Welcome to the Diocese of Middlesbrough Adult Formation Department

Departmental staff

Director of Adult Formation: Father John Lumley MTh, BA, BD, PGCE, (Part-time)

Adult Formation Adviser: Mrs Jane Cook LLB, BA, Adv. D. N. (Full-time)

We have an office within the Curial Office in Middlesbrough, but are frequently out and about visiting parishes and events throughout the length and breadth of the Diocese.

Mrs Sue Paterson, Receptionist at the Curial Office, gives part-time administrative support to the department. Sue is the first point of contact for enquiries and bookings for Handbook courses and other workshops and events.

• Father John can be contacted on 01642 850505 ext. 241 or at adultformationdirector@dioceseofmiddlesbrough.co.uk
• Jane can be contacted on 01642 850505 ext. 235 (with answerphone) or at adultformation@dioceseofmiddlesbrough.co.uk

The Adult Formation pages

Details of news, forthcoming events, resources, courses – in fact almost everything to do with Adult Formation in the Middlesbrough Diocese – will be published here.

Click on HANDBOOK OF SHORT COURSES to view the handbook. Details of all the courses and the facilitators, and practical issues and booking arrangements, can be viewed on this web site. Please feel free to download your own personal copy of the handbook.

For information about AF events, courses and workshops that are taking place throughout the Diocese, click on EVENT CALENDAR. Those that are most imminent are also listed under Upcoming Events on the right of this page. Where events are advertised as open to all, please do feel very warmly invited to attend.

Supporting Lay Pastoral Ministry

• PLEASE NOTE – 2009 / 2010 COURSE IN BOTH MIDDLESBROUGH AND HULL IS NOW FULLY BOOKED

Supporting Lay Pastoral Ministry is a 10 session course (one session a month) running from September 2009 to July 2010, with one course  held in Middlesbrough and one in Hull. All sessions are on a Tuesday evening.

The course is for any parishioner engaged in any pastoral care and parish visiting. The aim is to develop skills in pastoral care, give spiritual and practical support to parishioners, and reflect on pastoral issues and personal experience.

Up-to-date information for participants, including course content, dates, and venues, can be found by clicking on SUPPORTING LAY PASTORAL MINISTRY.

Further ideas and resources

Father John and Jane are available, working together or separately, to help resource various formation needs for parishes and groups. Under the category of FURTHER IDEAS AND RESOURCES FOR THE PARISH you will find a varied selection of formation work being undertaken for specific needs, e.g. listening skills for bereavement visitors, formation for Confirmation catechists or with parishioners responsible for working with Baptism parents. These events are NOT open to all, but are highlighted here to give a flavour of our work, and to raise awareness of future possibilities for your own parish community.

Thoughts

If you click on THOUGHTS you’ll find a number of reflective articles on Adult Formation and evangelisation which have been written for publication in the Catholic Voice.

Please pray for the work of Adult Formation and Evangelisation.

Perhaps by using this prayer:

Loving God,

Your Son Jesus has planted the seed of faith in our hearts.
Help us grow in knowledge and love of that faith,
and give us the courage to share it with our neighbours.

Make our lives and our communities into fertile soil bringing forth a rich harvest to your glory

.