Welcome to the Academy of the Annunciation (AoA)
at the Bournemouth Oratory
Be Transformed by the renewal of your mind
Rom. 12:2
AoA’s courses, whether delivered by way of live video conferencing, onsite conference (when permitted), or blended / distance learning, are designed to form and educate students to be truly mission-ready – for the parish, the diocese, and the world. Focused courses are offered at various levels on the Sacraments of Initiation, Catechesis & Evangelisation, Discipleship & Prayer, Apologetics & Reasons for Faith, Spiritual Theology, and various Scripture Studies.
Forming Evangelists, Catechists, and Formators “to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ: only He can lead us to the love of the Father in the Spirt and make us share in the life of the Holy Trinity.” (St John Paul II – Catechesi Tradendae *5).
Some feedback from our students
“The Academy’s online study days have been and are a golden opportunity to explore, learn and understand more about different aspects of our Faith. They are absolutely wonderful and I cannot recommend them highly enough“
AoA student from Sussex
“These study days are one of the best things that has happened to me – an obvious ‘Godincidence’ ….” Retired in London
“Thanks for the awesome lectures! I especially loved Tuesday since I am in need of improving my arguments when faced with challenging people!”
Medical Doctor & Pathologist in Los Angeles, California
“Thank you very much for the Study Days. We have enjoyed them very much. We have gained an enormous amount of knowledge!”
Married couple in Bristol (UK)
“Many thanks for yesterday’s session on the Road to Emmaus! – Your comments on the Eucharist were profound and ‘indeed our hearts burned within us’!”
Teacher in Exeter (UK)
“Amazing!!! That was a great learning day! Thanks so much for this! Praying for you all.”
Single Mother in Knock, Ireland
“I wanted to thank you for the great gift you gave to our community with the study day last Saturday! …… It is so refreshing, especially in our day and age, to have people like yourselves who can expound the Church’s teaching with clarity and fidelity. We felt the programme was very well structured in terms of the length of each session and the time you provided for people to make comments and ask questions, which gave it all a very friendly feel.
Mother Superior of Religious Sisters in London (UK)
CLICK HERE for more feedback from our students
Newman Catechetical Certificate : Reasons for Faith
One year Certificate course
Starting 29th September 2020
Catholics often have a profound sense of the faith; but equally often, they have difficulty explaining the reasons for their faith (and their hope) when asked questions or when challenged.
This programme will equip students with the basic principles needed to begin making this kind of preparation and is designed to help catechists, parents, parish workers, and anyone interested in giving reasons for our Catholic faith.
CLICK HERE to find out more about and to register for this course.
St John Diploma: Spiritual Formation
Two year Diploma course
Starting 1st October 2020
“Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few” [Jesus (Mt 7:13-14)]
Meditating on these words of Jesus, St John of the Cross (Doctor of the Universal Church) had studied diligently the Summa Theologiae of the great St Thomas Aquinas. This two-year programme focuses on the teaching of these two Doctors, along with the teaching of two other Doctors of the Church, St Teresa of Avila and St Therese of Lisieux.
CLICK HERE to find out more and to register for this course.
August & September Study Days
Saturdays 09:30 to 16:00
Registration is now open for the following August and September Study Days:
- St Therese and the Little Way
Saturday 8th August - Reasons for Faith in a Scientific Age
Saturday 15th August - How to get more from the Sunday Readings
Saturday 22nd August - Introduction to St Thomas Aquinas
Saturday 5th September - Where is that in the Bible?
Saturday 12th September - Justification and Salvation – Catholic Teaching & Non-Catholic Views
Saturday 19th September
Each Study Day costs only £25, and there is a 6 for 5 discount (sign up for 6 and only pay for 5).
CLICK HERE to find out more and to register for these Study Days.
August and September Study Evenings
Tuesdays and Thursdays 19:00 to 21:15
Registration is open for the following August and September Study Evenings:
- The Transfiguration of the Lord
Tues 4th & Thurs 6th August - The Blessed Virgin Mary – The New Eve and the Queen of Heaven
Tues 11th & Thurs 13th August - The Trinity of the Persons in the One God
Tues 18th & Thurs 20th August - St Augustine & Catechesis
Tues 25th & Thurs 27th August - Angels and Demons
Tues 8th & Thurs 10th September - Getting to know our English Martyrs
Tues 15th & Thurs 17th September
Each topic runs over two evenings, a total of 4 hours tuition and discussion plus a 15 minute break on each evening. The cost of each top (two Study Evenings) is only £25 and there is a 6 for 5 discount (sign up for 6 topics and only pay for 5).
CLICK HERE to find out more and to register for these Study Evenings.
During this “Year of the Word: the God who Speaks” the Bishops of England & Wales call us all to “Listen afresh to the Word of God, as did Our Blessed Lady at the Annunciation”, and St John Henry Newman (Founder of the English Oratories) called for ” … a Laity … who know their Religion, who enter into it … who know their Creed so well that they can give an account of it … (who) understand how Faith and Reason stand to each other”.
The Academy of the Annunciation (AoA) is a direct result of the prayers of St John Henry Newman (Cannonised in October 2019 by Pope Francis). Launched at the start of the “God Who Speaks: Year of the Word”, and in response to Bishop Egan’s vision in inviting The Oratory to the Diocese of Portsmouth to be a “focus for formation in the Catholic Faith for the New Evangelisation, a powerhouse of prayer, and a hub for the community”.
The Fathers and Brother of the Bournemouth Oratory in Formation welcome Dr Christina Pal and Dr Denise Oliver to work with us in responding to these calls, and welcome students to engage with the Faith, live it, and proclaim it, in a waiting world.