Two Columbans graduate from universities in Birmingham
15th February 2012 - by Fr Denis Carter
Fr. Dan Horgan M.A. SSC
Columban Lay Missionary Mauricio Silva M.A. And daughter Florencia
Two members of the Region of Britain graduated with Master of Arts degrees from universities in Birmingham at the end of last year.
Fr Daniel Horgan, who works at our house in Solihull, received his MA after studying Contemporary Christian Theology at Newman University College. While Columban lay missionary, Mauricio Silva, studied at the Queen’s Foundation for Ecumenical Theological Education, attached to the University of Birmingham, and his MA course focused primarily on contextual theology and mission leadership formation. The graduation of Dan and Mauricio was a reminder to both Columbans and others of the importance of ongoing theological study for all who are in ministry and in leadership in the Church today.
Dan’s study at Newman University College involved courses on ethics, mysticism, post-modernism as well as an overview of the various theologies which form the thinking of different Christians around the world: for example, black theology, liberation theology, process theology and feminist theology. In his graduation dissertation he explored the separation of spirituality and theology which took place during the second millennium, and drew attention to the contemporary longing for a re-marriage of theological study and contemplative prayer. “There is an unbroken stream of theological study in Britain going back to the monasteries of the first millennium and the founding of Oxford at the beginning of the second millennium. This opportunity to taste the waters of English theological reflection has nourished my soul, and whetted my appetite for further study,” says Dan, reflecting on his years at Newman.
The core area of Mauricio’s studies included three modules which are part of the Mission Leadership Formation pathway: mission and leadership in the world today; a course on Leadership and Globalisation; and a course focused on his cross-cultural ministerial practice working with refugees in Birmingham. Mauricio’s graduation dissertation led him to research on the response of the Church to natural disasters, where he focused on the response to the devastating earthquake which affected the central part of Chile in February 2010. Commenting on his studies, Mauricio says that “I feel very proud to have been awarded this Masters of Arts on Applied Theological Studies. It has certainly been a challenge to immerse myself into the academic life in Britain, but overall I have enjoyed this opportunity for theological and ministerial development based on my own experience as a Chilean lay missionary in Birmingham. I feel that studying has enriched my missionary journey as it has given me a wider and deeper understanding of the global and local challenges of mission today, as well as more confidence as a lay missionary who ministers in the areas of interfaith dialogue and working with migrants.”
