JUNE STUDY DAYS 

VIA VIDEO CONFERENCING

STUDY DAY 9.30am – 4:00pm

1.  St Therese and the Little Way – Sure Path to Salvation
Wednesday 10th June 

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.  Why Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus?
Saturday 13th June

Many of us are very familiar with the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Seldom do we walk into a Catholic Church without seeing an image or a statue of the Sacred Heart somewhere in the Church.  But what does it really mean?  Why is this devotion recommended for the Universal Church?  How can a deeper understanding of the theology of the Sacred Heart transform our life and discipleship in Christ?  Come and consider these and other questions as we prepare for the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus!

3.   “Grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ” (Jn 1:17) – Why Catholic Prayers are always “through Christ our Lord” when the Bible invites us to pray “in Jesus’ name”.
Wednesday 17th June 

Why are all our Catholic prayers offered “through Christ our Lord”?  If we have attended a protestant prayer service, we have heard people pray “in Jesus’ name” … and this seems to make sense since Jesus Himself says (in Jn 16). “Whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.”  In this study day (or over two evenings), we will learn how we can reconcile the words of Jesus in Jn 16 with the words of Jn 1:17 – “grace and truth have come through Jesus Christ.”  In this Year of the Word, come and consider the meaning of those familiar words “through Christ our Lord,” and see how and why our Catholic prayers are rooted in the deepest meaning of Scriptural revelation.

4.   Passion and Emotion – The Catholic Perspective
Saturday 20th June 

What is the role of passion and emotion in our Christian Life of discipleship?  Are the passions to be shunned?  Is it sinful to be emotional?  Does authentic Christian discipleship call for stoicism and the avoidance of all passion and emotion?  Come and learn the true Catholic perspective about these and related questions!

5.   Adam & Eve in the Garden – Why the First Sin was so Catastrophic
Wednesday 24th June 

We have all heard the story of Adam and Eve in the garden.  We know that they ate the forbidden fruit.  Perhaps we have wondered why that fruit was so forbidden in the first place.  Perhaps we have questioned the relevance of this story in our lives in the present day, and asked ourselves how our own experiences of weakness and woundedness due to original sin find their roots in the free choice of Adam and Eve.  In this study day (or over two evenings), we will consider how and why this ancient Biblical story contains the blueprint for every sin; we will see how the wounds of original sin can wreak havoc in our lives; and we will consider some of the remedies we receive through our redemption in Christ.

6.   Why we call the Priest “Father” and Other Questions about the Priesthood
Saturday 27th June

Why do we call the priest “father”?  Why can’t we have women priests?  Why does the Roman Catholic Church still insist on priestly celibacy?  Why are ancient concepts about priesthood relevant for the 21st century Catholic?  In this study day, we will consider these and other questions about the priesthood of Jesus Christ.

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 and Evenings 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 (or evening)! [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.