CATECHETICAL DIPLOMA

MONDAYS

9am -11am OR 7pm – 9pm (UK Time)

10am – 12 noon OR 8pm – 10pm (Central European Time)

2pm-4pm (USA – East Coast Time)

11am-1pm (USA Pacific Coast Time)

STARTING 26th SEPTEMBER 2022

This course is for those who have completed the Newman Catechetical Certificate course in Reasons for Faith (and for those who have a basic understanding of the topics covered in that course;  please CLICK HERE to see the list of topics covered in Reasons for Faith).

Those who wish to study simply for personal enrichment are welcome to register irrespective of their previous studies.

Only those who successfully complete the assessments for both the Reasons for Faith course and this course will receive the Catechetical Diploma.

Having considered the articles of faith and common objections to the faith during the certificate year, we are ready to “put out into the deep” (Lk 5:2).

St Jerome, Father of the Church, teaches us that “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.”  Jesus is inviting us to deepen our friendship with Him by learning how to hear his voice in the Scriptures, and especially in the Gospels.

The Second Vatican Council teaches us that “among all the Scriptures, even those of the New Testament, the Gospels have a special pre-eminence … for they are the principal witness for the life and teaching of the incarnate Word, our Saviour,” (Dei Verbum 19).  Yet as we go to Holy Mass day after day, week after week, year after year, and we here the same Gospel stories again and again, very often, we might feel that we already know that story.

In this second year, we learn how to read the Sacred Page – how to go beyond a superficial reading and how to begin to penetrate deeply the Word of God.  We will examine Catholic Principles for Scriptural Interpretation, we will see the overarching story of the Bible, and then we will focus on the Gospels and the words of Christ Jesus, who says, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” (Jn 15:11).

This course is designed to help us to hear Jesus speaking directly to us, to enter more deeply into friendship with Him, and to help others to encounter Christ in Sacred Scripture and to grow in discipleship.

The programme is designed to help catechists, parents, parish workers, and anyone interested in discovering  the riches of the teaching of Christ and moving beyond superficial acquaintanceship into deep friendship with God Incarnate.  We will look at specific Gospel texts and treat concrete examples to see that “all Divine Scripture speaks of Christ, and all Divine Scripture is fulfilled in Christ.” (CCC 134).

Enjoy the Interactive Lectures & Discussions from your own home

Interactive Real-time Participation & Regular Feedback from your Academic Tutor

Dr Denise Clare Oliver and Dr Christina Pal lead the teaching team for this programme. Prior to joining the Academy of the Annunciation (AoA), Dr Oliver was a professor at the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, an invited lecturer for the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, and Director of Theology at the School of the Annunciation.  Dr Christina Pal has a Doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome.  Prior to joining the AoA, Dr Pal was an adjunct professor for the Augustine Institute and for Christendom College’s Rome Programme, and she was the Senior Academic Tutor for the School of the Annunciation at Buckfast Abbey.

The Structure of the Programme

The programme is comprised of two courses (or modules). Each week, you will enjoy a 2 hour sesssion of lecture and discussion.  You will receive reading assignments and activities to reinforce what you are learning in the virtual classroom.

How it Works

Real-time Interactive Participation

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 (by depressing your space-bar), or you can opt just to listen.  We prefer everyone’s web-cam to be turned on, so that we’re all visitble to each other, but you can opt to turn off your web-cam.  You can ask questions, contribute to the discussion and participate just as you would if you were onsite – all from the comfort of your home!

Assessments

Two modules will be completed during the academic year.

Each week during the three terms, students have brief reading assignments.  Each month, there are short exercises associated with the reading assignments and lectures. These formative activities account for 10% of the module’s final grade.

There are two assignments for each module which together form 90% of the mark for the module.  The short formative activities, together with feedback from the Academic Tutor, help students in their preparation for the graded assignments.

The purpose of the assignments and assessments is to help students to internalise and appropriate the material being presented in the lectures and discussions.

Studying for Personal Enrichment Only

The Academy of the Annunciation welcomes students to attend our courses for personal enrichment, but without the pressure of assignments and assessments for a certificate or diploma.  Once you have registered for the course, please send an email to the Academic Tutor indicating that you wish to study for personal enrichment, and will not be completing the assignments and assessments for a certificate or diploma.  You can reverse this decision during the first month of the programme, if your experience leads you to choose to do the assignments and assessments for a Certificate or Diploma.

You can email the Academic Tutor at drcpal.aoa@gmail.com.

The Cost

The tuition for the entire programme, including all the help you will receive from your personal academic tutor is £998 (if you pre-pay all at once).

If you prefer to pay on a monthly basis, it is £120 per month (pre-paid before the first session of the month).

The Academy Trustees have established a small bursary fund to help those who cannot afford the full course fee.  If you would like more information please CLICK HERE.

Why Study with the Academy of the Annunciation?

With so many free online courses to choose from, why should you pay to study with the Academy of the Annunciation?

As a student of the Academy of the Annunciation you can be sure that everything you are taught will be the authentic teaching of the Catholic Church – based on Scripture, Tradition, the Magisterium, and the Fathers and Doctors of the Church:

• each week you will receive two to two and a half hours hours of teaching, questions and answers and real discussion;
• during each session, you can ask questions and get real answers to your specific questions.

In addition, as a student on any of the Newman Catechetical Certificate – Reasons for Faith course, the Catechetical Diploma – Deeper into Scripture Course or the St John Diploma in Spiritual Formation course you receive:

•  detailed Notes followng each session;
• 24-hour email access to the Senior Academic Tutor – which includes phone conversations and zoom appointments.

Join Us Now!

Come and deepen your understanding of the Catholic Faith through live lectures (via video conferencing) with inter-active discussion and real-time participation, all from the comfort of your own home.  Come and meet fellow disciples from all over the world.

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