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Getting equipped to serve the Church
Interest in the spiritual is growing. The Times newspaper reported that in England there was an increase of 23% of students registering for RE at secondary level causing a shortage of teachers in the subject. At university level too, there has been a reported 7% increase in the uptake of theology.
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More and more lay people it seems are feeling drawn to know more about their faith, either to develop their own understanding or to take up the growing number of opportunities for formal service in the Church. Below are some of the current formation options around . Academic Courses MARYVALE Maryvale which opened in the 1980s as an adult education centre for the Birmingham diocese offers formation courses using the distance learning model and methodology. It is affiliated to Maynooth and the Open University and offers a whole series of courses ranging from diplomas in Catechesis to five - six year BA courses in Theology and Applied Theology. The BA theology course is particularly popular and currently has about 200 people doing it. The ethos of the centre is very much inspired by Cardinal Newman's vision for a laity well educated in the Faith bringing together the academic and the spiritual in a holistic way. The students range in age from 20 to 85 years old. The demands for the courses differ. The requirement for the BA in Applied Theology is to attend three residential weekends a year and to produce 6 assignments. The course is taught principally through course modules - a system of tutorials in print, which guide the students, and help them know what books to read and what questions to look at and reflect on. The college has over 125 staff from the around the country, who act as lecturers, course book writers and tutors to the students or help mark papers. Although students only see each other formally three times a year, a great sense of community develops. Fr Paul is extremely enthusiastic about the distance learning model, which he feels is actually a superior way for adults to learn as it encourages commitment, an integration of life and study, and an attitude of life-long learning, rather than just taking time out to study and then getting on with life. Although most are mature students, Maryvale has recently taken on one school leaver, who is doing the part time BA in Applied Theology course at a faster rate, taking 3 years to complete instead of six. In these days of escalating university tuition fees one attraction no doubt is the price. The Maryvale BA Theology degree costs about ?6 -7000 for the whole course (depending on the length of the course and includes all the costs for the residential weekends). Course fees generally range from ?240 to ?1200 a year. For further details contact: The Registrar, Maryvale, Old Oscott Hill, Birmingham B44 9AG Tel 0121 360 8118 www.maryvale.ac.uk/
The Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology is a Catholic House of Study for laywomen in Cambridge. Lay women, from all sorts of backgrounds and states of life,come to deepen their faith, nurtured by Scripture, theTradition of the Church, and by prayer and sacramental celebration together. For some this has resulted in university degree qualifications, and led to work in the pastoral life of the Church. For others, and particularly younger women, this time of theological study has been a formation for Christian discipleship in the lay living of the Gospel - as mothers, teachers, lawyers, accountants. There is something here, which is enabling lay women to find new and profound ways of understanding and living their vocation. In a quiet, largely unknown way, seeds for renewal of the Church are being sown. Contact: Dr. Clare Watkins clare@drwatkins.co.uk (01223 741040). Or contact the Administrator, Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology, 12-14 Grange Road, Cambridge, CB3 9DU. (01223 741039) THE MISSIONARY INSTITUTE LONDON The Missionary Institute in Mill Hill has been training
people for mission since the late 1960s. It was set up by seven founding
missionary societies, primarily to train their own seminarians and priests.
Over the years, however, vocations to the priesthood have declined and
more lay people are coming to the Institute to receive formation. The
Institute which is affiliated to Middlesex and Leuven universities,
offers MA degrees and diplomas lasting one or two years, depending on
whether they are done part time or full time. Options include Peace
and Justice, Mission Studies, Christian Leadership and Pastoral Theology.
Students, who are usually in their late 20s and early 30s, come from
all over the world. Currently there are 32 countries represented among
the 86 students. Lecturers come from the various missionary orders,
as well Heythrop College and other places. Their recent evening lecture
programme has become very popular. Gap Year Opportunities CROSSROADS at the HOUSE OF THE OPEN DOOR COMMUNITY The House of the Open Door Community, an ecumenical charismatic community, with a strong Catholic membership, based in the Cotswolds offers the opportunity for young people to come and stay with the community on their Crossroads programme. The minimum stay is 2 weeks up to a year. During this time participants receive teaching, three mornings a week on the bible, and aspects of the spiritual life, with the emphasis on practical application rather than academic study. The teachings are given by members of the community and the occasional outside speaker. Participants join the full time community in prayer three times a week and help with work on the farm, helping out on the retreat centre or with arts and crafts. The participants live together in their own house. Age range is usually 20s to 30s and the time is particularly useful for those who have come to a crossroads in their lives when they are looking at which way forward to go. Cost is ?35 a week Contact House of the Open Door, Childswickham House, Childswickham, near Evesham, Worcs WR12 7HH. Tel 01386 852084 INTERNATIONAL CATHOLIC PROGRAMME FOR EVANGELISATION (ICPE) ICPE was started 15 years ago by Anna and Mario Capello, a young Maltese couple, who felt it was important to provide short term training in discipleship and formation for young Catholics wanting to evangelise. The community, which has its administrative base in Rome, now runs all kinds of courses all over the world. All students are self financing. Opportunities coming up this year include: Humanitarian work (3 weeks) in either Bangalore, India (24th June -15th July 2005) or Albania (24th June -13th July 2005). School of Evangelisation at St Andrew, Germany (2 weeks) consists of two courses "The Secret of Paul" between 26th June and 1st July and "Moses" between 3rd July and 9th July 2005. Pastoral Counselling School, Germany 22nd August to 11th September 2005 (3 weeks). School of Missions (3 months) in either India 1st September - 30th November 2005 or in Jakarta, Indonesia 25th September - 18th December 2005. School of Humanitarian Work and Christian Formation
in the Philippines 12th September -11th December 2005. This is a unique
interactive three month training programme set in a cross-cultural environment.
Youth2000 has a small mission team and runs retreats in schools and parishes round the country. Every year they run a month long formation course for young people 18-30. This year this takes place from 3rd-29th July at Redcar Farm, Ampleforth and costs ?150 (recommended donation). The course offers a well-rounded in-depth and practical four week programme of formation for the new evangelisation. It will explore the depths of the Youth2000 charism, which is centred on the Eucharist. Successful completion of this course provides the possibility of joining the mission team. Contact: Youth2000, PO Box 176, Leeds. LS17 9XU YOUTH MINISTRY TEAM The Hexham and Newcastle Youth Ministry Team, is in its 10th year. Last September it moved to a permanent new home on a former holiday camp site near Consett. Here the team are housed in small chalets and there are plans to build an auditorium, ready in September this year. The team is made up of a mixture of full time workers, headed up by Fr Dermot Donnelly, and young volunteers, (18-30 years old), who stay a year or two, some of whom come from abroad. The year, which is from September to July, includes two months of training and formation, in both practical skills and theology, as well as outreach in schools and parishes. Topics covered include how faith develops in young people and youth culture. Teaching is done by both the staff on the team and outside lecturers from Ushaw College and the Theology Department of the University of Durham, as well as diocesan priests. Things are underway for the year to get accreditation so that participants can receive a certificate in theology and youth ministry, which will count as the first year of an undergraduate degree. For the last two years YMT have been pioneering a new approach to youth missions, where they prepare for their school missions by working with the local parishes, to build up post mission support. Contact: YMT, Diocesan Youth Village, Pemberton Road, Allensford, Consett, Co Durham, DH8 9BA tel: 01207 592244 fax 592245
The Spec Mission Team, which is led by Sandra and David Satchel, is funded by the Westminster diocese and based at All Saints Pastoral Centre, London Colney, just outside London. Volunteers spend a year as part of the SPEC community being formed and helping with the work of the Centre. This includes running residential retreats on site, giving talks and preparing liturgies as well as helping with outdoor pursuits such as mountain biking and orienteering. Team members also help with general chores and maintenance round the house.Teams are also sent on mission to both primary and secondary schools. The training is very practical and there are regular training days for the team in areas such as team building, presentation skills, music and liturgy, child protection issues,etc. There are also opportunities to attend relevant courses provided by the diocese or by Herfordshire County Council. There is also possibility to get a qualification in youth work, based on the knowledge and experience gained through work at SPEC rather than by formal study. Team members receive full board and lodgings together with ?40 a week pocket money. Contact: SPEC, All Saints Pastoral Centre, London Colney, St Albans, Herts, AL2 1AF. Tel 01727 828888 SION COMMUNITY The Youth Member Gap Year at Sion Community provides training for young Catholics between 18-25 who are interested in living in a lively community and sharing their faith. Running from early August for one to two years, Youth Members gain experience of community life, the mission of the Church, and working with young people. Training includes formation in drama, sign language, small group work, leading prayer, teaching, and other useful skills. There's also teaching on the wider aspects of our faith including love and responsibility, the Eucharist, reconciliation, apologetics, interfaith dialogue, ecumenism and social justice. Participants experience a lot of personal growth and deepen in prayer, insights into conflict handling, motivational gifts and discernment. Youth Members are supported in prayer, paid, fed, pastored and looked after well. Contact: Sion Community, Holy Cross Convent, Chalfont St Peter, Bucks SL9 9DW Tel 01753 888322. Website www.sioncommunity.org.uk www.sioncommunity.org.uk ST PATRICK'S EVANGELISATION SCHOOL St Patrick's Evangelisation School is a Catholic
School of Mission, which is parish based. It was set up three years
ago by Fr Alexander Sherbrooke in response to the Holy Father's call
for a new evangelisation. St Patrick's is situated in the heart of Soho
in central London, the entertainment centre of the city. The young people
who come on the school are normally between 20-30. They live at Allen
Hall seminary in Chelsea but spend most of their time at St Patrick's
in study and prayer and outreach. The formation is from October to June
and during this time they are very much involved in the outreaches of
the parish, which include a homeless project, an SOS prayer line, and
other evangelistic activities run by the parish, particularly at Christmas
and Easter. The students have a rich experience of community living
and spiritual development. As well as lectures on a wide range of subjects
they follow Maryvale's special accredited course on the Catholic Catechism
for which they receive a certificate. Daily Mass, Exposition, rosary,
meditation and regular retreats and pilgrimages in this country and
abroad form an essential part of formation. Participants are also taught
contemplation and reflection on the Scriptures and the Tradition of
the Church. Afterwards some may find their way into religious or consecrated
life, or the priesthood. Contact: The Director, St Patrick's Evangelisation
School, 21a Soho Square, London W1D 4NR tel 0207 434 9965
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