JAN 115 - Local Pilgrimage: Encounters with a Catholic Sacred Geography of the Bay Area

Instructor(s):  Sherry, Dana
Email:  dls6@stmarys-ca.edu

Come on a pilgrimage to encounter the saints who give their names to the places that surround us. We can encounter saints on the page, on the canvas, on the stage, in churches, in our homes, on the street, in the people around us, and this course aims to engage that multi-dimensional presence by blending experiential, artistic, and academic learning. We will journey each week to meet Catholic saints in four local settings: Saint Mary’s College itself, the National Shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi in San Francisco, the Mission Dolores Basilica in San Francisco, and Saint Columba Catholic Church in Oakland. Class meetings will consider the life stories and legends of the saints; how the Catholic faithful encounter the specific saints in the sites we will visit, through lives of the saints, sacred art, music, and prayer; and key concepts such as pilgrimage, sanctity, relics, iconography, and prayer. What kind of presence did the founders of the college invoke by naming it after St. Mary? How does a connection with Saint Francis enrich our vision of San Francisco? How does Saint Junipero Serra engage the complicated history of California? How can we creatively call upon saints of our own choosing to inhabit our spaces? All students, regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof, are welcome to join us on our journey into the space we call home. This course will be conducted in person, and involves three journeys to off-campus locations. Students will be responsible for their own transportation to Orinda or Lafayette BART on travel days.
 

Prerequisites & Notes
None

Credits: 3-CU