A Gift of Elder Adulthood
4-weeks (first 4) | Registration opens 8/28/2026 9:00 AM EDT
Elder adulthood, often defined as age 75 and beyond, is frequently viewed exclusively through the lens of diminishment, both physical and mental--but this lens doesn't tell the whole story. More disposable free time and the awareness of "more yesterdays than tomorrows" most often encourage an inner journey where the focus is on crucial psychological and spiritual tasks. Before exploring these tasks, the course will explore the issue of psychological identity, a reality far deeper than self-concept.
Suggested Readings: “Eight Stages of Psychosexual Development” by Erik Erikson, and Gerotranscendence by Lars Tornstam
Jean Flannelly
Jean Flannelly, a Sister of Charity of New York, is a Clinical Psychologist with a Ph.D. from Fordham University; a theologian, with a Master of Theological Studies degree from Weston School of Theology; and a certified spiritual director. Most of her wide-ranging training was spent in academic settings preparing women and men for ministry, both lay and ordained in the church. During this time, she became more sensitive to the need to better understand the separate but interconnected dynamics of psychological and spiritual development.