JULY STUDY DAYS 

VIA VIDEO CONFERENCING

STUDY DAY 9.30am – 4:00pm

1.  Angels and Demons
Wednesday 8th July 

We hear a lot about angels and demons.  Whether we are thinking about secular films or statues of guardian angels for the baby’s bedroom, we might have wondered if angels are like unicorns – nice cute fictitious characters.  Or are they real?  And if they are real, what are they?  What can we know about them?  And does it really matter?

2.  Understanding the Catechism of the Catholic Church
Saturday 11th July

We often hear quotations from the Catechism of the Catholic Church in homilies or classes we attend about the Catholic Faith.  And if we have a Catechism, we probably use it like a dictionary or an encyclopedia, only reading the paragraph which contains the answer to the question we are considering.  In this Study Day, we will learn about the structure and purpose of the Catechism, and we will see how to approach this work as a whole.  Understanding the inner logic of the organisation of the topics in the Catechism will help us to take advantage of this great gift which St John Paul II has given the Church.

3.   Introduction to St Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of Doctors
Wednesday 15th July 

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 doctrine 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 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.

4.   How Does Christ’s Death on the Cross Save Us?
Saturday 18th July 

We hear that Jesus died for our salvation.  But do we know what that means?  How does Christ’s death on the Cross save us?  Are atonement, redemption, and salvation the same thing?  Do Catholics and Non-Catholic Christians understand Christ’s death on the Cross the same way?  In this Study Day, we will consider these and other questions about the Crucifixion of Christ.

5.   Heresies in the Early Church
Wednesday 22nd July 

In the early centuries after the death and resurrection of Jesus, the leaders of the Christian Church had to contend with false interpretations of Scripture.  They were forced to find precise language in order to articulate the truth about Jesus Christ in a way that excluded false understandings and errors.  In this Study Day, we will consider some of these heresies and the Scriptural foundations of the solutions of the ecumenical councils.  We will consider, too, whether some of these heresies are being propagated again today.

6.   The Unique Mediation of Christ
Saturday 25th July

1 Tim 2:5 says, “There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”  In this Year of the Word, we will contemplate the meaning of this text from Sacred Scripture. We will consider why Jesus is the unique mediator, why we pray to Mary and the Saints if Jesus is the only mediator, and other relevant questions.  We also consider the uniqueness of Christianity (compared with other world religions), particularly in light of this verse from the New Testament.

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

The Study Days are all independent of each other.  You can attend just one, or any number of them.  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.