AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER STUDY DAYS

VIA VIDEO CONFERENCING

STUDY DAY 9.30am – 4:00pm

1. St Thérèse and the Little Way – Sure Path to Salvation 
Saturday 8th August 

St Therese of Lisieux is a cloistered Carmelite nun, whose earthly life ended at the age of 24. Yet, she is a  Doctor of the Universal Church and the patroness of missionaries.  Her doctrine of the Little Way has been declared a sure path to salvation.  This is a path not just for the gifted and the strong, but accessible to all who wish to follow Jesus.  Come and get to know this great saint, who has inspired St (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta and so many others; come and learn about the sure path to heaven!

2.  Reasons for Faith in a Scientific Age
Saturday 15th August

Does the truth of the Catholic faith contradict the truth of science?  Do current scientific theories disprove the Catholic faith?  In light of modern science, can we still posit the existence of God?  Don’t the big bang, evolution, and a proper scientific understanding of nature eliminate the need to believe in the existence of God?  These are some of the questions we will consider in this Study Day.

3.   How to get more from the Sunday Readings.
Saturday 22nd August 

What is the logic behind the selection of the readings for any given Sunday?  Why do we hear little bits of different books instead of simply reading through one book at a time?  Beyond just reading through the texts, how can we prepare to hear God’s word at Sunday Mass?  In this Study Day, we will consider some of the most important Catholic principles for interpreting the Scriptures – the Old and New Testaments.  We will see how some of these principles play a role in the selection of the readings on any given Sunday.  We will learn how to prepare well so that we are better disposed to hear God’s word.

4.   Introduction to St Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of Doctors
Saturday 5th September 

Pope John XXII said of St Thomas Aquinas that “his life was saintly and his doctrine could only be miraculous … because he enlightened the Church more than all the other doctors.  By the use of his works a man could profit more in one year than if he studies the doctrines of others for his whole life.”  Many of us have heard of St Thomas and his Summa Theologiae, and some of us may even have tried to read it.  For those who have tried, perhaps many have given up on trying to unlock the key to reading the writings of this great Saint.  In this Study Day, we will learn about the life and work of St Thomas, and we will discover how to begin reading his writings.

5.   Where is that in the Bible?
Saturday 12th September 

Sometimes our non-Catholic friends challenge us about various aspects of our Catholic faith, asking, “Where is that in the Bible?”  Often, we are unaware of the Scriptural foundations of much of what we experience in Church.  Is the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Bible?  What about the papacy – where is that in the Bible?  In this Study Day, we will consider these and similar questions.

6.   Justification and Salvation – Catholic Teaching & Non-Catholic Views
Saturday 19th September

We often hear the words justification and salvation.  But what do these words mean, and are they really important for our Catholic faith?  Our non-Catholic friends sometimes tell us that we can be saved by faith alone.  Is that true?  What about works?  In this Year of the Word, the Academy of the Annunciation invites you to explore what the Bible has to say about justification and salvation.  Come and discover the underlying reasons for the differences between Catholic teaching and non-Catholic views by examining the Scriptural foundations of the Catholic teaching on these questions.

MORE ABOUT AoA STUDY DAYS

The Structure of the Study Day

Each Study Day runs from 9.30am to 4:00pm.  There are three sessions (with short breaks) in the morning;  Angelus and Mass can be experienced via live-stream on the Oratory website.  There is a break for lunch during which participants can join the group to have conversations with each other and with a staff member.  In the afternoon, there are two sessions (with a break between each session).

How it works

Once you have registered for a Study Day, you will receive a series of emails on the evening before the Study Day.  The first email will inlcude a timetable for the Study Day and other important information.  The other emails will contain a link for each session.

On the Study Day, there is an optional test meeting at 9.00am – for anyone who wishes to practice clicking the link and making sure they can see and hear without any problems.  Then, we begin at 9.30am with the first session.  To “enter the meeting room”, you simply click the link in your email, follow the directions, and you are in!  There is no need for any app or advanced computer or technical skill.

Real-time Interactive Partcipation

Once you are in the “meeting room”, you can see and hear everything.  To ask questions, or participate in the discussion, you simply un-mute your microphone (or you can opt just to listen).  We prefer everyone’s web-cam to be turned on, so that we’re all visible to each other, but you can opt to turn off your web-cam.  You can ask questions, contribute to the discussion and particpate just as you would if your were onsite – all from the comfort of your home!

The Cost and the 6 for 5 Discount

Each Study Day (9.30am to 4:00pm) costs only £25 per person, and there’s a 6 for 5 discount – You can sign up for 6 Study Days for the price of 5;  or 6 people can be signed up at once with a payment for 5.

Join Us Now!

The Academy of the Annunciation wants to help Catholics and enquirers to stay better connected by offering live lectures (via video conference) with inter-active discussion and real-time participation, all from the comfort of your home.

These Study Days give us opportunities to discuss our Catholic Faith, and are the perfect occasions to connect with other Catholics – perhaps over a glass of wine in the afternoon! [Provide your own wine or beverage of choice at home.]

Come and join us!  We look forward to seeing you and hearing from you in our virutal meeting room.