Theology Update for the Week of March 16, 2025


Lent Sunday Theology Talks

Theology and Spirituality of
HEALING

2. What is Spiritual Healing? The Approaches of Faith and Science

The Rev. Dr. Gillian Straine

YouTube livestream HERE

Podcast by Fr Luigi Gioia on the “Prayer for Healing” HERE

Dear Friends,

On Sunday March 16th we continue our series of conversations between The Rev. Dr. Gillian Straine and myself on the Theology and Spirituality of Healing.

Spiritual healing can be seen as healing facilitated by spiritual practices (such as meditation and prayer). More and more scientific studies are showing that this is a crucial component in the process of health recovery. Spiritual healing helps creating a place for ourselves to explore the meaning of health and illness, and perhaps to discover new pathways to healing.  This stems from a deeper appreciation of the way in which illness and health depend on factors which are not just physiological,  but inseparably psychological, emotional, spiritual, and social.

Here are the titles and the dates of the series (click on the title to see video-recordings of previous talks):

  1. March 9: “Jesus’ miracles and healing activity: should we expect miracles today?”
  2. March 15: “What is spiritual healing? The approaches of faith and science”.
  3. March 23: “‘Lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover’ (Mark 16.18): the healing mission of the Church”.
  4. March 30: “How do faith and prayer bring us hope in times of illness and suffering?” 

The Revd. Dr. Gillian Straine is CEO of GoHealth, an ecumenical organisation that equips and inspires Christians and Churches to nurture health and healing in ourselves, our communities and the world. She is an Anglican priest, scientist, cancer survivor, coach and author. She is the author of Introducing Science and Religion: A Path Through Polemic (2013) and Cancer: A Pilgrim Companion (2017)The class will take place as usual on Sunday at 10 am in the Parish House, 5th floor.

I recorded a podcast on the “Prayer for Healing” with Gillian last week. As a preparation for the series you can listen to the Podcast HERE

As usual the class will be both in person and via the livestream and the YouTube link  will be sent later this week.

All blessings,

Fr. Luigi Gioia

Theologian In Residence