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Accompanying Couples towards Marriage

14/07/2025   Dar Nazaret, Ħal Tarxien

This course is eligible for the Get Formed! scheme, allowing students to reclaim 70% of their course fees upon completion. For more information, visit: https://pfi.edu.mt/get-formed/.

This course equips experienced and committed married couples to serve as mentors and facilitators in Catholic marriage preparation programs. Through practical and interactive training, participants will strengthen their skills in effective communication, group dynamics, and adult learning facilitation. The course also explores essential dimensions of marriage—including spirituality, sexuality, responsible parenthood, and family life—grounded in Church teaching. Couples will be empowered to accompany, support, and inspire young, engaged couples as they prepare for the Sacrament of Marriage. Ideal for those called to accompany others on the journey to the Sacrament of Marriage.

This course is intended for married couples who are preparing to serve, as mentors and facilitators in marriage preparation programs within parish and diocesan settings.

Target Audience Age: 18+

The course will take place on Wednesdays from 6:30pm to 9:00pm at Dar Nazaret, Ħal Tarxien.

Date and timeSession
8th October 2025Introduction to the course and manual
Assignment explanation
15th October 2025Group dynamics and effective communication
22nd October 2025God and I
The Sacrament of marriage
29th October 2025Towards a healthy sexual life
Planning the family together
5th November 2025Towards a marriage that gives life: Ethical considerations
12th November 2025Conflict management – Finding common ground on financial decisions, career and family life
Towards a lifetime-lasting marriage
Saturday 22nd November 2025 9.30am – 1.00pmAssessment – Presentations
Following monthsCouple shadowing & reflective journal writing

This course has one exit certificate options:

1. Certificate of Achievement

The student will receive a Certificate of Achievement when attending a minimum of 80% of all contact hours in addition to meeting the attendance criteria above and they successfully complete all assessments, which are a presentation and a reflective journal.

Language: Applicants must be proficient in both Maltese and English.

Digital: Applicants must be digitally literate particularly in the use of office suites and of the internet, to both of which they must have access.

The Organ in the Liturgy – Stylistic Playing and Harmonization

26/05/2025

This course is eligible for the Get Formed! scheme, allowing students to reclaim 70% of their course fees upon completion. For more information, visit: https://pfi.edu.mt/get-formed/.

This course explores stylistic approaches to organ playing from the Baroque to the Romantic periods, with a particular focus on liturgical application. Participants will learn the non-legato “ordinary” touch that was standard until the early 19th century, followed by the legato style that became prevalent thereafter. Practical sessions will include set pieces, appropriate registration techniques, and stylistic interpretation. The course also covers hymn harmonisation, training participants to add three lower parts to a melody. These skills support both liturgical responsibilities and the improvisational development of the church organist.

Organists and those interested to be, and choir leaders.

Target Audience Age: 18+

The course will take place on Wednesdays from 6:00pm to 8:00pm

DateSessionVenue
04th February 2026Stylistic elements of organ playing up to early 19th century – Part 1Archbishop’s Seminary
11th February 2026Stylistic elements of organ playing up to early 19th century – Part 2Archbishop’s Seminary
18th February 2026Stylistic elements of organ playing up from late 19th century onwards – Part 1Archbishop’s Seminary
25th February 2026Stylistic elements of organ playing up from late 19th century onwards – Part 2Archbishop’s Seminary
04th March 2026Harmonisation at the organ – Part 1Archbishop’s Seminary
11th March 2026Harmonisation at the organ – Part 2Archbishop’s Seminary

Session 1 and 2: Stylistic elements of organ playing up to early 19th century

Legato, or “ordinary” touch, was the standard technique for organ playing until the 19th century. Course participants will be guided in applying this touch with both hands and feet through the practice of selected pieces from the Baroque repertoire. The recommended registrations for these pieces will also be explained.

Session 3 and 4: Stylistic elements of organ playing up from late 19th century onwards

From the late 19th century, the legato touch became the standard approach in organ performance. Participants will learn how to apply this technique for both hands and feet by practising selected works from the Romantic period. Guidance will also be provided on appropriate registration choices for this style.

Session 5 and 6: Harmonisation at the organ

A key responsibility of a church organist is the ability to harmonise hymns at sight. In these sessions, participants will be taught how to harmonise a melody by adding three lower parts. In addition to their practical application in hymn playing, these skills will also support the development of improvisation techniques.

This course has three exit certificate options:

1. Certificate of Attendance
The student will receive a Certificate of Attendance when attending a minimum 80% of all contact hours for this course.

2. Certificate of Participation

The student will receive a Certificate of Participation when sitting and successfully compete and pass the short multiple-choice questions online exam which will be available on the Moodle platform.

3. Certificate of Achievement
The student will receive a Certificate of Achievement when attending a minimum of 80% of all contact hours for this course, as well as after passing a short practical examination and viva session.

This course is delivered by the Akkademja tal-Mużika Sagra Francesco Azzopardi in collaboration with the Pastoral Formation Institute.

Applicants must be proficient in both Maltese and English. They must also have a minimum of grade 6 standard in a keyboard instrument (piano or organ).

A copy of the certificate indicating achievement of minimum grade 6 standard must be uploaded in the application form below.

Practice in Liturgical Music Animation

26/05/2025

This course is eligible for the Get Formed! scheme, allowing students to reclaim 70% of their course fees upon completion. For more information, visit: https://pfi.edu.mt/get-formed/.

This course will focus on the practice of liturgical music leadership. Each session will include vocal technique training and practical methods for introducing new repertoire to the assembly. Additionally, every session will explore the various parts of the Mass and other liturgical celebrations. Active participation from each student—both in singing and directing—is a compulsory component of this course.

Those involved in liturgical animation, or anyone interested in this ministry, to deepen their knowledge and enhance their practical skills in the field.

Target Audience Age: 18+

The course will take place on Mondays from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at The Archbishop’s Seminary, Rabat

DateSession
Monday 6th October 2025Practical musical animation for the mass 1
Monday 13th October 2025Practical musical animation for the mass 2
Monday 20th October 2025Practical musical animation for the mass 3
Monday 27th October 2025Practical assembly conducting 1
Monday 03th November 2025Practical assembly conducting 2
Monday 10th November 2025Practical assembly conducting 3

This course has three exit certificate options:

  1. Certificate of Attendance
    The student will receive a Certificate of Attendance when attending a minimum 80% of all contact hours for this course.
  2. Certificate of Participation
    The student will receive a Certificate of Participation when sitting and successfully compete and pass the short multiple-choice questions online exam which will be available on the Moodle platform.
  3. Certificate of Achievement
    To obtain a Certificate of Achievement, students must attend a minimum 80% of all contact hours and pass the short multiple-choice online exam practical and viva session.

This course is delivered by the Akkademja tal-Mużika Sagra Francesco Azzopardi in collaboration with the Pastoral Formation Institute.

Parish Volunteering

21/05/2025

This course is eligible for the Get Formed! scheme, allowing students to reclaim 70% of their course fees upon completion. For more information, visit: https://pfi.edu.mt/get-formed/.

This short course offers an engaging introduction to the mission and ministry of volunteering within a Catholic parish. It explores the spiritual foundations, practical responsibilities, and community impact of parish volunteering. Designed for new and prospective volunteers, the course provides an understanding of how their service contributes to the Church’s mission and offers guidance for serving effectively, faithfully, and joyfully.

New or prospective parish volunteers, both youth and adults

Target Audience Age: 18+

The course will take place on Mondays from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Ta’ Mlit Pastoral Centre, Mosta. Students have the option to join this course online via Zoom.

DateSession
15th September 2025Called to Serve – The Spiritual Heart of Volunteering
22nd September 2025The Life of the Parish – Ministries and Mission
29th September 2025Ethics, Boundaries, and Responsibility
6th October 2025Building Community; Collaboration and finding your place
13th October 2025Formation; Spiritual Growth and Next Steps

This course has two exit certificate options:

1. Certificate of Attendance

The student will receive a Certificate of Participation when attending a minimum of 80% of all contact hours for this course.

2. Certificate of Achievement

To obtain a Certificate of Achievement, students must attend a minimum of 80% of all contact hour and pass from reflective journal.

Language: Applicants must be proficient in both Maltese and English.

Digital: Applicants must be digitally literate particularly, in use of office suites and internet access.

Second Vatican Council: Renewal, Revelation, and Relevance

21/05/2025

This course is eligible for the Get Formed! scheme, allowing students to reclaim 70% of their course fees upon completion. For more information, visit: https://pfi.edu.mt/get-formed/.

This course offers an engaging introduction to the Second Vatican Council, focusing on its historical context and transformative vision for the Church. Special attention is given to the four major constitutions and a thematic overview of the remaining documents. Participants will explore key teachings on revelation, liturgy, the Church, mission, and dialogue with the modern world—deepening their understanding of Vatican II’s call to renewal, evangelization, and active participation in the life of the Church.

This course is intended for adult Catholics, catechists, parish leaders, and anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the Church’s teachings and mission. It is particularly beneficial for those engaged in pastoral ministry, as well as educators and students within Catholic institutions who wish to gain a solid foundation in the core documents of the Second Vatican Council and their continued relevance today.

Target Audience Age: 18+

The course will be delivered entirely through a series of pre-recorded lectures accessible on our VLE platform at a time and place convenient for you after October 2025.

In these pre-recorded lectures, the following subjects will be covered:

  • Historical Overview & Purpose of Vatican II
  • Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation)
  • Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy)
  • Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church)
  • Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World)
  • The Church’s Mission and Life: Decrees on Ministry and Evangelization
  • Dialogue with the Modern World: Religious Freedom, Unity, and Culture

This course has two exit certificate options:

1. Certificate of Participation

The student will receive a Certificate of Participation when watching all pre-recorded lectures and pass from short online multiple-choice exams.

2. Certificate of Achievement

To obtain a Certificate of Achievement, students must watch all pre-recorded lectures, pass from short online multiple-choice exams and written assignment.

Language: Applicants must be proficient in both Maltese and English.

Digital: Applicants must be digitally literate particularly, in use of office suites and internet access.

Introduction to the Gospel of Matthew

20/05/2025

This course is eligible for the Get Formed! scheme, allowing students to reclaim 70% of their course fees upon completion. For more information, visit: https://pfi.edu.mt/get-formed/.

This course offers a rich thematic and theological introduction to the Gospel of Matthew, emphasizing its unique portrayal of Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah, the New Moses, and the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy. Participants will explore key events in Jesus’ life—His birth, teachings, miracles, and passion—while gaining insight into Matthew’s structure and message. Designed for pastoral ministers seeking deeper formation as the Church begins a new liturgical cycle centred on Matthew’s Gospel.

Pastoral workers especially those involved in the Ministry of the Word and all others interested in the subject.

Target Audience Age: 18+

The course will take place on Wednesdays from 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Students have the option to join this course online via Zoom

DateSession
12th November 2025Introduction and the Magi Narrative
19th Novemeber 2025 The Beatitudes and the Sermon on the Mount
26th November 2025The Miracles in Matthew
3rd December 2025The Passion and Easter Nattative in Matthew

This course has three exit certificate options:

1. Certificate of Attendance

The student will receive a Certificate of Attendance when attending a minimum of 80% of all contact hours for this course.

2. Certificate of Participation

The student will receive a Certificate of Participation when attending a minimum of 80% of all contact hours for this course and pass from short multiple-choice exam.

3. Certificate of Achievement

To obtain a Certificate of Achievement, students must attend a minimum of 80% of all contact hour and pass from a short multiple-choice exam and written assignment.

Language: Applicants must be proficient in both Maltese and English.

Digital: Applicants must be digitally literate particularly, in use of office suites and internet access.

Holy Communion: Continuing the Journey

16/05/2025

This course is eligible for the Get Formed! scheme, allowing students to reclaim 70% of their course fees upon completion. For more information, visit: https://pfi.edu.mt/get-formed/.

Building on Introduction to Holy Communion, this course aims to explore the Holy Eucharist in greater depth as the source and summit of Christian life. It will delve into the scriptural foundations of the sacrament, such as the Emmaus story, while appreciating Eucharistic themes in classical paintings and sacred music.

Participants will also discover how the Eucharist transcends Sunday worship, inspiring daily life and social justice, and enriching their ministry.

  • Extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion who provide a service during church masses, in residential elderly homes or homebound sick persons.
  • Those who wish to learn to appreciate more the sacrament of Holy Communion.
  • Those who are starting their service as extraordinary ministers.

Please Note: Doing this course does not entitle the student to become an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion. Extraordinary ministers are chosen by the parish priests.

Target Audience Age: 18+

This course comprises pre-recorded lectures, which can be accessed on the Moodle platform at a time and pace that suits you after October 2025. The lectures will cover the following topics:

  • The Emmaus Narrative
  • The Eucharist in Sacred Art
  • The Eucharist in Sacred Music
  • The Eucharist – the spirituality of the ministry
  • Living the Mass

This course has one exit certificate options:

1. Certificate of Participation

Students will receive a Certificate of Participation upon completing all recordings and successfully passing a short online assessment.

Language: Applicants must be proficient in both Maltese and English.

Digital: Applicants must be digitally literate particularly, in use of office suites and internet access.

It is suggested that applicants complete the ‘Introduction to Holy Communion’ course before enrolling in this course.

Church History in Malta

16/05/2025

This course is eligible for the Get Formed! scheme, allowing students to reclaim 70% of their course fees upon completion. For more information, visit: https://pfi.edu.mt/get-formed/.

This course explores the rich history of the Church in Malta, tracing its origins to Apostolic times and examining its profound influence on the development of Maltese identity. Students will analyse the Church’s cultural, social, and artistic contributions to Malta’s heritage through an interdisciplinary approach, utilising primary sources, including monuments, artworks, and documents. The course emphasises the intersection of local and universal Church history, fostering an understanding of the Church’s role in shaping the island’s religious and national identity. Students will gain critical interpretative skills to analyse the artistic and documentary patrimony of the Church within a faith context.

Anyone with an interest in Catholic Social Teaching and its application in everyday life.

Target Audience Age: 18+

The course will take place in October 2025

Students have the option to join this course online via Zoom

DateSession
TBAIntroduction
TBAFaith and Fortress: The Church in Malta During the Medieval and Hospitaller Periods
TBABaroque Splendor and Beyond: The Church’s Artistic and Cultural Patronage
TBAThe Church and Maltese Identity: Religion in the Struggle for Nationhood
TBAModern Challenges and Continuity: The Church in Contemporary Malta

This course has three exit certificate options:

1. Certificate of Attendance

The student will receive a Certificate of Attendance when attending a minimum of 80% of all contact hours for this course.

2. Certificate of Participation

The student will receive a Certificate of Participation when attending a minimum of 80% of all contact hours for this course and pass from short multiple-choice exam.

3. Certificate of Achievement

To obtain a Certificate of Achievement, students must attend a minimum of 80% of all contact hour and pass from a short multiple-choice exam and an assignment.

Language: Applicants must be proficient in both Maltese and English.

Digital: Applicants must be digitally literate particularly, in use of office suites and internet access.

Introduction to Catholic Social Teaching

16/05/2025   8

This course is eligible for the Get Formed! scheme, allowing students to reclaim 70% of their course fees upon completion. For more information, visit: https://pfi.edu.mt/get-formed/.

This five-session course offers an introduction to the key principles of the Social Teachings of the Catholic Church. Participants will explore fundamental concepts such as the Common Good, solidarity, the universal destination of goods, participation, and subsidiarity. The course encourages reflection on these pillars, emphasizing their connection to virtues and the bond of love within the Church. Discussions will also address individual rights and responsibilities, both on a personal level and within broader societal contexts. Participants will be challenged to consider how the Social Teachings of the Church can inform and shape their daily lives, fostering a deeper commitment to social justice.

Anyone with an interest in Catholic Social Teaching and its application in everyday life.

Target Audience Age: 18+

The course will take place on Wednesdays from 6:00pm to 8:00pm

Students have the option to join this course online via Zoom

DateSession
5th November 2025Introduction
12th November 2025Solidarity, the Common Good and the Destination of Goods
19th November 2025Participation & Solidarity
26th November 2025The Virtues
3rd December 2025Rights and Responsibilities

This course has three exit certificate options:

1. Certificate of Attendance

The student will receive a Certificate of Attendance when attending a minimum of 80% of all contact hours for this course.

2. Certificate of Participation

The student will receive a Certificate of Participation when attending a minimum of 80% of all contact hours for this course and pass from short multiple-choice exam.

3. Certificate of Achievement

To obtain a Certificate of Achievement, students must attend a minimum of 80% of all contact hour and pass from a short multiple-choice exam and an assignment.

Language: Applicants must be proficient in both Maltese and English.

Digital: Applicants must be digitally literate particularly, in use of office suites and internet access.

Journey with the Psalms

14/05/2025

This course is eligible for the Get Formed! scheme, allowing students to reclaim 70% of their course fees upon completion. For more information, visit: https://pfi.edu.mt/get-formed/.

This course invites participants to explore the timeless wisdom of the Book of Psalms as a guide for spiritual depth and reflection throughout life’s journey.  As such, the programme delves into the Psalter as the Bible’s prayer book (cf. CCC 2587). Through prayer and personal reflection, participants are encouraged to internalise this knowledge, deepening their spiritual understanding of the Psalms and their relevance to both the joys and challenges of life.

  • Pastoral Workers involved in general ministry.
  • Christians committed to continual growth in their relationship with God, who, however, have little to no experience in the formal study of prayer.

Target Audience Age: 18+

The dates will be announced later

Students have the option to join this course online via Zoom

Introduction to the Book of Psalms
Psalms of Wonder and Trust
Psalms of Seeking and Calling
Psalms of Ascent and Descent – Perseverance in the journey
Psalms of Thanksgiving and Wisdom
Psalms of Trust and Hope

This course has two exit certificate options:

1. Certificate of Attendance

The student will receive a Certificate of Attendance when attending a minimum of 80% of all contact hours for this course.

2. Certificate of Achievement

To obtain a Certificate of Achievement, students must attend a minimum of 80% of all contact hour and pass from the assignment.

Language: Applicants must be proficient in both Maltese and English.

Digital: Applicants must be digitally literate particularly, in use of office suites and internet access.