Certificate in Catechesis.

The Course commences at various times during the year, depending on the diocese or center offering the Course.

The course is for anyone interested in developing his or her own faith for the sake of explaining it to others. The course provides a solid foundation in the key areas of Catholic faith which a person needs to understand in order to be able to pass it on. This might be as a catechist in a parish group, but the course is also for those who simply want to be able to give an account of their faith to others.

Those who successfully complete the course are eligible for The Certificate in Catechesis, which is validated by Maryvale Institute and approved by the Congregation for the Clergy, Rome.  It is also offered with the authority of bishops from dioceses in England, Scotland, Ireland Scandinavia, and aound the world for the training of catechists for their dioceses.

Course Content and Structure.

This is a two-year, part-time, distance-learning course. Course participants study at home in their own time following specially written course books for each module of the course. For each module the student presents a piece of written work. There are three study days to attend during the year, at which one is introduced to the modules, and an annual retreat day. The course draws from the Scriptures, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the documents of the Second Vatican Council as key reference texts and offers a balance of theology, spirituality and catechetical teaching skills.

The modules cover the following areas:

  1. Introduction to Catechesis
  2. Old Testament
  3. New Testament
  4. Jesus Christ
  5. Liturgy and Sacraments
  6. Ways of Praying
  7. Life in Christ
  8. The Church
  9. Our Lady and the Saints
  10. Methods of Teaching

Time Required.

Course participants give around 5 hours each week to the course.

Click here to see the complete Programme Specification.

Click here to download an application form