Upon request – Pastoral Formation Institute

Sport and Community Building

16/05/2024 Catholic Institute, Floriana

The Pastoral Formation Institute is licensed by MFHEA
(Licence #: 2013-FHI-023) as a Further and Higher Educational Institute. The Award in Sport and Community Building is accredited at EQF/MQF Level 5.

The local community is central to God’s work. This module will explore and identify ways in which different groups in the local community can make stronger and healthier communities across generations. It illustrates the various ways in which sports has been serving in building God’s Kingdom. Learners will be able to learn sport-related skills and language to teach the values and apply learnt knowledge to their particular setting. Learners will also be able to organise and create sport camps and festivals according to their specific context, looking also at the practical aspect of such organisation

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

Youth leaders interested in Sports/Physical Activity,
Sports persons (coaches, athletes, club admin. members) interested in Sports Ministry,
School chaplains, PE teachers, and Teachers interested in both areas (sports & spirituality).

Target Audience Age: 18+

Code	Mode of Delivery	Value
PFE5004	– Weekly Lectures – Practicum	2 ECTS

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

Lecturers: Sr Rachel Camilleri ASGM

Mode of Attendance: Part-Time

Part 1: Theory

Dates	Dates	Times	Venue
Thursdays	16.05.2024 – 13.06.2024	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute, Floriana

Part 2: Practicum

Over the summer period, participants are asked to partake in 10 hours of practicum. Participants can choose to either take part in a Summer Camp or organise an activity in a youth group they are a member of. More information about this part of the course will be given to applicants during the course.

Assessment: Activity Observation 40% & Written Activity Report 60

Assessment Explanation: These will take into consideration these key criteria: activity content and design of the event, implementation and evaluation of an activity.

Participants are expected to devise and put into practice the planned activity with a concluding evaluative report. The content and practice have to reflect in practice the principles learnt during the module.

For this Assignment or Activity, participants are to take into consideration one of the following cohorts: young (4 to 10 years), adolescents (11-15 years), youth (16 – 30 years) and adults (31+).

Duration: 5 sessions part-time including:

Contact hours – 10 hours
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours – 10 hours
Self-Study Hours – 20 hours
Assessment Hours – 10 hours

Click here to view the PFI`s Grading System

Certification: A sealed Certificate together with a Certificate supplement after successful* completion of the course

*_{To obtain a Certificate of Achievement a student must; Attend a minimum of 80% of each module and successfully pass the assignment}

EQF/MQF Level: Level 5

Accreditation Category: Higher Education Programme

Total ECTS: 2 ECTS

Award Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

Teaching Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

The Pastoral Formation Institute is licensed by MFHEA
(Licence #: 2013-FHI-023) as a Further and Higher Educational Institute. The Award in Sports and Commmunity Building is accredited at EQF/MQF Level 5.

Applicants must be in possession of:

Proficient in English
Minimum Level: O level or equivalent
Expressed interest in Evangelisation and Sport
Participants must present POMA certification and clean police conduct.

For courses offered in face-to-face learning and Blended Learning, it is required that applicants reside in the Maltese Islands and use their Maltese address in their application form.

For further information regarding visa requirements, head to Identity Malta’s VISA requirement for third-country nationals.

Values in Sports Ministry

07/03/2024 Catholic Institute, Floriana

The Pastoral Formation Institute is licensed by MFHEA
(Licence #: 2013-FHI-023) as a Further and Higher Educational Institute. The Award in Values in Sports Ministry is accredited at EQF/MQF Level 5.

The aim of this module is for participants to learn about the true values of sports and the inter-relationship with Christian/Biblical values.

Learn how to experientially transmit the true values of sports through the different myriad of sports/play activities. This will be applied in a way to address the specific age groups that form our parishes, communities and educational institutions, through the integration of Christian/Biblical teachings.

To understand that the value-based programmes can also be extended to mainstream coaching and to influence secular spheres within our communities.

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

Youth leaders interested in Sports/Physical Activity,
Sports persons (coaches, athletes, club admin. members) interested in Sports Ministry,
School chaplains, PE teachers, and Teachers interested in both areas (sports & spirituality).

Target Audience Age: 18+

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

Code	Mode of Delivery	Value
ASM5003	Weekly Lectures	2 ECTS

Lecturers: Mr David Azzopardi & Mr Karl Cortis

Mode of Attendance: Part-Time

Dates	Dates	Times	Venue
Thursdays	07.03.2024 – 25.04.2024	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute, Floriana

Easter Recess between 25th March and 7th April 2024

Assessment: Written Assessment

Duration: 7 sessions part-time including:

Contact hours – 14 hours
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours – 0 hours
Self-Study Hours – 26 hours
Assessment Hours – 10 hours

Click here to view the PFI`s Grading System

Certification: A sealed Certificate together with a Certificate supplement after successful* completion of the course

*_{To obtain a Certificate of Achievement a student must; Attend a minimum of 80% of each module and successfully pass the assignment}

EQF/MQF Level: Level 5

Accreditation Category: Award

Total ECTS: 2 ECTS

Award Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

Teaching Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

Applicants must be in possession of:

Proficient in English
Minimum Level: O level or equivalent
Expressed interest in Evangelisation and Sport
Participants must present POMA certification and clean police conduct.

For courses offered in face-to-face learning and Blended Learning, it is required that applicants reside in the Maltese Islands and use their Maltese address in their application form.

For further information regarding visa requirements, head to Identity Malta’s VISA requirement for third-country nationals.

Sports as a Means for Holistic Development

18/01/2024 Catholic Institute, Floriana

The Pastoral Formation Institute is licensed by MFHEA
(Licence #: 2013-FHI-023) as a Further and Higher Educational Institute. The Award in Sports as a Means for Holistic Development is accredited at EQF/MQF Level 5.

This module aims to reveal the natural values that are inherent in play/sports and how these values serve one’s personal development. The aim is to help Christians learn how to integrate their lives (especially in relation to sports) in a way that their core Christian values are lived out authentically and to the full.

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

Youth leaders interested in Sports/Physical Activity,
Sports persons (coaches, athletes, club admin. members) interested in Sports Ministry,
School chaplains, PE teachers, and Teachers interested in both areas (sports & spirituality).

Target Audience Age: 18+

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

Code	Mode of Delivery	Value
PFE5002	– Practicum sessions – Weekly Lectures	2 ECTS

Lecturers: Rev Bernard Micallef

Mode of Attendance: Part-Time

Session	Dates	Times	Venue
Thursdays	18.01.2024 – 29.02.2024	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute, Floriana

Assessment: Activity Observation 40% & Written Activity Report 60%

Assessment Explanation: To engage with a Christian-based organisation and devise either a plan of how a specific sports-based programme could be set up in their respective organisation or focus on one specific event/activity that can be held within the remit of the organisation. Eg. Lenten sessions using sports etc.

Final Award: Award in Sports Ministry

Duration: 7 lectures, part-time including:

Contact hours – 10 hours
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours – 7 hours
Self-Study Hours – 23 hours
Assessment Hours – 10 hours

Click here to view the PFI`s Grading System

Certification: A sealed Certificate together with a Certificate supplement after successful* completion of the course

*_{To obtain a Certificate of Achievement a student must; Attend a minimum of 80% of each module and successfully pass the assignment}

EQF/MQF Level: Level 5

Accreditation Category: Award

Total ECTS: 2 ECTS

Award Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

Teaching Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

The Pastoral Formation Institute is licensed by MFHEA
(Licence #: 2013-FHI-023) as a Further and Higher Educational Institute. The Award in Introduction to Sports Ministry is accredited at EQF/MQF Level 5.

Applicants must be in possession of:

Proficient in English
Minimum Level: O level or equivalent
Expressed interest in Evangelisation and Sport
Participants must present POMA certification and clean police conduct.

For courses offered in face-to-face learning and Blended Learning, it is required that applicants reside in the Maltese Islands and use their Maltese address in their application form.

For further information regarding visa requirements, head to Identity Malta’s VISA requirement for third-country nationals.

Accompanying Persons Towards Christian Initiation

15/01/2024

The main objective of this course is to form persons, who are committed Catholics, to provide individual accompaniment to persons who are on a journey to join the Catholic Church and those who would be in their first months as baptised Catholics. Typically, these persons would act as sponsors as understood in the Rite (Order) of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), starting from assisting the enquirers in their process of discerning whether to become members of the Church and accompanying them all the way to Mystagogy.

If you are a registered pastoral worker with the Archdiocese of Malta, you can benefit from a 50% discount on this course. Start your application process as a pastoral worker on parrocci.knisja.mt/pfi

This course is intended for committed Catholics who would like to share their experience of what it means to be part of the Church with persons who are in a process of discernment about whether to become Catholics. Ideally, these persons would be active in a particular parish where the persons that they would be accompanying could become eventually rooted following their baptism.

This course does not entitle the student to become an accompanying person for Catechumens. The accompanying persons are appointed by the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) Team in collaboration with the Parish Priest/Chaplain of the respective community.

Target audience: 25+

Code	Mode of Delivery
ICM4001	Asynchronous

This module offers a basic introduction to key themes of the main areas of Christian theology. These include fundamental, scriptural, dogmatic, ecclesiological, and ethical theological concepts guiding the evangelising mission of the Church.

By the end of the module, the learner will become aware of what the sources of theology and gain a basic understanding of the main areas of Christian theology.

Code	Mode of Delivery
ACI4001	In-person (Face-to-Face Learning)

In this module, students will explore the below themes (in bold):

The Initiation in the Early Church (sources: Didache’, the Traditio Apostolica, the Apostolic Constitutions and Egeria’s Diary)

Initiation rites have developed very early in the Christian Church. This was definitely influenced by contemporary culture and religions. The persecution which continually ensued against the Christians in the Roman Empire also necessitated that those who wanted to become Christians had the appropriate characteristics and their motivations were tested before they were admitted to the community of believers. Various documents, which date back to the first centuries of the Church provide us with significant information about Christian Initiation in the Early Church.

The development of the Rite/Order of the Christian Initiation of Adults (Vatican II and afterwards)

During the years preceding the convocation of the Second Vatican Council there was a particular movement in the Church to restructure the catechumenate for adult persons who wanted to become Catholic in such a way that it was modelled on the Christian Initiation in the Early Church. The efforts of this movement were promoted by the Second Vatican Council’s general orientation towards updating the Church (aggiornamento) by going to its roots (ressourcement).

Principles of Spiritual Accompaniment

Accompanying a person who is on the journey towards becoming a member of the Catholic Church is one of spiritual nature. Therefore, it is essential to provide a short exposition of the fundamental principles of spiritual accompaniment.

The role of the sponsor through the RCIA process

The sponsor needs to assume various roles throughout the RCIA process, depending on the stage the candidates are in and according to their personal needs. During these sessions, the various roles which a sponsor would be expected to play during this process are identified and discussed. Moreover, since candidates would be coming from a diversity of cultural backgrounds, an appreciation of such diversity and its impact will also be provided.

Code	Mode of Delivery
ACI4002	In-person (Face-to-Face Learning)

Those who successfully finish Module 2 – Historical and Theological Perspectives of Christian Initiation may apply for this module which will consist in a 20 hour supervised accompaniment of a person going through the RCIA process, whilst being supported by other persons such as the parish priest and the catechists who will be providing catechesis to the person concerned, often in a group context.

Calendar for Module 2: Historical and Theological Perspectives of Christian Initiation

Sessions will be held on Mondays from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.

Date	Session
15th January 2024	Session 1: The Initiation in the Early Church (sources: Didache’, the Traditio Apostolica, Apostolic Constitutions and Egeria’s Diary)
22nd January 2024	Session 2: The Development of the Rite/Order of the Christian Initiation of Adults (Vatican II and afterwards)
29th January 2024	Session 3: Principles of Spiritual Accompaniment (1)
5th February 2024	Session 4: Principles of Spiritual Accompaniment (2)
12th February 2024	Session 5: The Role of the Sponsor Through the RCIA process

Calendar dates for Module 3: Accompaniment Placement will be made available to eligible students closer to starting date of module.

Unless deemed exempt by the institute, students will start this course from Module 1: Faith Foundations for Ministry. Upon completion of this module:

A Certificate of Participation in Faith Foundations for Ministry will be awarded to students that have attended all contact hours of Module 1: Faith Foundations for Ministry and pass associated short multiple-choice exam.
A Certificate of Achievement in Faith Foundations for Ministry will be awarded to students that have attended all contact hours of Module 1: Faith Foundation for Ministry, pass from associated short multiple-choice exam and written assignment.

Those that were required to complete Module 1: Faith Foundations for Ministry will be eligible to continue course upon successful completion of said module i.e., through obtaining one of the above certificates. Those that were exempt from doing Module 1: Faith Foundations for Ministry will start directly from Module 2: Historical and Theological Perspectives of Christian Initiation.

Upon completion Module 2: Historical and Theological Perspectives of Christian Initiation and Module 3: Accompaniment Placement a Certificate of Achievement will be awarded to students:

that have attended all contact hours (of both modules)
that pass from interview subjected in Module 2: Historical and Theological Perspectives of Christian Initiation
that pass from Module 2: Historical and Theological Perspectives of Christian Initiation written assignment
that pass from Module 3: Accompaniment Placement reflective journal.

Enrolment for this course necessitates a recommendation from the Parish Priest/Chaplain of the relevant community, a requirement that is subsequently verified by PFI.

Applicants who are in possession of an MQF/EQF Level 4 or higher qualification in Religious Studies and/or Theology and/or have successfully completed the Higher Education Award in Theology offered by PFI are exempted from Module 1 Faith Foundation for Ministry. A formal email is sent to applicants once Parish Priest recommendation and highest qualification is verified.

If applicants do not possess the required qualifications, they must follow the Module 1: Faith Foundations for Ministry course for free which must be successfully completed before starting Module 2: Historical and Theological Perspectives of Christian Initiation.

The Priest as an Emotional Support Giver

13/11/2023 Ta` Mlit, Mosta

The priest’s and the consecrated person’s main gift to their people is their availability, presence and the ability to spend time with them. Thus, they will also be involved in people’s lives as they experience challenges and difficulties. This course focuses on the relationship between the priest and laity; how this relationship may be developed in a healthy way and ultimately, how the priest can emotionally support the laity safely. Through self-awareness and self-reflection, the priest becomes more conscious of how he works, which is important for him to provide the best possible service to the community.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course, the student will be able to:

Understand the working context with which the relationship between the priest and the people develops.
Value the experience of being with other people.
Comprehend the ambiguity surrounding priesthood and counselling.
Appreciate the challenge of maintaining boundaries.
Be aware of ethical issues.
Recognise the importance of self-care.

The course is intended for priests who give emotional support in their pastoral ministry.

Target Audience Age: 18+

The question of who the priest is poses critical concerns when discussing personal and professional identity. We will investigate whether there is a link between the priest’s personal identity and his priestly identity and analyse the role of the priest in modern culture. The priest oversees a vast range of responsibilities, realities, and ministries, and is present with many people from various backgrounds. Being present with the people is an essential part of the priest’s pastoral ministry, and without specific talents, the priest may feel fatigued, unsatisfied, and possibly incapable of meeting people’s needs. We will discuss what perceptions people have of priests and whether such perceptions are consistent with their roles.

Trustworthiness is critical for spiritual leaders and the reputation of a Church. Priests must inspire loyalty and keep their promises, avoid exploiting people’s vulnerabilities, model character, and keep sensitive information private. To maintain trust and trustworthiness, confidentiality is required. Priests should follow a set of guidelines designed to help people improve their decision-making skills and distinguish between right and wrong when the line is blurred. Many priests struggle with their role as a counsellor due to a lack of therapeutic skills and theoretical perspectives. We will gain a better understanding of how Catholic priests deliver such sessions and what they consider beneficial or unsuccessful.

The priest must maintain appropriate boundaries with the laity to protect the relationship. This includes maintaining a psychological distance and being aware of the conventions, regulations, or codes that characterise an individual’s personal space or environment. Healthy boundaries provide individuals with a nurturing and safe physical, emotional, sexual, and spiritual environment. During the session, we will discover more about three types of limits: time boundaries, space boundaries, and emotional boundaries. We will be more aware that setting boundaries is critical to self-care. Another aspect of self-care is leisure. It is possible to believe that leisure is an escape from responsibility, but leisure should pervade all aspects of a priest’s life and service.

The course is delivered in 3 sessions (6 contact hours) over 3 weeks. The 2 hour weekly sessions are held on Mondays between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm at Ta’ Mlit Pastoral Centre. Free parking facilities are available.

Monday at 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Date	Lecture Title
13th November	Recognise how the priest’s role in today’s setting fulfils his identity while valuing the experience of being with other people.
20th November	Recognise ethical issues while understanding the ambiguity of priesthood and counselling
27th November	Recognise the value of self-care as well as the difficulty of maintaining boundaries.

Certification: 

This course has two exit certificate options:

Certificate of Attendance

To obtain a Certificate of Attendance, students must attend all the course contact hours.

2. Certificate of Achievement

To obtain a Certificate of Achievement, students must:

attend all contact hours;
and successfully complete the course`s assessment (case study analysis)

Teaching and Awarding Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

Qualifications: Every application will be considered on its individual merits. The Pastoral Formation Institute accepts a wide range of qualifications, and we always try to judge applications on the basis of academic potential. We do consider a very wide range of academic, vocational, and professional qualifications, as well as work and other appropriate experiences and skills.

Language: Primary level understanding of Maltese and English.

Digital: Knows how to access the internet and use a word processor.

Introduction to the Gospel of John

06/11/2023 Ta’ Mlit Pastoral Centre Mosta

During this course, students will have the opportunity to delve into the Christology of the Fourth Gospel and the different related themes which emerge from the narrative when compared to the Synoptic Gospels. It will present the purpose, date, destination, and historical context in which this gospel was written and how it was used throughout the history of Church’s Dogma.

If you are a registered pastoral worker with the Archdiocese of Malta, you can benefit from a 14 % discount on this course. Start your application process as a pastoral worker on parrocci.knisja.mt/pfi

This course is for all who wish to deepen their knowledge of the Gospel of John.

Target Audience Age: 18+

The short course is delivered over three 2-hour lectures.

Session	Themes
Session 1	– The author of the Fourth Gospel. – Differences between the Synoptic Gospels and the Fourth Gospel.
Session 2	– Nicodemus (Jn 3) – The Samaritan Woman (Jn 4)
Session 3	– The man born blind (Jn 9) – Lazarus (Jn 11)

The course is delivered over 6 contact hours spread over three 2-hour sessions.

Lectures are held on Monday 6th, 13th and 20th of November 2023 between 18:00 – 20:00.

Certification: 

This course has three exit certificate options:

Certificate of Attendance

To obtain a Certificate of Attendance, students must attend all of the course’s contact hours.

2. Certificate of Participation

To obtain a Certificate of Participation, students need to meet the attendance criteria and successfully conclude the course multiple-choice online exam.

3. Certificate of Achievement

To obtain a Certificate of Achievement, students must:

attend all of the course`s contact hours;
pass the short multiple-choice online exam;
and successfully complete a written assignment;

AFF Level: Level 6

Total ECTS: 1 Credit

Teaching and Awarding Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

Qualifications: Basic knowledge of the Gospels/Undergraduate students.

Language: Primary level understanding of Maltese and English.

Digital: Knows how to access the internet and use a word processor.

For courses offered in face-to-face learning and Blended Learning, it is required that applicants reside in the Maltese Islands and use their Maltese address in their application form.

For further information regarding visa requirements, head to Identity Malta’s VISA requirement for third-country nationals.

Course in Spiritual Direction for Priests

06/11/2023 Rivotorto Retreat House, Birkirkara

This course gives a brief outline of the development of Spiritual Direction throughout Church History.

It aims to give a better understanding of the movements of the Spirit and to delve deeper into the process of discernment of the will of God in day-to-day decisions. This course helps in building a better personal relationship with God within different contexts which the director and/or directee may encounter in daily life. Apart from the theoretical part, this course gives practical skills to understand better the way the Spirit of God leads the person.

At the end of the course the priest will be able to make a clear distinction between spiritual direction and other roles within the ministry itself; consolidate where necessary such practices and give insights for better accompaniment in the priests’ ministry as Spiritual Directors.

It is a course that the director will benefit from both on a personal level and in his ministry when accompanying the directee.

This course is intended for priests who accompany persons in Spiritual Direction.

Target Audience Age: 18+

6th November 2023

Session Title	Speaker
Session 1: Welcoming introduction and Sharing of Experiences	Rev. Ronnie Zammit
Session 2: The difference between Pastoral Mentoring, Confession, and Spiritual Direction	Rev. Dr Jimmy Bonnici
Session 3: Experiences	Rev. Dr Jimmy Bonnici
Session 4: Spiritual Direction from the Sources of Tradition: the needs which arose throughout the years and the dynamics addressed in relation to spiritual direction	Mr Natalino Camilleri

7th November 2023

Session Title	Speaker
Session 1: Different prayer methods	Rev. Prof. Mark Sultana
Session 2: Spiritual movements: the different experiences which the human being passes through	Rev. Prof. Mark Sultana

8th November 2023

Session Title	Speaker
Session 1: Welcoming introduction and sharing of experiences	Rev. Dr Jimmy Bonnici
Session 2: Living our faith throughout the different stages of life: the call to mature discipleship	Rev. Dr Jimmy Bonnici
Session 3: The Dynamics and Interior struggle of our interior life	Rev. Christopher Vella SJ

20th November 2023

Session Title	Speaker
Session 1: Spiritual discernment: the spiritual movements	Rev. Christopher Vella SJ
Session 2: Rules of Discernment of Spirits – First Week	Rev. Christopher Vella SJ
Session 3: The Importance of Desires	Rev. Christopher Vella SJ
Session 4:Rules of discernment of Spirits – Second Week	Rev. Christopher Vella SJ

21st November 2023

Session Title	Speaker
Session 1: Discerning in the process of spiritual direction: discerning God’s will in daily life or in taking important decisions	Rev. Christopher Vella SJ
Session 2: Some Ignatian Exercises that Help in making choices	Rev. Christopher Vella SJ
Session 3: Three times for doing an election	Rev. Christopher Vella SJ
Session 4:Suggestions by St Ignatius on dealing with the discerning person	Rev. Christopher Vella SJ

15th January 2024

Session Title	Speaker
Listening and Communication skills (psychological & spiritual level in the director & directee)	Rev. Alfred Micallef SJ & Ms Jenny Zammit

16th January 2024

Session Title	Speaker
Session 1: A Short and Quick History of Spiritual Direction	Rev. Alfred Micallef SJ
Session 2: What is Spiritual Direction?	Rev. Alfred Micallef SJ
Session 3: Myself as a Spiritual Director	Rev. Alfred Micallef SJ
Session 4: Bill`s Case	Rev. Alfred Micallef SJ

5th February 2024

Session Title	Speaker
Session 1: Director Directee Relationship	Rev. Alfred Micallef SJ
Session 2: The Spiritual Interview	Rev. Alfred Micallef SJ
Session 3: Blockages in Prayer	Rev. Alfred Micallef SJ
Session 4: Psychological Dynamics in Spiritual Direction	Rev. Alfred Micallef SJ

6th February 2024

Session Title	Speaker
Session 1: Feelings in Interpersonal Relationships PC	Rev. Alfred Micallef SJ
Session 2: God Talk	Rev. Alfred Micallef SJ
Session 3: Dealing with Guilt	Rev. Alfred Micallef SJ
Session 4: Accompanying the Sick and the Dying	Rev. Alfred Micallef SJ

Certification:

This course has two exit certificate options:

Certificate of Attendance

A Certificate of Attendance is received if one attends all the contact hours of this course.

Certificate of Achievement

To obtain a Certificate of Achievement, students must:

attend all the contact hours
and successfully complete an assignment/journal/presentation or case study analysis.

Assessment: Written assignment at the end of the course.

Final Award: Accompaniment in Spiritual Direction for Priests

PFI Level: Level 5

Duration: 4 months part-time (54 hours)

Introduction to Sports Ministry

21/10/2023 Catholic Institute, Floriana

This module presents an overall description of what Sports Ministry is and its role in the Church and world today. For this reason, this module will present and explore the Global Movement, delve into the history of the interaction between religion and sport, especially in Christianity, and present Biblical and Church documents’ references to sports. This module will also present the basic values of Sports Ministry which will be further explored throughout the other three follow-up modules:

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

Youth leaders interested in Sports/Physical Activity,
Sports persons (coaches, athletes, club admin. members) interested in Sports Ministry,
School chaplains, PE teachers, and Teachers interested in both areas (sports & spirituality).

Target Audience Age: 18+

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

Code	Mode of Delivery	Value
PFE5001	– 2 Half-Day Seminars – Practicum Sessions – 2 Lectures	2 ECTS

Lecturers: Rev Bernard Micallef

Mode of Attendance: Part-Time

Session	Dates	Times	Venue
Hal-Day Seminar	21.10.2023	09:00 – 12:00	Archbishop`s Seminary, Rabat
Tuesday	24.10.2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute Floriana
Tuesday	31.10.2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute Floriana
Hal-Day Seminar	04.11.2023	09:00 – 12:00	Archbishop`s Seminary, Rabat

Assessment: Written Assessment

Final Award: Award in Sports Ministry

Duration: 4 sessions, part-time including:

Contact hours – 14 hours
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours – 0 hours
Self-Study Hours – 26 hours
Assessment Hours – 10 hours

Click here to view the PFI`s Grading System

Certification: A sealed Certificate together with a Certificate supplement after successful* completion of the course

*_{To obtain a Certificate of Achievement a student must; Attend a minimum of 80% of each module and Pass successfully the assignment}

EQF/MQF Level: Level 5

Accreditation Category: Award

Total ECTS: 2 ECTS

Award Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

Teaching Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

Applicants must be in possession of:

Proficient in English
Minimum Level: O level or equivalent
Expressed interest in Evangelisation and Sport
Participants must present POMA certification and clean police conduct.

For courses offered in face-to-face learning and Blended Learning, it is required that applicants reside in the Maltese Islands and use their Maltese address in their application form.

For further information regarding visa requirements, head to Identity Malta’s VISA requirement for third-country nationals.

Award in Sports Ministry

21/10/2023 Catholic Institute, Floriana

The Pastoral Formation Institute is licensed by MFHEA
(Licence #: 2013-FHI-023) as a Further and Higher Educational Institute. The Award in Sports Ministry is accredited at EQF/MQF Level 5, as Higher Education Programme.

This course is a foundation for Sports Ministry. Sports ministry, broadly defined, is any approach that uses sports to bring people closer to God, learning how to live their beliefs in the world of sports. Through sports and games, the Sports Minister evangelises and helps others to live a good Christian life.

Thus this course provides a basis for persons who are already involved in 1) Sports, or 2) Christian Ministry or 3) An Educational Institution (or a combination of the three; and is interested in taking up the role of Sports Minister. It broadens the perspective of their present role and guides them to use it as a means of evangelisation.

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

Youth leaders interested in Sports/Physical Activity,
Sports persons (coaches, athletes, club admin. members) interested in Sports Ministry,
School chaplains, PE teachers, and Teachers interested in both areas (sports & spirituality).

Target Audience Age: 19-30 & 31-65 years old

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

Code	Mode of Delivery	Value
ASM5001	– 2 Half-Day Seminars – Practicum Sessions – 2 Lectures	2 ECTS

This module will serve as an introduction, presenting an overall description of what Sports Ministry is and its role in the Church and world today. For this reason, this module will present and explore the Global Movement, delve into the history of the interaction between religion and sport, especially in Christianity, and present Biblical and Church documents’ references to sports. This module will also present the basic values of Sports Ministry which will be further explored throughout the course.

Code	Mode of Delivery	Value
ASM5002	– Practicum sessions – Weekly Lectures	2 ECTS

Code	Mode of Delivery	Value
ASM5003	Weekly Lectures	2 ECTS

The aim of this module is for participants to learn about the true values of sports and the inter-relationship with Christian/Biblical values.

To understand that the value-based programmes can also be extended to mainstream coaching and to influence secular spheres within our communities.

Code	Mode of Delivery	Value
ASM5004	– Weekly Lectures – Practicum	2 ECTS

Lecturers: Rev Bernard Micallef

Mode of Attendance: Part-Time

Session	Dates	Times	Venue
Hal-Day Seminar	21.10.2023	09:00 – 12:00	Archbishop`s Seminary, Rabat
Tuesday	24.10.2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute Floriana
Tuesday	31.10.2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute Floriana
Hal-Day Seminar	04.11.2023	09:00 – 12:00	Archbishop`s Seminary, Rabat

Lecturers: Mr Karl Cortis & Mr David Azzopardi

Mode of Attendance: Part-Time

Session	Dates	Times	Venue
Thursdays	18.01.2024 – 29.02.2024	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute, Floriana

Lecturers: Mr David Azzopardi & Mr Karl Cortis

Mode of Attendance: Part-Time

Dates	Dates	Times	Venue
Thursdays	07.03.2024 – 25.04.2024	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute, Floriana

Easter Recess between 25th March and 7th April 2024

Lecturers: Sr Rachel Camilleri ASGM

Mode of Attendance: Part-Time

Part 1: Theory

Dates	Dates	Times	Venue
Thursdays	16.05.2024 – 13.06.2024	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute, Floriana

Part 2: Practicum

A mix of assessment methods will be employed to allow for different learning styles. They include:

Assessment:

Module 1: Written Assessment
Module 2: Activity Observation 40% & Written Activity Report 60%

Modules 3: Written Assessment
Module 4: Activity Observation 40% & Written Activity Report 60%

Module 4 Assessment Explanation: These will take into consideration these key criteria: activity content and design of the event, implementation and evaluation of an activity.

For this Assignment or Activity, participants are to take into consideration one of the following cohorts: young (4 to 10 years), adolescents (11-15 years), youth (16 – 30 years) and adults (31+).

Final Award: Award in Sports Ministry

Duration: 1 years part-time including:

Contact hours – 48 hours
Supervised Placement and Practice Hours – 17 hours
Self-Study Hours – 95 hours
Assessment Hours – 40 hours

Click here to view the PFI`s Grading System

Certification: A sealed Certificate together with a Certificate supplement after successful* completion of the course

*_{To obtain a Certificate of Achievement a student must; Attend a minimum of 80% of each module and Pass successfully the assignment}

EQF/MQF Level: Level 5

Accreditation Category: Higher Education Programme

Total ECTS: 8 ECTS

Award Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

Teaching Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

Applicants must be in possession of:

Proficient in English
Minimum Level: O level or equivalent
Expressed interest in Evangelisation and Sport
Participants must present POMA certification and clean police conduct.

For courses offered in face-to-face learning and Blended Learning, it is required that applicants reside in the Maltese Islands and use their Maltese address in their application form.

For further information regarding visa requirements, head to Identity Malta’s VISA requirement for third-country nationals.

Emotional Support In The Community: Basic Skills

09/10/2023 Ta` Mlit, Mosta

The aim of this course is to empower persons who do not have any academic background in the psychological sector, such as pastoral workers; volunteers; and other persons interested in improving their relationships, with the basic knowledge, skills and attitudes needed whilst interacting with parishioners or other persons. This course introduces pastoral workers or volunteers to helping skills, theories, and approaches.

Through studying and discussing these methods, students become more aware of the tools which help them in their work with different people who come from various cultural and social backgrounds. The course aims to create an opportunity to reflect on the methods they use during their work and relationships and evaluate their work.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course, the student will be able to:

understand the basic helping theories and skills;
know how to listen and respond appropriately;
be able to support the person emotionally and spiritually;
know when to refer a person to professional help.

If you are a registered pastoral worker with the Archdiocese of Malta, you can benefit from a 43% discount on this course. Start your application process as a pastoral worker on parrocci.knisja.mt/pfi

Persons who do not have any academic background in the psychological sector. Namely:

Persons who listen and accompany colleagues and friends on a regular basis at their workplace, within their family, etc…
Pastoral workers, volunteers or those who come in contact with persons, families in need, or visit residential homes.
Persons who are interested in developing their relationships.

Target Audience Age: 18+

In this session participants will explore helping skills used during pastoral work, including listening to people, supporting, and validating feelings.

The learning outcomes of this session are:

to learn how to be present with people physically, emotionally, and mentally.
to learn how to help a person feel accepted, understood and not judged.

In this session, the important skill of being empathic when helping people will be discussed. There will be the opportunity to practice this skill during the session. At the same time, the practice of maintaining boundaries will be thoroughly discussed, as having clear and established limits in our work contribute to safe connections.

The learning outcomes of this session are:

to become aware of the importance of empathy;
to be able to practice ways of empathic communication;
to be able to practice self-care through having healthy boundaries.

In this session, the student will become more self-aware; the individual is encouraged to reflect and be aware of his/her strengths, challenges, beliefs, thoughts, and emotions.

The outcomes of this session are:

to be able to engage in reflective practice;
to be able to identify one’s strengths and challenges;
to be able to bring about changes in the attitudes and ways of working.

In this session, students will be invited to look at their own spiritual life and become aware of how this is manifested and expressed in their personal lives and within the community. It will also investigate cultural varieties and other religious denominations and/or spiritual practices and trends within the parish, and how these influence individual as well as community/parish life, and vice versa. This session will also touch on the notion of spiritual accompaniment and religious practices, how they differ, and how they can complement each other.

The outcomes of this session are:

to gain a better understanding of the spirituality as lived in the community;
to gain awareness by reflecting on one’s own spiritual lives and discourse and how these can influence the community they are part of;
to gain an understanding of the notion of spiritual accompaniment and how this can be put into practice.

In this session, the student will become aware of when s/he should refer a person to professional help, why confidentiality is important when working in a pastoral context and what are the limits to confidentiality.

The outcomes of this session are:

to learn and be able to differentiate amongst various helping professionals and services available;
to be able to guide and link people to further specialised help when required.

The course is delivered in 5 sessions (10 contact hours) over 5 weeks. The 2 hour weekly sessions are held on Mondays between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm. at Ta’ Mlit Pastoral Centre. Free parking facilities are available.

Mondays at 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Date	Lecture Title	Lecturer
9th October	Learning how to listen, contain and validate feelings	Mr Joseph Pellicano
16th October	Learning how to empathise while keeping healthy boundaries	Mr Joseph Pellicano
23rd October	Learning how to support others emotionally	Mr Joseph Pellicano
30th October	How to support others spiritually	Ms Marisa Gatt
6th November	Learning when, where and how to refer someone to professional help	Mr Joseph Pellicano

Certification: 

This course has three exit certificate options:

Certificate of Attendance

To obtain a Certificate of Attendance, students must attend all the course contact hours.

2. Certificate of Participation

To obtain a Certificate of Participation, students must attend all the contact hours and pass the short multiple-choice online exam.

3. Certificate of Achievement

To obtain a Certificate of Achievement, students must:

attend all the contact hours;
pass the short multiple-choice online exam;
and successfully complete a Case Study Analysis;

Teaching and Awarding Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

Language: Primary level understanding of Maltese and English.

Digital: Knows how to access the internet and use a word processor.