Faculty Members of the Avila Institute
This module explores the role of the priest who is “in persona Christ” – the power to act, in the person of Christ, when exercising their sanctifying, teaching, and guiding functions for the sake of the mystical Body of Christ, the Church. With a special emphasis on the sacrament of the Eucharist, this module then explores how the sacrifice of Christ helps shape and form friendships into holy, sacramental friendships.
In this Module, Sister Miriam will explore the profound significance of healing as a continuous encounter with Christ, an encounter that invites us into communion with Him, revealing our true identity and vocation, making us more whole. The first step in this journey begins with humility, recognizing that humility involves thinking less about oneself rather than having a lesser opinion of oneself. Ultimately, Sister Miriam will guide the men to understand that Christianity transcends mere wound management—it's about attaining freedom in Christ.
This module reflects on the call of God and the way of seminary life. By emphasizing missionary discipleship, this module starts the conversation on the importance of being an instrument of grace in the place God calls you.
Father Carter Griffin is a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington, DC. Raised Presbyterian, he converted to Catholicism while attending Princeton University. After graduating in 1994, he served for four years as a line officer in the United States Navy prior to entering the seminary. He attended Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland for two years of philosophy followed by the North American College in Rome for five years of theology. Father Griffin was ordained to the priesthood in 2004 and served as priest-secretary for three years before beginning doctoral studies in Rome in 2008. After completing his doctorate and serving as the parochial vicar of St. Peter’s parish on Capitol Hill, in 2011 he was appointed Director of Priest Vocations for the Archdiocese of Washington and Vice-Rector of St. John Paul II Seminary, where he now serves as Rector. He is the author of Why Celibacy: Reclaiming the Fatherhood of the Priest, published in 2019 by Emmaus Road.
Loving the Church well as a celibate priest relies upon an understanding of manhood, chastity, spiritual fatherhood, and celibacy. This module will explore these four themes as elements of a healthy celibate and priestly life, capable of giving life in the order of grace in such a way that it contributes to the priest’s own flourishing and happiness as a man.
Dr. John Bergsma is Professor of Theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville, in Steubenville, Ohio. He holds the M.Div. and Th.M. degrees from Calvin Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan, and served as a Protestant pastor for four years before entering the Catholic Church in 2001 while pursuing a Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame. He specialized in the Old Testament and the Dead Sea Scrolls, graduating with high honors in 2004. His major study of the interpretation of the Year of Jubilee in ancient times is published as The Jubilee from Leviticus to Qumran (Brill Academic, 2007).
Dr. Bergsma’s articles, some co-authored with Dr. Scott Hahn, have appeared in several academic journals as well as Lay Witness, the magazine of Catholics United for the Faith, and he has published many books, A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: Old Testament (Ignatius Press, 2018), Stunned by Scripture: How the Bible Made Me Catholic (Our Sunday Visitor, 2018), Psalm Basics for Catholics (Ave Maria Press, 2018), and Yes! There is a God! And Other Answers to Life’s Big Questions (The Word Among Us, 2017), Bible Basics for Catholics (Ave Maria Press, 2012) and New Testament Basics for Catholics (Ave Maria Press, 2015). He also has a wealth of resources on his website, johnbergsma.com
Additionally, he has appeared as a guest on EWTN’s The Journey Home, Franciscan University Presents, and Relevant Radio’s Drew Mariani Show, and has given presentations internationally through Parousia Media. Twice voted Faculty of the Year by graduating classes of the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Dr. Bergsma is a popular teacher who inspires his students with a love of Scripture. He and his wife Dawn reside with their eight children in Steubenville, Ohio.
Did you know that Adam, in the garden of Eden, was a priest? Who was Melchizedek? What does the Old Testament priesthood have to do with Catholic priests today? In this Propaedeutic Year module, we will walk through the scriptural roots of the Catholic priesthood with Dr. John Bergsma. Dr. Bergsma will reveal how the priesthood is a major thread holding together the biblical storyline and how those who receive Holy Orders today are sewn into that same story!
In this course, Dr. Bergsma will expound on the great stories of the Bible with key figures that play a part in salvation history and how they are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. We will discuss how the Bible points us to the saving work and reality of Jesus in our life today.
Did you know that Adam, in the garden of Eden, was a priest? Who was Melchizedek? What does the Old Testament priesthood have to do with Catholic priests today? In this module, we will walk through the scriptural roots of the Catholic priesthood with Dr. John Bergsma. Dr. Bergsma will reveal how the priesthood is a major thread holding together the biblical storyline and how those who receive Holy Orders today are sewn into that same story!
Fr. James Dominic Brent, O.P. was born and raised in Michigan. He pursued his undergraduate and graduate studies in Philosophy, and completed his doctorate in Philosophy at Saint Louis University on the epistemic status of Christian beliefs according to Saint Thomas Aquinas. He has articles in the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy on Natural Theology, in the Oxford Handbook of Thomas Aquinas on “God’s Knowledge and Will”, and in the Oxford Handbook of the Epistemology of Theology on “Thomas Aquinas.” He earned his S.T.L. from the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception, and taught in the School of Philosophy at The Catholic University of America. He is presently on the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC, and frequently gives lectures for the Thomistic Institute.
This module explores the wisdom of St. Teresa, Doctor of the Church, and the normal progress of prayer and holiness of life as revealed in her writings.
An advocate of contemplative prayer, her writings are filled with practical suggestions and a living devotion to Christ that can enrich one’s prayer and discernment.
Peter Stur is the founder of In Ipso, a Denver-based Catholic ministry designed to help the lay faithful develop a more intimate relationship with Christ through prayer. The ministry draws heavily on Saint Ignatius’ principles of prayer and discernment of spirits, but expands its Ignatian foundation with wisdom from other spiritualities within the Catholic Church, including the Dominican and the Carmelites, among others. Peter, was formed as Spiritual Director at the Lanteri Center for Ignatian Spirituality in Denver. In addition to conducting parish missions and public speaking programs, he directs silent retreats for laity and deacons, is one of the formators of future deacons at St. John Vianney seminary, guides faithful through the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius, teaches pre-seminary program at Avila Institute.
Reverend Samuel Aquila, S.T.L, Archbishop of Denver granted In Ipso the decree of Private Juridical Personality and its programs are supported and recommended many spiritual and retreat masters as Father Daniel Barron, Director of Spiritual Formation at the Saint John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, and Father Greg Cleveland, OMV, executive Director of the Lanteri Center for Ignatian Spirituality. Prior to founding In Ipso, Peter owned and operated a high-end custom kitchen and cabinet design, manufacture and installation business, and won a number of awards including Kitchen of the Year in 2007 according to Colorado Homes and Lifestyles Magazine.
Peter has been married for 32 years and has 10 children. He is an avid outdoorsman who enjoys hunting and falconry.
“Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn 14:9). This three-week module will be an exercise in contemplating Jesus Christ as the definitive interpreter and living icon of God the Father (Jn 1:18; Col. 1:15). Following the guidance of Sacred Scripture and the theological reflections of Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, we will bring to light the glorious features of the face of the Father. This is the true God and Father whom (with Christ and in Christ) we are called to imitate as his beloved sons/children (Eph 5:1; Mt 5:48).
A native of Colorado, Fr. Sam Morehead was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Denver in 2012. Having first studied broadcasting journalism and English at the University of Colorado at Boulder, he completed his formation and studies for the priesthood at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary. Having a passion for priestly formation, he has also served over the years as a regular guest lecturer on the Sacred Liturgy and the spiritual life for the Spirituality Year of his alma mater seminary, in addition to being a visiting professor for the Midwest Theological Forum's Rome Experience summer formation program. He currently serves at pastor of the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Denver, CO. With a penchant for history and culture, he is particularly passionate about his family's English homeland. Yet, his greatest loves are Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin, and the Catholic Church.
This module explores the role of the priest who is “in persona Christ” – the power to act, in the person of Christ, when exercising their sanctifying, teaching, and guiding functions for the sake of the mystical Body of Christ, the Church. With a special emphasis on the sacrament of the Eucharist, this module then explores how the sacrifice of Christ helps shape and form friendships into holy, sacramental friendships.
Dr. Mark Miravalle earned his Sacred Theological Doctorate at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. He holds the Saint John Paul II Chair of Mariology at Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he has been teaching since 1986. He also is a professor at Ave Maria University.
Dr. Miravalle is the founder and senior editor of Ecce Mater Tua, an international journal of Mariology research. He is also president of the International Marian Association, comprised of more than 130 theologians, bishops, clergy, and laity worldwide who seek to promote Marian devotion and doctrine.
This module will consist of a theological investigation of the doctrines and magisterial teachings concerning the singular role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the providential plan of salvation. This will be followed by examining the important relationship between discipleship, discernment, and Marian devotion. Lastly, there will be a theological and pastoral analysis of the Marian messages from the principle apparitions of Mary in the modern world.
Dr. Margaret Turek is originally from the Midwest. She earned a B.A. at the University of San Francisco where she studied in the St. Ignatius Institute, an M.A. at the Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology, and a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. Prior to her graduate studies, she received spiritual formation as a Carmelite for six years. Dr. Turek’s scholarly interests include Trinitarian theology, Soteriology, and the re-integration of Dogmatic Theology and Spirituality. Before joining the faculty at STPSU in 2001, she was a tenured Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at the University of Dallas. She also teaches in the Deacon Formation Program for the Archdiocese of San Francisco and the Diocese of Oakland.
“Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn 14:9). This three-week module will be an exercise in contemplating Jesus Christ as the definitive interpreter and living icon of God the Father (Jn 1:18; Col. 1:15). Following the guidance of Sacred Scripture and the theological reflections of Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, we will bring to light the glorious features of the face of the Father. This is the true God and Father whom (with Christ and in Christ) we are called to imitate as his beloved sons/children (Eph 5:1; Mt 5:48).
