignatian Rules for Discernment I
- Session 3: Ignatian Rules for Discernment II
All sessions will run from 7:30-9:00 pm in Stievenard Hall on the St. Bernadette campus. The mini-course fee of $15 to covers the cost of course materials. We have 25 spots available. Registration closes one week before the course begins.
Crash Course in Catholic Economics
Friday, June 19 at 8:15 am | stievenard hall, St. Bernadette
Instructor: Dr. Richard Gallenstein, Associate Professor of Economics and Director of the Master of Public Policy program at The Catholic University of America.
Ever wonder why the Church cares about economics? Looking for a deeper understanding of how the Church deals with political economics? Want to figure out how to live Catholic all the way down to daily life? This crash course is for you! In just one day, we’ll cover the following topics:
- The Church and the Economy
- Political Economy: Breaking the Dichotomy
- Holy Economics
Dr. Richard Anthony Gallenstein is an Associate Professor of Economics and Director of the Master of Public Policy program at The Catholic University of America. He joined the faculty at CUA in the fall of 2017 after finishing his Ph.D. in Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics at The Ohio State University. Dr. Gallenstein’s focus areas include development economics, behavioral economics, and public policy. His research includes work on the topics of microfinance, microinsurance, and the behavioral impacts of economic inequality in Sub Saharan Africa. While at CUA, Dr. Gallenstein has taught courses for the undergraduate and graduate programs in Economics and the graduate program in Public Policy. These courses include Principles of Microeconomics, Statistics for Business and Economics, Advanced Microeconomics, Econometrics, Experimental Economics, Big Data for Economics, and Public Policy for the Common Good.
This crash course will run from 8:15 am – 2:30 pm in Stievenard Hall on the St. Bernadette campus. The mini-course fee of $15 to covers the cost of course materials. We have 25 spots available. Registration closes one week before the course begins.
The Gospel: Does it Still Matter?
Wednesdays from 7:00 - 8:30 pm — July 15, 22, 29 | Stievenard Hall
Instructor: Brad Bursa, Dir. of Evangelization, Stella Maris
In a post-Christian age, does the Gospel still matter? Has humanity moved past it? Does the Gospel have any relevance? What is the Gospel anyway? This mini-course will offer a fresh take on the basic Gospel message and show its enduring relevance — even in a secular culture.
All sessions will run from 7:00-8:30 pm in Stievenard Hall on the St. Bernadette campus. The mini-course fee of $15 to covers the cost of course materials. We have 25 spots available. Registration closes one week before the course begins.