Two wonderful opportunities

for growth in faith, knowledge, and understanding

“Wellsprings” – Our Diocesan Catechists’ Foundation Course

Having had sixty participants complete the first year of Wellsprings and be commissioned as Catechists this month, we are delighted that a new course will commence in September 2011.

It will again be administered and delivered by the Adult Formation Team, joined by speakers with expertise and enthusiasm for their topic.

• Cohorts based in Scarborough and Hessle
• Fourteen sessions on a Wednesday evening, plus a final day of reflection and commissioning in June 2012
• No compulsory written work
• Designed for practising Catechists or those wishing to take on such a role
• Ideal for parishioners who work alongside children, teenagers, parents or adult enquirers, for those engaged in marriage preparation or who lead Children’s Liturgy of the Word
• A balance of theory and practical skills, of input and discussion
• Leads to the status of commissioned Catechist in the Diocese of Middlesbrough
• Sessions on catechesis, faith, liturgy, Scripture, RCIA, work with children and young people, and in-depth exploration of the Sacraments
• Just £50.00 for the entire course

The first course of Wellsprings has been extremely well-received and appreciated, with a remarkably high completion rate.

Interested?

• Please speak to your Parish Priest, whose consent is required
• Booking forms and leaflets are available in your parish and should be returned to Jane Cook by 1st September

CCRS – The Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies

This nationally renowned and accredited course will recommence for new students in September 2011.

It will be administered through the Vicariate for Evangelisation and delivered by a number of experienced practitioners with rich academic backgrounds.

• Cohorts based in Middlesbrough, Hull, and York (St John University)
• Full course of eight modules spread over two years
• Each module at Hull/Middlesbrough requires attendance for two Saturdays (ie sixteen days in total over the whole course)
• Modules at York St John are delivered on a Tuesday evening
• A written assignment to be completed for each module
• Ideal for Teachers (Catholic and non-Catholic), experienced Catechists, lay chaplaincy co-ordinators, and especially recommended to Teachers considering applying for Senior Management posts
• Suitable for any Catholic wishing to explore religious studies at a deeper level
• An academic course of A level standard
• Leads to an accredited qualification for those who pass all modules – highly desirable for employment in many school and Church roles
• Modules cover Old and New Testament, Christology, Sacraments, the Church, and Morality – with optional modules focussing upon Catholic Education or Parish catechesis/pastoral care
• £50.00 per module (£40.00 for unwaged and students) at Hull / Middlesbrough. £60.00 per module at York St John

Participants are also welcome to study just individual modules, or to take the course for personal interest without doing the written assignments.

Interested?

• Please see your Parish Priest or School Headteacher who will have a supply of booking forms

For more detailed information about the courses (topics, dates, venues etc) please find a leaflet / booking form in your parish, see the Diocesan website, or contact Jane Cook on (01642) 850505 ext 235 or adultformation@dioceseofmiddlesbrough.co.uk or at 50a The Avenue, Middlesbrough, TS5 6QT.

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Happiness is very much in the news at the moment. The National Wellbeing Survey is now under way to measure our quality of life, and an initiative to create a happier society ‘Action for happiness’ has just been launched.

In their search for what makes us happy, the experts not surprisingly conclude that it’s not being rich or beautiful – what a relief! My father used to say, and it’s probably not original, that contentment lies not in getting what you want, but wanting what you have, and that certainly fits with what an American University research found, namely that grateful people are 25% happier than ingrates. Read More »