Short Course – Page 4 – Pastoral Formation Institute

Basic Media Literacy Education

19/06/2024

This course offers an in-depth exploration of Media Literacy Education (MLE) within the context of theology and pastoral ministries. It investigates the significant impact of the digital and virtual worlds on individuals and communities, underscoring how these influences continuously shape our identities and perspectives.

Adopting a critical approach, the course examines the benefits and challenges presented by various media forms. It emphasizes the need for discernment and critical thinking to effectively navigate today’s complex media landscape. Students will develop a comprehensive understanding of media literacy education and its vital role in modern society.

This course is designed for pastoral workers who contribute to the digital presence of their parish and/or organization, as well as individuals who seek to deepen their understanding of Media Literacy Education.

Target Audience Age: 19+

The course will be available from June 2025

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.

The Digital and Virtual Worlds That Shape Us: A Source of Continuous Influence

Benefits and Challenges of Media

What is Media Literacy Education?

The Three Main Pillars of the M.L.E.: Content, Audience and Technical Languages

Basic Principles of M.L.E.

The need of M.L.E. in Theology and Pastoral Ministries in the Church

Pastoral Application of the M.L.E. Pillars

Pastoral Application of the M.L.E. Principles

Understanding and Addressing an Audience

How to Address the Different Aspects of a Person

The Importance of the Pedagogical Narrative: A Guide to Using Digital Technologies as Means to Bridge Catechesis and the Human Experience

The Importance of the Creative Message

Education for Critical Thinking: Inseparable Elements of A Holistic Education

Participants will be equipped with a toolkit to explore and utilize creative tools for preparing materials tailored to pastoral work, enhancing their ability to engage effectively in their ministries.

This course has one exit certificate option:

1. Certificate of Participation

To obtain a Certificate of Participation, students must view all videos and pass from all short multiple-choice exams.

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 AI in Pastoral Settings: Tools and Practices

23/05/2024

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 aims to equip individuals working in pastoral contexts with the knowledge and skills needed to utilize AI tools effectively. Designed for those with little to no prior knowledge of AI, the course provides a basic understanding of AI systems, their potential applications, and best practices for implementation in pastoral work. By the end of the course, students will have a foundational understanding of how AI tools and systems function, an awareness of the positive and negative aspects of such tools, and an understanding of the Church’s position on AI. They will also develop the ability to critically assess which contexts might benefit from introducing AI tools and which would not, as well as gain awareness of some AI tools that might prove useful in pastoral work.

Pastoral Workers
Priests
Religious

And other individuals interested in the subject

Target Audience Age: 18+

Session

What is AI? What is the Church’s position on AI?

Helpful AI tools and how to make use of them

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.

Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels

23/05/2024

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 Synoptic Gospels—Mark, Matthew, and Luke—which are often studied together due to their common heritage. In contrast, the Gospel of John belongs to a markedly different tradition and emerged later.

Students will delve into the history and character of these Synoptic Gospels, gaining an appreciation for the styles and themes that are both common and unique to each. This knowledge will be applied through systematic analysis of relevant passages from these three Gospels.

By integrating the content and skills acquired during this course, students will be able to interpret Synoptic passages with greater depth, meaning, and accuracy. They will also learn to recognise and avoid common errors in Scriptural interpretation. Above all, students will grow in their passion for Christ as revealed in the Word.

Pastoral Workers involved in Ministry of the Word.
Christians committed to continual growth in their relationship with God, who, however, have little to no experience in the formal study of the scripture.

Target Audience Age: 18+

Students have the option to join this course online via Zoom

Session

Gospel According to Mark

Gospel According to Matthew

Gospel According to Luke

The Two-Source Hypothesis

The Two-Source Hypothesis (Application)

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.

Expressions of Personal Prayer

23/05/2024

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 acquaints students with the more common expressions of prayer within the Catholic Church, exploring their origins, strengths, limitations, and appropriate contexts. By internalising this knowledge, students will be motivated and equipped to advance in their own prayer journey and to guide communal moments of prayer effectively.

To be eligible for this course, participants must have completed the ‘Introduction to Prayer’ course or possess at least an MQF Level 4 qualification in religion or theology. Please upload a copy of your relevant certification with the application form.

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+

Students have the option to join this course online via Zoom

Session

Praying with Nature and Music

Praying with Art

Praying with Scripture

Devotional Prayer

Praying Like the Saints

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.

Introduction to Prayer

23/05/2024

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/.

The aim of this course is to provide participants with a foundational understanding of the place of prayer in the Catholic tradition. Rather than offering a manual or handbook on how to pray, this course will serve as a springboard for exploring prayer within Christianity. Participants will be challenged to consider what it means to see themselves as persons of prayer, deepening their spiritual practice and enriching their faith experience.

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+

This course will be offered from October 2024

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.

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

What is Prayer?
The Universal Call to Prayer
Prayer in the Old Testament: Models, Advice and Material
Prayer in the New Testament: Models, Advice and Material
Prayer Times and Environments
Praying together and for others
The Mass: The Ultimate Prayer
Aids to Prayer
Leading a Life of Prayer
Important Aspects of Prayer

This course has one exit certificate option:

1. 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.

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 Sacred Scriptures

16/05/2024

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/.

The Bible is not a single work, but a library of books that, while sharing the same divine authorship, differ greatly in their styles, history, cultural background, themes, and interpretation.

Through this course, students can expect to develop a basic understanding of why and how the Bible came to be, considering its different sources, transmission, redaction, consolidation, and intentions.

By integrating their newly acquired knowledge of the Bible’s history and the roles of divine inspiration and human cooperation in its creation, students will be able to interpret Biblical passages with greater depth, meaning, and truth. They will also learn to recognize and avoid common errors in Scriptural interpretation. Above all, they will grow in their passion for God as present in His Word.

Pastoral Workers involved in the Ministry of the Word.
Christians committed to continual growth in their relationship with God, who, however, have little to no experience in the formal study of Sacred Scripture.

Target Audience Age: 18+

Students have the option to join this course online via Zoom

Session

Canonicity

Inspiration

History of the Old Testament

History of the New Testament

Hermeneutics

This course has three exit certificate options:

1. Certificates 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

The student will receive a Certificate of Achievement when attending a minimum of 80% of all contact hours for this course, pass from 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.

Living Beyond Sunday

09/05/2024

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/.

Our relationship with God is not supposed to stay within the walls of our parish church when we leave after Sunday Mass. Instead, ‘the mass is ended go in the peace’ is an exhortation so that what we received during mass transform our hearts, our families, our homes, and our schools into a welcoming place to encounter Christ until we gather again the following Sunday to be strengthened and sent forth once again.

In this new course Living Beyond Sunday, we aim to share ideas to help parents and all those working with children make their time together a place of encounter with God–a place where saints are being made; it shares how to foster holiness in all the little everyday moments in Catholic life starting from the spiritual pedagogy and moving on to giving practical ways to celebrate this based on the premise that with little attempts, creativity, effort, and adaptations, it is possible to make that which we live during liturgy appealing, meaningful and have a powerful impact on the children.

Pastoral workers helping in children’s ministry, chaplaincy teams in schools, parents, catechists, leaders of family groups and those 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*

Dates	Session
8th October 2025	Introduction: Children’s Spirituality and their relationship with God
15th October 2025	Introduction to the Liturgy & Liturgical Year Fundamentals of Liturgy Preparation
22nd October 2025	Advent and Christmas Ordinary Time
29th October 2025	Lent and Easter Triduum
5th November 2025	Easter Ordinary Time and Celebrating Saints
12nd November 2025	Seminar – Sharing Good Practice*

*Participation in the seminar, is required to be in person.

This course has three exit certificate options:

1. Certificates 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 Participation

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

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.

Award in Spiritual Dimension in Elderly Care for Healthcare Professionals

08/05/2024

The Pastoral Formation Institute is licensed by MFHEA
(Licence #: 2013-FHI-023) as a Further and Higher Educational Institute. The Award in Spiritual Dimension in Elderly Care for Healthcare Professionals is accredited at EQF/MQF Level 7, as Further Education Programme.

Students who successfully complete this course may 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 for this course).

Spirituality is an important aspect of holistic care that is frequently overlooked. This study unit seeks to critically discuss the importance of integrating the spiritual dimension of care in the care of the elderly, while identifying the difficulties in conceptualising spirituality/religiosity in elderly care. The programme aims to explore implementation models, theories, and frameworks in competencies for spiritual care, with a particular focus on the EPICC European standard in core competencies in spiritual care (2016-2019). It seeks to explain the theoretical and practical underpinnings of effective leadership, expertise, and collaborative approaches to equip healthcare providers to effectively incorporate spirituality into their practice.

Professionals, mainly nurses, working in elderly care settings

Target Audience Age: 19+

This course consists of 11 in-person sessions

Self-Study Hours: 75

Contact Hours: 25

Assessment Hours: 25

Session 1: Defining Spirituality and Spiritual Care in Healthcare – Competencies in Spiritual Care

Debate continues over defining and exploring the concept of spirituality and its relationship with religion. The concepts are often used interchangeably, yet they are distinct, as nurses can provide spiritual care even in the absence of a belief system. Despite the complexity of the spiritual dimension of care and the lack of an agreed-upon definition, nurses are expected to address this aspect of care. Literature generally considers spiritual care an integral aspect of nurses’ practice, giving them a clear and legitimate role in diagnosing the spiritual and religious needs that affect care (Baldacchino, 2009).

Spirituality and spiritual care in health are related to how patients and health professionals seek and express meaning, purpose, connection, value, or transcendence in the context of illness and health. There is a growing body of evidence showing that spirituality is linked to better health outcomes, patient satisfaction, medical decision-making, and quality of life. This session aims to introduce and debate the various definitions of spirituality and spiritual care, as well as the multidimensional spiritual field.

Session 2: Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Spirituality

Interpersonal and intrapersonal spirituality play integral roles in providing patient-centred care. Understanding and addressing the spiritual dimensions of healthcare contribute to a more compassionate, culturally sensitive, and holistic approach to patient well-being.

Interpersonal spirituality in elderly patient care involves:

Cultural Sensitivity: Effective communication and empathy
Collaboration with Spiritual Care Providers
Addressing Ethical Dilemmas

Intrapersonal spirituality deals with:

Self-Reflection and Awareness
Preventing Burnout
Enhancing Empathy and Compassion
Ethical Decision-Making
Modelling Holistic Well-being

This session aims to critically analyse the importance of these concepts in elderly care.

Session 3: Spiritual Assessment and Evaluation of Care

There is general agreement that identifying and responding to spiritual needs is the responsibility of every worker. Research in spiritual care shows the emergence of several tools designed to measure and rate quantitatively or qualitatively the client’s spirituality, spiritual distress, and spiritual coping. The SCCS tool (McSherry, 2012) is effective in assessing spiritual care competencies in nurses. In this session, the learner is introduced to formal and informal approaches to assess patients’ spiritual needs, plan for necessary interventions based on the available resources, and evaluate whether the patients’ needs were met.

Session 4: Loss, Grief, and Compassion in the Elderly

Loss, grief, and compassion in elderly care are essential to equip healthcare professionals and caregivers with the knowledge and skills needed to support elderly individuals and their families during challenging times.

The aim of this session is to provide an understanding of loss and grief, namely:

Define types of loss (physical, cognitive, social, etc.)
Understand the grieving process and its individual variations; normalising grief as a natural response to loss
Discuss common losses in ageing
Recognise the cultural and spiritual perspectives of loss

Session 5: Spiritual Care in Elderly Rehabilitation

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Spiritual care is an integral component of the rehabilitation process for elderly individuals. It involves addressing the spiritual and existential needs of the person, recognising the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Incorporating spiritual care into rehabilitation contributes to a more holistic and person-centred approach. This session will discuss the spiritual needs specifically of the elderly who are in rehabilitation, namely:

Finding effective ways to work with hospitalised older adults
Identifying support and coping strategies to enhance inner peace, meaning, and resilience in confronting changes and hardships

Learners will explore ways in which healthcare workers can assist patients to be creative and better confront their feelings of suffering and solitude.

Session 6: Spiritual Care and Mental Health

Spirituality plays a significant role in mental health, and many individuals find solace, support, and meaning in their spiritual beliefs and practices. The relationship between spirituality and mental health is complex and multifaceted, and it can vary greatly from person to person. This session will discuss the various complex mental health issues that elderly individuals may encounter and provide skills that may assist healthcare workers in managing and caring for the elderly to help them find solace, support, and meaning through their spirituality.

Session 7: Spiritual Care in Dementia

This session will seek to critically discuss the myths related to spirituality and dementia in different cultural contexts. It will also describe the experiences and importance of spirituality from the perspectives of persons living with dementia, and formal and informal caregivers. Moreover, the challenges and potential solutions of providing spiritual care to persons living with dementia will be identified. Finally, the role of religious communities in creating dementia-friendly churches will be discussed.

Session 8: The Role of Religion in Spiritual Care for the Elderly

Religion can play a significant role in providing spiritual care for the elderly. As individuals age, they often confront questions about the meaning of life, mortality, and the purpose of their existence. Religious beliefs and practices can offer comfort, guidance, and a sense of connection to something greater, providing a framework for understanding and navigating these existential concerns.

This session will focus on religion, which is integral to spiritual care. It will discuss the diversity of religious beliefs and practices among the elderly population and emphasize the importance of being inclusive and culturally sensitive in delivering spiritual care

Session 9: The Sacraments in Different Religions and Spirituality

The Roman Catholic Church defines a sacrament as “an outward sign of an inward (invisible) grace, instituted by Jesus Christ.” Although various world religions do not agree on the nature and number of sacraments, nor do they necessarily call them as such, they concur that there are important rituals that initiate individuals into the community and enable them to grow spiritually. All cultures and religions celebrate significant rites of passage throughout life’s events. These rituals recognise important events in the lives of both individuals and the community. This session will discuss the religious practices of various denominations and their importance in holistic elderly care.

Session 10: Case Scenarios in the Spiritual Dimension of Elderly Care

This session will present different case scenarios to assess and evaluate the learners’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes acquired during the programme, to apply when caring for the elderly.

Session 11: Seminar ‘Spirituality in Everyday Elderly Care Practice’

The course will be held on Tuesdays from 9:30am – 11:30am

Ta’ Mlit Pastoral Centre, Mosta

October 2024

Date	Session
8th October 2024	Defining ‘Spirituality’ and ‘Spiritual Care’ in Healthcare Competencies in spiritual care
15th October 2024	Interpersonal and intrapersonal spirituality
22nd October 2024	Spiritual assessment and evaluation of care
29th October 2024	Loss, grief and compassion in the elderly

November 2024

Date	Session
5th November 2024	Spiritual care in the rehabilitation of the elderly
12th November 2024	Spiritual care and mental health
19th November 2024	Spiritual care in dementia
26th November 2024	The role of religion in spiritual care for the elderly

December 2024

Date	Session
3rd December 2024	The sacraments in different religions and spirituality
10th December 2024	Case scenarios in the Spiritual Dimension of elderly care

January 2025

Date	Session
14th January 2025 9:30am – 2:30pm	Seminar: ‘Spirituality in Everyday Elderly Care Practice’

This course has one exit certificate option:

Certificate of Achievement

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

attend a minimum of 80% of all contact hours
complete and pass from written assignment and presentation

Click here to view the PFI’s Grading System

EQF/MQF Level: Level 7

Accreditation Category: Further Education Programme

Total ECTS: 5 ECTS

Award Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

Qualifications: Applicants must possess a minimum of an MQF/EQF Level 6 or higher qualification. Kindly submit a copy of your highest qualification in the application form below.

Language: Applicants must have a basic understanding of Maltese and be proficient in English.

Digital: Applicants must know how to access and use the internet and use office suites.

Award in Helping Skills for Educators

03/05/2024

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

The teaching profession entails a myriad of daily responsibilities both in and out of school hours, often leaving educators with little time for self-reflection. While the primary focus is on students’ well-being and academic success, this course offers educators the opportunity to learn how to prioritize their own well-being through self-care and self-awareness, thereby empowering them to better understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours influence their interactions with students and colleagues. Participants will explore new methods of self-care, including effective emotional management techniques. These skills will enable them to nurture their professional relationships with students and colleagues while effectively managing stress.

By the end of the course, participants will:

Develop self-awareness and resilience.
Learn to detach emotions from students’ behavior.
Gain assertiveness skills.
Appreciate the importance of self-care.

Members of the school’s Senior Management Team
Head of Departments
Educators (Teachers, Kindergarten Educators, Learning Support Educators – LSEs)

Target Audience’s Age: 18+

Session 1: Cultivating emotional intelligence as a profession

Teachers can foster an effective learning environment by aiming to enhance their students’ knowledge and skills across various disciplines and talents. Educators with high emotional intelligence are more attuned to their students’ behavioural and psychological well-being, enabling them to address disruptive behaviours, monitor academic progress, and nurture interpersonal relationships effectively. They become adept at navigating the myriad challenges children face.

Throughout this session, teachers will develop emotional intelligence by monitoring their emotions, observing their behaviour, and taking responsibility for their feelings. They challenge the status quo in line with their convictions, recognize their emotional triggers, become more attuned to their sources of inspiration, and anticipate their emotional responses as they enhance their emotional intelligence. This process is facilitated by their trust in their intuition.

Session 2: Reflective practice as a tool to understand the teaching relationship with student

Reflecting on teaching can help educators understand how their students learn best and hold themselves accountable for their growth. By evaluating the strengths and weaknesses in their teaching, teachers gain insight into the factors that facilitate or hinder learning.

The reflection process also aids educators in gaining a deeper understanding of themselves and their teaching methods. Through self-questioning and self-assessment, teachers identify their strengths and areas for improvement. Reflection enables educators to recognize how they have contributed to others’ achievements and how this translates into practical learning scenarios.

Session 3: Connecting with students and understanding their emotions

Most teachers aim to foster strong connections with their students, yet it’s essential to maintain a balanced teacher-student relationship. This relationship is cultivated when a teacher attunes to the classroom atmosphere, discerns why students react differently, and identifies the most effective learning strategies for each individual. Such awareness enables teachers to focus on their teaching effectively.

Dealing with conflicts becomes more fruitful when students feel acknowledged and valued by their teacher, fostering an environment where they can openly discuss their concerns without fear of embarrassment or exclusion. Learning from mistakes is most effective in an environment where students feel safe and supported.

Teachers come to understand that students’ behaviour often reflects their own emotions rather than being a direct response to the teacher. This session aims to help teachers gain deeper insights into their students and maintain professional boundaries, thus avoiding personal entanglements with their students’ emotions.

Session 4: Maintaining practical strategies to manage anxiety and stress as an educator

Teaching is undeniably a demanding profession, requiring teachers to be emotionally resilient in order to support their students’ mental well-being effectively. The nature of the job entails standing in front of a classroom for extended periods, often bringing work home, and being evaluated based on criteria that may feel beyond one’s control. These challenges can be taxing for all educators, particularly those grappling with anxiety.

Through self-awareness, teachers begin to identify stressors in the classroom and gain insights into managing anxiety. This session aims to equip educators with healthy coping mechanisms to navigate the demands of their profession more effectively.

Session 5: Assertiveness skills – How and when to be assertive

There are certain characteristics commonly found in teachers who employ assertive skills, which may need to be cultivated even if they are not innate to the teacher’s personality. Although the term “assertive” might seem off-putting, an assertive teacher can maintain a warm demeanor with students while also establishing clear boundaries. This approach can help students develop crucial social skills. In this session, teachers will learn how and when to assert themselves effectively.

Session 6: Acknowledging and practicing self-care

The value and importance of self-care are relevant across all professions, yet it is more stigmatized in some than others. For instance, teachers may find it easier to encourage others to prioritize their health than to do so themselves. However, self-care is essential for teachers to maintain good mental health, especially considering the considerable energy they expend on others while often neglecting their own needs. Unfortunately, self-care is sometimes misunderstood and dismissed by educators as “selfish” or “superficial.” In reality, teachers who prioritize self-care serve as role models for the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

This course blends two forms of learning; in-person seminars (12 hrs) and recorded lectures (3 hrs) accessible on our VLE platform.

Seminar

Cultivating emotional intelligence

Reflective practice as a tool to understand the teaching relationship with the students

Connecting with students and understanding their emotions

Maintaining practical strategies to manage anxiety and stress as an educator

Assertiveness skills – how and when to be assertive

Acknowledging and practicing self-care

This course has two 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 awarded to students who have attended at least 80% of the course’s contact hours and pass from reflective journal.

Final Award: Award in Helping Skills for Educators

Teaching & Awarding Institute: Pastoral Formation Institute

Duration: 11 weeks

Applicants must hold an MQF/EQF level 5 or higher qualification in education, along with an MQF/EQF level 3 or higher qualification in both Maltese and English. Kindly submit a copy of your highest qualification in the application form below.

Introduction to Franciscan Spirituality

03/05/2024 ĊAK

This course delves into the timeless relevance of St Francis of Assisi’s life and teachings, portraying him as both a devoted disciple of Christ and a prophetic figure for our contemporary world. Participants will explore how St Francis’s wisdom can be applied to everyday life, including aspects such as prayer and discernment. Additionally, in anticipation of next year’s Jubilee of Hope, participants will explore St Francis as a companion figure for the upcoming Jubilee.

Franciscan collaborators
Individuals interested to explore and deepen their knowledge in Franciscan Spirituality

Target Audience Age: 18+

Session

Introduction – The Saint’s Life

The Franciscan Rule

The Mysteries of the Incarnation and Easter in the life of St Francis of Assisi

Agiography

St Francis and the Word of God

St Francis’s Testament

The Contemplative Dimension and the Stigmata of St Francis of Assisi

St Francis of Assisi and the Jubilee of Hope

Franciscan Discernment

The Franciscan Dimension of the Liturgy and Particular Devotions

The Economy of Francesco

Franciscan Spirituality in Everyday Life

Half-Day Seminar on The Canticle of Creation*

*Seminar venue will be different from lecture venue.

This course has three exit certificate options:

1. Certificates 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

To obtain a Certificate of Participation, students must:

attend a minimum of 80% of all contact hours
successfully complete and pass from a short multiple-choice exam

3. Certificate of Achievement

To obtain a Certificate of Achievement, students must:

attend a minimum of 80% of all contact hours
successfully complete and pass from a short multiple-choice exam
successfully complete and pass from 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.