BIBLICAL REASONS FOR OUR CATHOLIC FAITH

1 YEAR COURSE: BEGINS 28 FEB – 1 MAR 2020
(ACADEMY CERTIFICATE AWARDED UPON COMPLETION)

Remembering the 1600th anniversary of the death of St Jerome, the Catholic Bishops of England and Wales have designated 2020 as a Year in celebration of The God who Speaks, inviting the Church in England and Wales to listen afresh to the Word of God as did Our Blessed Lady at the Annunciation, to encounter anew the presence of that Word and to proclaim it afresh in the Church and the World.1

The Bishops’ Conference has stated very clearly that Scripture is at the centre of everything the Church does. The Word of God shapes our prayer and worship. The Bible shows us how to understand the world, how we are called to live and relate to each other.2

Beginning with a three-day on site conference and continuing through distance learning, this course seeks to explore the Biblical roots of our Catholic faith. Very often, Catholics enjoy a rich devotional life – they go to Mass, pray the Rosary, receive the Sacraments … we hear plenty of Scripture at Mass, and we might attend Bible Studies from time to time. But our understanding of Scripture is often fragmented; and we don’t realise how it is that the rituals we enjoy are grounded in the Divine revelation found in Sacred Scripture.

In this Year of the Word, the Academy of the Annunciation invites you to a deeper contemplation of the richness of God’s Word as it is lived, shared, and celebrated in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church which Christ founded.

In today’s cultural climate, it is not sufficient to a Cultural Catholic.  Jesus is inviting us to a deeper, more profound friendship – so that His joy may be in us and so that our joy may be complete.  He has said that His word must abide in us, (Jn 15).

This course is designed for parents, teachers, catechists, and anyone who wants to participate in the work of the New Evangelisation – anyone who wants to live their discipleship more authentically and anyone who wants to invite others to the joy of following Christ.

This course is particularly helpful for anyone wishing to prepare to work as a catechist, an instructor for RCIA or Confirmation Preparation, or any teacher of the faith.

This course covers a range of topics including:

• Faith & Reason
• The Existence of God
• Divine Revelation & the Canon of Scripture
• The Relationship between Scripture and Tradition
• The Trinity and the Divinity of Christ
• The Resurrection of Christ
• The Church founded by Christ & the Apostolic Succession
• Original Sin & Justification
• The Mass & the Sacraments
• The Blessed Virgin Mary
• Purgatory
• The Saints
• Veneration of Relics

This course is a must for anyone who has ever asked Where is that in the Bible?

During this onsite residential period, we follow in the footsteps of the early Christians, studying together, praying together, and being nourished together at the Eucharistic Banquet. There are also opportunities to enjoy social time and fellowship with staff members, fellow disciples, and the Oratory Fathers.

Places are limited. Please register as soon as possible to ensure you have a reserved place.

Cost for the Conference (including accommodation, meals, and parking): £465.

This Conference begins on Friday morning and ends on Sunday afternoon. If you would like to extend the hotel booking of your room (at the discounted rate) on either the previous (Thursday), or following (Sunday) night(s), or both, please contact us

1 http://www.cbcew.org.uk/bishops-plenary-meeting-april-2018/
2 https://www.cbcew.org.uk/home/events/the-god-who-speaks/

AoA’s MODEL FOR BLENDED / DISTANCE LEARNING

• AoA’s model of blended learning means that there is a face-to-face component whic takes place on site at the Academy in Bournemouth; and a distance learning component, which means students can receive Catholic education from wherever they live, as long as they have access to the internet.
• In the course of the academic year, each year-group of students on each course comes to the Academy of the Annunciation (AoA) for their Residential Study Period.  During the “Residential”, the student experiences interactive lectures, discussion groups, seminars and workshops.
• The time-table of the residential study period follows the rhythm of prayer set by the time table of the Oratorian Fathers.  Students are invited to listen to listen intently to God as they spend time in silent adoration and attend Mass with the Oratorian Fathers.
• At home, the student continues his/her studies on the virtual learning system, with the help and input of the academic tutor and other faculty members.
• The student regularly receives individual tutoria feedbackon formative assignments, as well as tutoria feedback in the group discussions which take place on the virtual learning system.
• In addition, students have access, (via phone and email) to the faculty members who teach on their courses.
• On the virtual learning system – the student is being taught through text, through videos, through audio presentations, and through the formative tasks which are part and parcel of the distance aspect of the blended learning.  (These materials are prepared and revised by the AoA faculty.)
• In the way, although AoA students spend much of their time away from the Academy and the Oratory, they experience interactive learning and have frequent access to their lectures (more than they would if they attended university on a traditional campus.

TUITION & FEES

The cost of this course is: £765.

What is included:  The course fee includes the inital three-day conference (accommodation, meals and parking included); 9 months of online instruction via the virtual learning environment, regular feedback from your personal academic tutor; online interaction and discussions with classmates via the virtual learning environment.

The onsite residential begins on Friday morning and ends on Sunday afternoon. If you would like to extend the hotel booking of your room (at the discounted rate) on either the previous (Thursday), or following (Sunday) night(s), or both, please contact us

Award: Upon succession completion of the course and all the assessments, students will be awarded an Academy of the Annunciation Certificate.