Education Guide: Christian laity find home at Newman Theological College

When Jeannette Nixon, a petroleum industry consultant, joined the Catholic Church in 1998, she got serious about her new faith. She became involved in her parish in Calgary and began probing Catholic teaching. Soon, her probing led her to study online with Newman Theological College in Edmonton.

When her family relocated to Fort Saskatchewan, she moved her studies into the classroom. “Newman opened doors for me; there’s so much to learn,” Jeannette says.

Now she’s writing her final paper for a Master of Theological Studies (MTS) degree on Pope Francis’ statement on care for the environment. She plans to use her knowledge to help industry executives make ethically-sound decisions that respect the environment.

Vonn Bricker, another MTS student at Newman, is a Lutheran retired from a career in the provincial service. His faith had been deepening for years, and he decided to study theology.

After checking out the local options, he decided on Newman because of its excellent programs, fine facilities and welcoming atmosphere. Four years later, he proclaims his experience there as “100 per cent satisfactory.”

Located in a park-like setting near central Edmonton, Newman College offers an array of programs for Christian lay people and Catholic seminarians. Enrollment of laity is booming as the college has expanded its offerings for those who want to learn without fully immersing themselves in their studies.

Solomiia Babiak was preparing to be a nurse in Lviv, Ukraine, when she realized her first love was theology. After visiting her sister in Edmonton, she fell in love with Canada too and returned to stay.

Now in her second year at Newman, Solomiia is pleased, not only with her studies, but with the college’s “special spirit.” She spends so much time there that “My family is joking that I live at Newman College.”

See www.newman.edu