Upcoming Courses – Pastoral Formation Institute

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)

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.

The Art of Accompanying Couples Preparing for Marriage

05/05/2023

“The art of accompanying couples” provides the basic knowledge and skills needed by leading couples commencing their ministry with engaged couples preparing for a Christian marriage. This course introduces those new to this ministry to the art of creating the necessary group dynamics, accompanying individual couples, and keeping up to date with information and methodologies in this particular field. This course addresses these needs by modelling the learning outcomes in the methodology of the course itself.

The intended learning outcomes:

By the end of this course the students will be able to:

facilitate a group of young couples preparing for Christian marriage
accompany on a basic spiritual and emotional level young engaged couples preparing for a Christian marriage.

couples who are being introduced to the ministry of accompanying couples towards the sacrament of marriage;
other couples who are already accompanying couples towards marriage as a form of ongoing formation.  (commonly known as koppji mexxejja)

Target Audience Age: 19-65+

The course is delivered on Fridays between 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm.

Throughout the course, the participants will be mentored by experienced Cana Couple Leaders (koppja mexxejja) Mr Chris and Ms Rosanne Triganza. Through useful tips and experiences, the couple can help participants with any queries they might have and to better understand their future role as a Cana Couple Leader (koppja mexxejja).

Date	Session	Lecturers
5th May	Session 1: Group Dynamics	Mr Joseph Pellicano
12th May	Session 2: Skills for Accompanying Individuals	Rev. Prof Paul Galea
19th May	Session 3: Growing Deeper in the Spiritual Dimension	Mr Nicholas & Ms Mary Baldacchino
26th May	Session 4: Exploring Available Resources Part 1: Family Planning and Sexuality	Ms Christine Galea
2nd June	Session 5: Exploring Available Resources Part 2: Issues with moral theology related to the family	Rev. Dr Carlo Calleja
8th & 9th June	Session 6: Assessment Presentation by the Participating Couples	Fr Charles Attard and Fr Aayrton Muscat

Leading Couple Shadowing Experience

After following the above course, the participants will have the opportunity to shadow an experienced couple during an actual Cana course. This will give the participants the chance to observe what being a couple leader (koppja mexxejja) entails.

This course is held on Fridays from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Dates

Session	Dates	Times
Lectures	Fridays 5th, 12th, 19th, & 26th May 2023	6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Presentation Session	Thursday 8th & Fridays 9th June 2023	6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Leading Couple Shadowing Experience

After following the above course, the participants will have the opportunity to shadow an experienced couple during an actual Cana course. Dates and locations for this arrangement will be discussed individually with the applicants.

Assessment: short presentation during the last course session.

Certification: Certificate of Achievement

*_{To obtain a Certificate of Achievement, a student must; attend all the contact hours, complete the leading couple shadowing experience and pass successfully the assessment/s}.

Teaching Institutions: Cana Movement together with Pastoral Formation Institute.

Award Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

Award in Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults

22/04/2023 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 Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults is accredited at EQF/MQF Level 4, as Further Education Programme.

This short course will assist employees and volunteers who work with children and vulnerable adults or handle their data, to recognise the key principles of safeguarding and learn to create a safe environment for children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

The intended learning outcomes:

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

familiarise themselves with safeguarding policies
understand the legal obligations with child abuse
identify signs and symptoms of abuse
know the disclosures of abuse
identify the principles of safeguarding
practice professional boundaries
know their legal obligations related to the Protection of Minors (Registration) Act (2011) and the Minors Protection Act (2019)
learn about the different types of abuse and poor practice
learn a standard response to a disclosure of abuse
be able to recognise signs of abuse
identify the actions to take if you have a concern and who can help

Currently, enrolment is not open for this course. For further information contact us on [email protected]

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

Employees who work with children and vulnerable adults
Employees who handle children and vulnerable adults` data
Volunteers who work with children and vulnerable adults
Volunteers who handle children and vulnerable adults` data.

Code	Mode of Delivery	Value
SGC4001	Blended Learning	1 ECTS

The course is delivered over 5 contact hours. These 5 hours are delivered over two sessions:

3 hours – In person session (Face-to-Face Learning)
2 hours – recorded material which can be accessed on the PFI`s Moodle Portal (Blended Learning)

Students will also be given additional reading material which they can read in their own time.

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

You may find all the dates in the Calendar section below.

Each course is delivered over two sessions; (a) 3-hour, in-person session and (b) 2 hours of recorded material which can be accessed on the PFI`s Moodle Portal.

April 2023

Lecturing Period

Mode of Delivery	Date & Time	Venue
In-person	Saturday 22^ndApril 2023 09:00 am – 12:00 pm	Catholic Institute, Floriana
Recorded Material	Available from Saturday 22^ndApril 2023	Recorded Videos on the VLE platform

Assessment Period:

Assessment	Available From	Due by
Short Multiple-Choice Online Exam	Saturday 22^ndApril 2023	Monday 2^nd May 2023
Reflective Journal	Saturday 22^ndApril 2023	Monday 22^nd May 2023

This course has three exit certificate options:

Certificate of Attendance

A Certificate of Attendance will be rewarded to students who have:

attended in-person session
watched all the recorded material
and did not submit any course assessments.

Certificate of Participation

A Certificate of Participation* will be rewarded to students who meet the attendance criteria and successfully conclude the course multiple choice test. (please check the calendar tab above for exam dates)

Certificate of Achievement

A Certificate of Achievement* is awarded to students who successfully concluded the course, that is;

meet the attendance criteria
sit and pass the short multiple-choice online exam (mentioned in point 2),
and also submit a Reflective Journal of at least 500 words.

Click here to view the PFI`s Grading System

*_{To obtain a Certificate of Achievement or a Certificate of Participation, a student must; attend all the contact hours and successfully conclude the assessment/s}.

EQF/MQF Level: Level 4

Accreditation Category: Further Education Programme

Total ECTS: 2 ECTS

Teaching Institutions: Safeguarding Commission together with Pastoral Formation Institute

Award Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

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 Developing Environmental Responsibility

19/04/2023 Parish Centre, Marsaskala

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

The course is designed to inspire and empower participants in taking a stand on sustainability, both in their personal lives and in their communities.

Learning Outcomes

Understand the basic Environmental, Social, and Development Challenges we are facing as a country and globally.
Apply critical thinking skills to bring about sustainable choices in their day-to-day life.
Apply critical thinking skills to bring about sustainable change at a household, institution, and community level.
Reflect critically on their roles and identities as active citizens, consumers, and change-makers in a complex and interconnected world.

The Developing Environmental Responsibility is offered by the Pastoral Formation Institute in collaboration with inteko, CEER (University of Malta), and the Interdiocesan Commission for the Environment.

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

Adults with an interest in

developing environmental responsibility
engage in ecological conversion
further positioning themselves in front of the interconnected double challenge of preserving the environment and eradicating poverty.

Target Audience Age: 18+

Mode of Attendance: Part-Time

This course is held on Wednesdays from 7:15 pm – 9:15 pm

Code	Mode of Delivery	Value
IFP/DER5	In-Person (Face-to-Face Learning)	2 ECTS

19th April 2023 – Knowing – the Social and Development challenges.

During this introductory lesson, we will discuss the Social and Development Challenge and how they impact us.

26th April 2023 – Knowing – the Environmental challenge.

Current local and global environmental challenges, and how they impact us.

3rd May 2023 – Caring for the Planet: Where do I stand?

Making sense of and taking a stand on the newly acquired knowledge and awareness of the first two sessions. We will examine our own lifestyles and patterns and identify areas that require a change.

10th May 2023 – Aligning my stated values with my daily behaviour.

During this lecture, participants will have an opportunity to engage critically in value clarification.

17th May 2023 – Ecological Conversion: A Spiritual Journey

Spirituality and Ecological Literacy. Living in an ethical and moral manner and meeting today`s challenges.

24th May 2023 – A shared vision and commitment

This session is a follow-up of the previous one but brings out the creation of community and the community mindset as a pre-requisite for overcoming today`s local and global challenges

31st May 2023 – How can we remain inspired?

In this concluding seminar, the participants will have the opportunity to share any behavioural changes they observed or trying to adopt in their day-to-day routine. This opportunity of sharing will help participants learn from each other in inspiring active change.

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

Assessment: Reflective Journal

EQF/MQF Level: Level 5

Accreditation Category: Higher Education Programme

Total ECTS: 2 ECTS

Duration: 7 weeks (14 hours)

Certification:

This course has two exit certificates:

Certificate of Attendance

To obtain a Certificate of Attendance, students must attend 80 % of the contact hours

2. Certificate of Achievement
To obtain a Certificate of Achievement, students must:

attend all the contact hours
and successfully complete a reflective journal.

Click here to view the PFI`s Grading System

Final Award: Award in Developing Environmental Responsibility

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 competencies: The student is required to be proficient in Maltese;

– Digital competencies: The student is required to be digitally literate, i.e. knowing how to access the internet, must have an email address and use Moodle software and 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.

Emotional Support In The Community

14/04/2023 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.

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 Fridays between 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm. at Ta’ Mlit Pastoral Centre. Free parking facilities are available.

Fridays at 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Date	Lecture Title	Lecturer
Friday 14th April 2023	Learning how to listen, contain and validate feelings	Mr Joseph Pellicano
Friday 21st April 2023	Learning how to empathise while keeping healthy boundaries as a pastoral worker/non-professional	Mr Joseph Pellicano
Friday 28th April 2023	Learning how to support others emotionally as a pastoral worker/non-professional	Mr Joseph Pellicano
Friday 12th May 2023	How to support others spiritually as a pastoral worker/non-professional	Ms Marisa Gatt
Friday 19th May 2023	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 of at least 500 words;

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.

Safeguarding Seminar for Clergy

23/01/2023 Parish Centre (Hall), Santa Lucija

This seminar aims to equip priests (and brothers) with the necessary safeguarding tools for their work in the community. By familiarising themselves with the key principles of safeguarding, priests can learn to create a safe environment for children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

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

familiarise themselves with safeguarding policies
understand the legal obligations with child abuse
identify signs and symptoms of abuse
know the disclosures of abuse
identify the principles of safeguarding
practice professional boundaries
know their legal obligations related to the Protection of Minors (Registration) Act (2011) and the Minors Protection Act (2019)
learn about the different types of abuse and poor practice
learn a standard response to a disclosure of abuse
be able to recognise signs of abuse
identify the actions to take if you have a concern and who can help

Currently, enrolment is not open for this course. For further information contact us on [email protected]

Diocesan Priests
Religious Order Priests
Religious Order Brothers

3-hour in-person seminar. The PFI will be offering this seminar on six different dates, you may find all the dates in the Calendar section below.

Currently, enrolment is not open for this course. For further information contact us on [email protected]

Certificate: Certificate of Attendance*

*_{To obtain a Certificate of Attendance, a student must; attend all the contact hours}.

Teaching Institutions: Safeguarding Commission together with Pastoral Formation Institute

Award Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

An Introduction to the Theology of the Holy Spirit

19/01/2023 Ta` Mlit, Pastoral Centre, Mosta

The course aims to provide theological knowledge regarding the catholic belief in the Holy Spirit as it developed throughout the centuries and lived in various aspects of ecclesial life. The course will start by analysing scripture references to the Holy Spirit and will explore the development of the theology of the Holy Spirit from the Church Fathers to contemporary theology. The Course will also illustrate the role of the Holy Spirit in liturgy and ecclesial life, the Communal Discernment, and conclude by analysing how the Holy Spirit is expressed in art.

Currently, enrolment is not open for this course. For further information contact us on [email protected]

People who wish to enrich their spirituality by learning more about the third person of the Holy Trinity.

Target Audience`s Age: 18+

Currently, enrolment is not open for this course. For further information contact us on [email protected]

	Session Title	Lecturer
Session 1	Holy Spirit in the Old Testament: The ‘Spirit of God’	Rev. Dr Paul Sciberras
Session 2	Holy Spirit in the Old Testament: The ‘Spirit in Prophecy’	Rev. Dr Paul Sciberras
Session 3	Holy Spirit in the New Testament: Holy Spirit in the Synoptic Gospels	Rev. Dr Martin Micallef
Session 4	Holy Spirit in the New Testament: Holy Spirit in the Gospel of John	Rev. Dr Martin Micallef
Session 5	Holy Spirit in the New Testament: The Holy Spirit as a central theme in the Letters of St Paul	Rev. Dr Martin Micallef

Session 6	Patristic Theology: Early Pneumatology	Rev. Dr Jonathan Farrugia
Session 7	Patristic Theology: Third Century Tertullian Origen	Rev. Dr Jonathan Farrugia
Session 8	Patristic Theology: Fourth and Fifth Centuries	Rev. Dr Jonathan Farrugia
Session 9	Dogmatic Theology: The Holy Trinity	Rev. Prof. Hector Scerri
Session 10	Dogmatic Theology: The work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life and the mission of the Church	Rev. Prof. Hector Scerri
Session 11	Dogmatic Theology: The Holy Spirit in the Papal Magisterium	Rev. Prof. Hector Scerri

Session 12	Western Liturgy: The Liturgy as an action of the Holy Spirit	Rev. Stephen Attard
Session 13	Western Liturgy: The four concepts and accompanying gestures in the Post-Second Vatican Council Liturgical Texts	Rev. Stephen Attard
Session 14	Western Liturgy: Holy Orders and Marriage/The Vigil and Day Mass of the Solemnity of Pentecost	Rev. Stephen Attard
Session 15	Eastern Liturgy: The work of the Holy Spirit in the Byzantine Liturgy	Papas Prof. Martin Zammit
Session 16	Eastern Liturgy: The Anaphors in the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and St Basil	Papas Prof. Martin Zammit

Session 17	Communal Discernment	Rev. Dr Andre Zaffarese
Session 18	The Holy Spirit in Sacred Art: Representations of the Holy Spirit: From symbol to sign	Ms Giulia Privitelli
Session 19	The Holy Spirit in Sacred Art: Retrieving “likeness”: From idols to icons	Ms Giulia Privitelli

Currently, enrolment is not open for this course. For further information contact us on [email protected]

Session Format

Nineteen lectures on Thursdays between 18:00 and 20:00 (38 hours)

Part 1: Holy Spirit in Scripture

19th January 2023	Holy Spirit in the Old Testament: The ‘Spirit of God’	Rev. Dr Paul Sciberras
26th January 2023	Holy Spirit in the Old Testament: The ‘Spirit in Prophecy’	Rev. Dr Paul Sciberras
2nd February 2023	Holy Spirit in the New Testament: Holy Spirit in the Synoptic Gospels	Rev. Dr Martin Micallef
9th February 2023	Holy Spirit in the New Testament: Holy Spirit in the Gospel of John	Rev. Dr Martin Micallef
16th February 2023	Holy Spirit in the New Testament: The Holy Spirit as a central theme in the Letters of St Paul	Rev. Dr Martin Micallef

Part 2: Patristic and Dogmatic Theology of the Holy Spirit

23rd February 2023	Patristic Theology: Early Pneumatology	Rev. Dr Jonathan Farrugia
2nd March 2023	Patristic Theology: Third Century Tertullian Origen	Rev. Dr Jonathan Farrugia
9th March 2023	Patristic Theology: Fourth and Fifth Centuries	Rev. Dr Jonathan Farrugia
16th March 2023	Dogmatic Theology: The Holy Trinity	Rev. Prof. Hector Scerri
23rd March 2023	Dogmatic Theology: The work of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ life and the mission of the Church	Rev. Prof. Hector Scerri
30th March 2023	Dogmatic Theology: The Holy Spirit in the Papal Magisterium	Rev. Prof. Hector Scerri

Part 3: Holy Spirit in Liturgy

20th April 2023	Western Liturgy: The Liturgy as an action of the Holy Spirit	Rev. Stephen Attard
27th April 2023	Western Liturgy: The four concepts and accompanying gestures in the Post-Second Vatican Council Liturgical Texts	Rev. Stephen Attard
4th May 2023	Western Liturgy: Holy Orders and Marriage/The Vigil and Day Mass of the Solemnity of Pentecost	Rev. Stephen Attard
11th May 2023	Eastern Liturgy: The work of the Holy Spirit in the Byzantine Liturgy	Papas Prof. Martin Zammit
18th May 2023	Eastern Liturgy: The Anaphors in the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom and St Basil	Papas Prof. Martin Zammit

Part 4: Manifestation of the Holy Spirit

25th May 2023	Communal Discernment	Rev. Dr Andre Zaffarese
1st June 2023	The Holy Spirit in Sacred Art: Representations of the Holy Spirit: From symbol to sign	Ms Giulia Privitelli
Friday: 2nd June 2023	The Holy Spirit in Sacred Art: Retrieving “likeness”: From idols to icons	Ms Giulia Privitelli

This course has three exit certificate options:

Certificate of Attendance

A Certificate of Attendance will be awarded to students who have attended at least 80% of the course`s contact hours.

Certificate of Participation

A Certificate of Participation will be rewarded to students who meet the attendance criteria* and successfully conclude the course multiple-choice tests.

Certificate of Achievement

A Certificate of Achievement is awarded to students who successfully concluded the course, that is;

meet the attendance criteria*
sit and pass the short multiple-choice tests (mentioned in point 2),
and also submit a written assessment of at least 1000-1500 words.

Final Award: Certificate in An Introduction to the Theology of the Holy Spirit

Awarding Institute: Pastoral Formation Institute

Duration: Four months part-time course

_{_{* Attendance Criteria: Students must attend at least 80% of all the course`s contact hours.}}

Award in Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy in Schools

14/01/2023

The Pastoral Formation Institute is licensed by MFHEA
(Licence #: 2013-FHI-023) as a Further and Higher Educational Institute. The Award in Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy in Schools is accredited at EQF/MQF Level 6, as Higher Education Programme.

Pastoral Care/Chaplaincy in Schools is being considered a bridge between faith(s) and culture(s) in the contemporary context. People involved in this mission are to be well prepared in order to be effective instruments of sharing the joy of the Gospel and Gospel values within schools in the current pluralistic society.

Course Aim:

This course gives participants the knowledge and practical skills needed to enhance effective Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy in Schools. The course assists participants to build a range of skills necessary for this ministry: reflective, analytical, critical and synthetic, leadership, collaborative, interpersonal, listening, planning, and implementation.

Currently, enrolment is not open for this course. For further information contact us on [email protected]

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

This course is open to all people involved in the educational sector or with an expressed interest to work in this area.

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

Currently, enrolment is not open for this course. For further information contact us on [email protected]

Code	Mode of Delivery	Value
THM6017	In-person (Face-to-Face Learning)	3 ECTS

In this module, participants will be introduced to the concept of Pastoral Care / Chaplaincy in schools and prepare them for this mission. Participants will get the opportunity to discuss and learn how pastoral care/ chaplaincy can be a means to facilitate dialogue between faith(s) and culture(s) in our contemporary pluralistic society. In this module, we will articulate how to nurture a wholesome attitude towards life, different religions and cultures, and the whole of creation, founded on Gospel values and the teachings of the Church.

Code	Mode of Delivery	Value
THM6019	In-person (Face-to-Face Learning)	3 ECTS

This module offers the participants the opportunity to examine the richness and the challenges of a multicultural and multifaith environment within the school community in the context of Pastoral Theology.

In the context of Pastoral Care/Chaplaincy, Pastoral Theology enables the people involved in this ministry to nurture in their life and in the life of the whole school community the truth that;

“[t]he nature of the reign of God is the communion of all human beings between themselves and with God”
( Pope John Paul II, Redemptoris Missio)

This theme will be discussed through selected Scriptural texts and texts from the teachings of the Church and early Church Fathers.

Code	Mode of Delivery	Value
THM6018	In-person (Face-to-Face Learning)	3 ECTS

By the end of this module, participants will be able to identify various ways of fostering a relationship with the Transcendent/God through different methods of Prayer. Participants will be able to become more familiar with :

the meaning of spirituality,
the spiritual development of the young (4-10 yrs.), youth (11-16yrs.), and adults (18+), keeping in mind contemporary culture/s.
how to plan and conduct various spiritual encounters and activities with the young (4-10yrs), youth (11-16yrs) and adults (18+).

Code	Mode of Delivery	Value
THM6020	In-person (Face-to-Face Learning)	3 ECTS

The aim of this module is to enable participants to build resources to design and enrich liturgical and religious celebrations/activities in schools through exploring and adapting artistic expressions, media, and IT resources in the context of Pastoral Care/Chaplaincy.

Code	Mode of Delivery	Value
THM6021	In-person (Face-to-Face Learning)	5 ECTS

This module is divided into three parts;

Part One: One-day seminar – This seminar will enable participants to relate various leadership models and collaboration strategies to Pastoral Care/Chaplaincy in Schools.

Part Two: Half-day spiritual retreat: where participants will have time to reflect on their own spiritual journey in the light of selected Biblical texts and spiritual literature.

Part Three: Online reading: Four papers are going to be presented as online reading. These papers are related to all the modules and will enable participants to reflect on the different ways that Pastoral Care/Chaplaincy is expressed around the world. Participants will be asked to critically analyze and review these articles and use them to evaluate national experiences.

Currently, enrolment is not open for this course. For further information contact us on [email protected]

Mode of Attendance: Part-Time

Session Format

Twenty-eight lectures on Thursday between 15:00-17:15 (60 hours). This time period was specifically chosen to assist our participants in achieving a better family-work/study-balanced life.
One day-seminar on Saturday 14th January 2023, between 9:00 – 17:00 ( 8 hours
Morning Retreat (5 hours)
Online learning (12 hours)

THM6021: Internalizing and Evaluating various perspectives of Pastoral Care/Chaplaincy in Schools. – Part 1

Date	Time	Venue
Saturday 14th January 2022	9:00 – 17:00	Rivotorto Retreat House, Birkirkara

THM6017: Pastoral Care/Chaplaincy in Schools: Promoting Human Dignity and Gospel Values in Contemporary Cultures.

Date	Time	Venue
Thursdays 19^th January – 9^th March	15:00 – 17:15

Carnival Recess – Thursday 16^th – Tuesday 21^st February 2023

THM6019: Nurturing Spirituality through Pastoral Care / Chaplaincy in Schools

Date	Time	Venue
Thursdays 16^th March – 11^th May	15:00 – 17:15

Easter Recess: Monday 3^nd April – Sunday 16^th April 2023

THM6018: Pastoral Theology in relation to Pastoral Care / Chaplaincy in Schools

Date	Time	Venue
Thursdays 18^th May – 6^th July	15:00 – 17:15

THM6020: Practical ways of Enriching Liturgical Celebrations and Religious Activities in Schools.

Date	Time	Venue
Thursdays 14^th September – 2^nd November	15:00 – 17:15

THM6021: Internalizing and Evaluating various perspectives of Pastoral Care/Chaplaincy in Schools.

Date	Time	Venue
Saturday TBA	8:30 – 14:30	Rivotorto Retreat House Birkirkara

Assessment: Written assignments. Each assignment will be handed-in for every module

Click here to view the PFI`s Grading System

Final Award: Award in Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy in Schools

EQF/MQF Level: Level 6

Accreditation Category: Higher Education Programme

Total ECTS: 17 ECTS

Duration: 1 year part-time (84 hours)

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}

Every application will be considered on its individual merits* and includes:

Full qualification at MQF Level 4 (A Level / Intermediate) or equivalent
Proficient in English and/or Maltese language
Basic digital competencies (able to do research)
Expressed interest in Pastoral Care and/or chaplaincy in state or non-state schools.

*The applicant will be refunded if not eligible for the course.

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

14/01/2023 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

Currently, enrolment is not open for this course. For further information contact us on [email protected]

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

Currently, enrolment is not open for this course. For further information contact us on [email protected]

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

Code	Mode of Delivery	Value
ASM5001	– Day Seminar – Practicum Sessions – Weekly 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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Currently, enrolment is not open for this course. For further information contact us on [email protected]

Lecturers: Rev Bernard Micallef

Mode of Attendance: Part-Time

Session	Dates	Times
Day Seminar	Saturday 14th January 2023	09:00 – 15:30	Catholic Institute
Thursday	19th January 2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute
Thursday	26th January 2023	18:00 – 21:00	Catholic Institute
Practicum	Saturday 28th January 2023	09:00 – 12:00

Lecturers: Mr Karl Cortis & Mr David Azzopardi

Mode of Attendance: Part-Time

Session	Dates	Times	Venue
Day Seminar	Saturday 4th February 2023	09:00 – 16:00	Catholic Institute
Thursday	9th February 2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute
Thursday	23rd February 2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute
Thursday	2nd March 2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute
Thursday	9th March 2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute
Thursday	16th March 2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute

Lecturers: Mr David Azzopardi & Mr Karl Cortis

Mode of Attendance: Part-Time

Dates	Times	Venue
Thursday 23rd March 2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute
Thursday 30th March 2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute
Thursday 20th April 2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute
Thursday 27th April 2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute
Thursday 4th May 2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute
Thursday 11th May 2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute
Thursday 18th May 2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute

Easter Recess between

Lecturers: Sr Rachel Camilleri ASGM

Mode of Attendance: Part-Time

Part 1: Theory

Dates	Times	Venue
Thursday 25th May 2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute
Thursday 1st June 2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute
Thursday 8th June 2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute
Thursday 15th June 2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute
Thursday 22nd June 2023	18:00 – 20:00	Catholic Institute

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.

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%

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.

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.

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+).

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.

Award in Creating & Animating Prayer Spaces

22/11/2022 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 Creating and Animating Prayer Spaces is accredited at EQF/MQF Level 5, as Higher Education Programme.

Students who successfully complete this course can apply for the Get Qualified Scheme which will enable them to benefit from a tax credit of 70% of the costs incurred (i.e. €87.50 will be refunded back for this course).

The course Creating and Animating Prayer Spaces is designed to:

equip the participants with the necessary knowledge and skills required to create and run a prayer space in a given setting.
offer participants the opportunity to grow in their connectedness with their own self, with others, with the world, and with God through the prayer spaces experience.
enable the participants to accompany others and explore their faith, spirituality, and life’s big questions in a safe, creative, and interactive way.
lead the participants to understand better the shift from living merely to functioning, fulfilling demands and expectations to a more meaningful life.
invite the participants to become aware that relationships are strengthened when one takes the time to appreciate and reflect upon them.

A prayer space can be set in various places. The setting can be a school, a youth center, a parish hall, at the workplace, in an open-plan area, or an outdoor place.

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

Currently, enrolment is not open for this course. For further information contact us on [email protected]

define what a prayer space is;
identify different age groups of children and young people attending the prayer space;
communicate in different ways with children, young people, or adults according to their age, culture, and language during a prayer space;
identify suitable interested members of the staff/personnel who are willing to form a team to prepare and animate prayer spaces in their respective schools;
draw up a plan for planning, preparing, setting up, and running prayer spaces;
report what educators and students said after they have experienced prayer spaces for themselves;
evaluate what went well, identify difficulties and challenges in setting a prayer space;
understand that at the most basic level, prayer spaces give students a way to reflect and develop reflective thinking skills in terms of the four key relationships: the self, others, the world, and God;
make a connection between prayer spaces and other subjects

Reflect personally on a prayer space;
Plan a prayer space;
Prepare for the setting of prayer spaces;
Create simple and clear instruction cards, and prepare the resources related to the prayer space;
Set up the physical prayer space in any given space and/or venue.
Demonstrate a welcoming attitude to all children and young people of all faith and none who will be experiencing a prayer space;
Lead the children and young people to the safe, hands-on, creative prayer space and, when necessary, animate the prayer spaces;
Show a sense of accompaniment and being there for the person;
Operate with other members of staff who wish to give a helping hand before, during, and after the setting of a prayer space activity;
Recruit and train a prayer space team;
Run a Prayer Space;
Do a follow-up of a prayer spaces session.

This course is targeted at all those who wish to help children, young people, and adults grow in their prayer life, namely:

educators,
catechists,
youth workers,
youth leaders,
youth ministers,
religious counselors,
chaplains and lay chaplains,
priests and religious.

Target Audience Age: 18+

Code	Mode of Delivery	Value
SPR5002	In-Person (Face-to-Face Learning)	2 ECTS

Rev. Paul Chetcuti SJ

The lecturer will introduce the concepts of prayer, spirituality, and religion. Participants will become aware of the superficial vs meaning-making, being, and the development of symbolic language.

Rev Reuben Gauci

Prayer Spaces stations will be set up for participants to experience them for themselves. A lecture will follow about the values of prayer spaces, and participants will learn that prayer spaces are spiritual, reflective, inclusive, professional, and Christian.

Rev Reuben Gauci

Prayer Spaces stations will be set up for participants to experience them for themselves. During the lecture about the purpose and theology of prayer spaces, participants will learn that prayer spaces help one reflect and develop reflective thinking skills; and see this in terms of four key relationships: the self, other people, the World, the sacred, and divine. They will also learn that God made everyone spiritual; God has a mission, welcomes, hears, cares, speaks, and acts.

Rev Reuben Gauci

Prayer Spaces stations will be set up for participants to experience them for themselves. A lecture about preparing for the setting of prayer spaces will follow. Participants will learn how to get started with prayer spaces.

Ms Silvana Cardona:

Prayer Spaces stations will be set up for participants to experience them for themselves. A lecture about creating prayer activities will follow. Participants will learn how to choose and create prayer activities directed to the self, others, the World, and God and create activities that are a mix of learning styles; writing, listening, looking, reading, and doing.

Rev Reuben Gauci

Prayer space stations will be set up for participants to experience them for themselves. A lecture about how to recruit and train an excellent prayer space team will follow, and participants will learn to recruit people who are prayerful, inclusive, reflective, professional, and safe. Participants will also learn how to set a good prayer space and how it can be welcoming to anyone who wishes to visit. They learn how to gather feedback and write a report as a follow-up.

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

Mode of Attendance: Part-Time

The course is delivered over 18 contact hours spread on six 3-hour sessions.

Currently, enrolment is not open for this course. For further information contact us on [email protected]

Assessment:

To receive

Multiple-choice online exam – 40%
An assignment of 500 – 800 words about the steps needed to plan, prepare, set up, and evaluate an actual prayer space, including photos or short videos (up to 3 mins). Guidelines on how to do the assignment.

Certification: 

This course has three exit certificate options:

Certificate of Attendance

To obtain a Certificate of Attendance, students must attend at least 80% 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 at least 80% of the course`s contact hours;
pass the short multiple-choice online exam;
and successfully complete a Reflective Journal of at least 500 words;

Click here to view the PFI`s Grading System

EQF/MQF Level: Level 5

Accreditation Category: Higher Education Programme

Total ECTS: 2 ECTS

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.

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.