PFI Courses – Page 4 – Pastoral Formation Institute

Getting to Know Bible as a Parent for Attard Parish

08/01/2025

This toolkit for parents consists of a series of pre-recorded sessions designed to assist parents whose children are attending catechism classes. It helps them to better understand the Bible, grasp basic themes related to the Holy Scriptures, learn how to pray, and pass on the faith with the help of the Bible, while also exploring the central role of the Word of God in the Church’s liturgy. Participants will also be provided with suggestions for additional resources.

Attard parents whose children are attending catechism classes

Target Audience Age: 18+

This toolkit consists of four (4) pre-recorded lectures that can be watched on the Moodle platform at a time and pace of your choosing. After viewing the pre-recorded lectures, a practical seminar will take place.

Date and Time	Session	Mode of Delivery	Venue
–	Introduction – What is the Bible?	Pre-Recorded Lecture	–
–	Transmitting the Faith as a Parent	Pre-Recorded Lecture	–
–	How to Pray Using the Bible with Your Children	Pre-Recorded Lecture	–
–	The Central Place of Holy Scripture in the Liturgy	Pre-Recorded Lecture	–

The Sacrament of Baptism for Attard Parish

08/01/2025

This course is aimed at parents who choose to baptize their child. They will be invited to follow this course from the comfort of their home. Firstly, they will learn about the theology of baptism and what baptism entails. They will then proceed to go through the rite of baptism, understanding its various moments so that during the celebration, they will have a deeper understanding of the process. Finally, these parents will be given suggestions on how to live out the baptismal promises within their family.

New parents of Attard Parish

Target Audience Age: 18+

The course will be delivered online through a series of recorded videos accessible on our VLE platform.

Session	Theme
Session 1	The Theology of Baptism – What is Baptism?
Session 2	The Rite of Baptism
Session 3	Living out the promises of Baptism

This course has one exit certificate options:

Certificate of Attendance

The student will receive a Certificate of Attendance when watching all recorded lectures available on VLE platform.

Awarding Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

Language: Applicants must be fluent in Maltese and have basic proficiency in English.

Digital: Applicants must be digitally literate, especially on how to access the internet and use office suites.

Il-Ġublew – Pellegrini tat-Tama għall-Parroċċa ta’ Ħal Qormi – San Bastjan

02/12/2024 Ċentru Parrokkjali tal-Parroċċa ta' Ħal Qormi - San Bastjan

L-għan ta’ dan il-kors hu li jakkumpanja il-partiċipanti sabiex jippreparaw irwieħhom għall-Ġublew tat-Tama li ser isir fl-2025. Il-parteċipanti ser jesploraw l-għeruq bibbliċi tal-kliem ‘ġublew’, ‘tama’ u ‘pellegrinaġġ’. Ser jesploraw ukoll it-tagħlim tal-Papa Benedittu XVI u l-Papa Franġisku fuq it-Tama. Fl-aħħar, ser jaraw flimkien kif dan il-ġublew jista’ jiġi applikat fil-kuntest kontemporanju u fil-missjoni wiesgħa tal-Knisja.

Parruċċani tal-Parroċċa ta’ Ħal Qormi – San Bastjan

Eta tal-udjenza fil-mira: 18+

Dan il-kors ser isir kull nhar ta’ Tnejn bejn is-6:30pm – 7:15pm kif stipulat hawn taħt:

Date	Session
13 ta’ Jannar 2025	Introduzzjoni – Il-Ġublew fil-Kotba Mqaddsa
27 ta’ Jannar 2025	Il-Pellegrinaġġ fil-Kotba Mqaddsa
3 ta’ Frar 2025	It-Tama fit-Testment il-Qadim
17 ta’ Frar 2025	It-Tama fit-Testment il-Ġdid u fl-Ewwel Komunitajiet Insara
24 ta’ Frar 2025	It-Tama fil-kitba tal-Papiet
3 ta’ Marzu 2025	Il-Ġublew u aħna – X’ser nagħmlu?

Dan il-kors għandu żewġ tipi ta’ ċertifikati:

1. Ċertifikat ta’ Attendenza

Sabiex tikseb Ċertifikat ta’ Attendenza, l-istudenti huma meħtieġa jattendu 80% tas-sessjonijiet tal-kors.

2. Ċertifikat ta’ Partiċipazzjoni

Sabiex tikseb Ċertifikat ta’ Partiċipazzjoni, l-istudenti huma meħtieġa jattendu 80% tas-sessjonijiet u jagħmlu eżami multiple-choice qasir online.

Lingwa: L-applikanti għandhom ikunu fluwenti fil-Malti u jkollom fehma tal-Ingliż.

Teknoloġija diġitali: L-applikanti huma meħtieġa li jkunu fluwenti fl-użu tad-dinja diġitali, inkluż li jkunu jafu kif jaċċessaw l-internet u jużaw office suites bħal Microsoft Word.

Delving Deep into the Gospels – Easter Narratives

27/11/2024

This course invites participants to embark on a journey into the profound teachings and life of Jesus Christ as presented in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. By immersing yourself in the rich historical and cultural contexts of these sacred texts, you will uncover the wisdom they convey and appreciate their diverse literary forms and structures.

Far from being solely an intellectual endeavour, this exploration is also a deeply spiritual practice. Participants will engage in moments of quiet contemplation, opening their hearts and minds to the messages within. Insights from biblical scholars will deepen understanding, while group discussions provide an opportunity to share reflections and gain diverse perspectives, illuminating new dimensions of the Gospel teachings.

The course aims to foster a profound connection with the spiritual truths of the Christian faith. It seeks to nurture inner growth and encourage participants to integrate the Gospel’s transformative guidance into everyday life. Through reflective and meditative engagement, you will be inspired to embody the love, compassion, and wisdom exemplified by Jesus Christ, allowing these qualities to shape your life and actions.

Whether you are new to the study of the Gospels or looking to deepen your understanding, this course provides a space for meaningful exploration and personal spiritual growth.

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+

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

Students have the option to join this course online via Zoom

Date	Session
23rd April 2025	The Appearance to Mary of Magdala
30th April 2025	The Appearance on the Road to Emmaus
7th May 2025	The Appearance to the Disciples in Jerusalem
14th May 2025	Thomas
21st May 2025	The Appearance to the Seven Disciples

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 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.

Introduction to AI in Pastoral Settings: Tools and Practices for Priests

27/11/2024

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.

Priests
Religious

Target Audience Age: 18+

The course will take place on Mondays from 10:00am to 12:30pm

Date	Session
27th January 2025	What is AI? What is the Church’s position on AI?
3rd February 2025	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.

Award in Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults for Fondazzjoni Sebħ Staff

30/10/2024 Fondazzjoni Sebħ Premises, Ħamrun

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 is designed for employees and volunteers who work with children, young people, and vulnerable adults, or who handle their data. Participants will gain an understanding of the key principles of safeguarding and develop skills to create and maintain a safe environment for all individuals in their care.

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

Familiarise themselves with safeguarding policies
Understand legal obligations concerning child abuse
Identify signs and symptoms of abuse
Understand disclosures of abuse
Identify core principles of safeguarding
Practise professional boundaries effectively
Know their legal obligations under the Protection of Minors (Registration) Act (2011) and the Minors Protection Act (2019)
Recognise different types of abuse and poor practices
Learn a standard response to disclosures of abuse
Recognise signs of abuse
Identify appropriate actions to take when concerned and understand who to approach for support

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

Fondazzjoni Sebħ employees who work with children and vulnerable adults and handle their data.

The course is delivered over two sessions: (a) a 3-hour, in-person session, and (b) 2 hours of recorded material accessible on our Moodle platform.

Group 1

Lecturing Period

Session	Date & Time	Venue	Mode of Delivery
Understanding Types and Indicators of Abuse, Responding to Disclosures, and Safeguarding Principles	8th November 2024 from 9:00am to 12:00pm	Fondazzjoni Sebħ premises, Ħamrun	In-person
Understanding Local Legislation, Church and State Policies on Abuse, and Safeguarding Code of Conduct	8th November – 15th November 2024	–	Recorded material accessible on our Moodle platform

Assessment Period:

Assessment	Available From	Due by
Short Multiple-Choice Online Exam	15th November 2024	22nd November 2024
Reflective Journal	15th November 2024	16th December 2024

Group 2

Lecturing Period

Session	Date & Time	Venue	Mode of Delivery
Understanding Types and Indicators of Abuse, Responding to Disclosures, and Safeguarding Principles	14th November 2024 from 9:00am to 12:00pm	Fondazzjoni Sebħ premises, Ħamrun	In-person
Understanding Local Legislation, Church and State Policies on Abuse, and Safeguarding Code of Conduct	14th November – 21st November 2024	–	Recorded material accessible on our Moodle platform

Assessment Period:

Assessment	Available From	Due by
Short Multiple-Choice Online Exam	21st November 2024	28th November 2024
Reflective Journal	21st November 2024	6th January 2025

This course has three exit certificate options:

Certificate of Attendance

A Certificate of Attendance will be awarded to students who attend the in-person session, watch all the recorded material, and do not submit any course assessments.

Certificate of Participation

A Certificate of Participation will be awarded to students who attend the in-person session, watch all the recorded material, and pass from short multiple-choice online quiz.

Certificate of Achievement

A Certificate of Achievement will be awarded to students who attend the in-person session, watch all the recorded material, and pass from short multiple-choice online quiz and written assignment.

Only participants who receive a Certificate of Achievement will be awarded an MQF certification.

EQF/MQF Level: Level 4

Accreditation Category: Further Education Programme

Total ECTS: 2 ECTS

Teaching Institutions: Safeguarding Commission in collaboration with the Pastoral Formation Institute

Awarding Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

Language: Applicants must understand in both Maltese and English.

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

Getting to Know Bible as a Parent for Iklin Parish

10/10/2024 Iklin Parish Centre

Iklin parents whose children are attending catechism classes

Target Audience Age: 18+

Date and Time	Session	Mode of Delivery	Venue
–	Introduction – What is the Bible?	Pre-Recorded Lecture	–
–	Transmitting the Faith as a Parent	Pre-Recorded Lecture	–
–	How to Pray Using the Bible with Your Children	Pre-Recorded Lecture	–
–	The Central Place of Holy Scripture in the Liturgy	Pre-Recorded Lecture	–
26th January 2025 9:30am – 11:00am	Practical Seminar	In-person	Iklin Parish Centre

The Sacrament of Baptism

08/10/2024

New parents

Target Audience Age: 18+

The course will be delivered online through a series of recorded videos accessible on our VLE platform.

Session	Theme
Session 1	The Theology of Baptism – What is Baptism?
Session 2	The Rite of Baptism
Session 3	Living out the promises of Baptism

This course has one exit certificate options:

Certificate of Attendance

The student will receive a Certificate of Attendance when watching all recorded lectures available on VLE platform.

Awarding Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

Language: Applicants must be fluent in Maltese and have basic proficiency in English.

Digital: Applicants must be digitally literate, especially on how to access the internet and use office suites.

Ħarbex

24/09/2024

Dan il-kors hu eliġibbli għall-iskema Get Formed! Din l-iskema trodd lura 70% tal-ispejjeż tal-kors lill-istudent ladarba jlesti l-kors. Għal iktar informazzjoni, żur: https://pfi.edu.mt/get-formed/.

Jekk qatt pruvajt tħarbex żewġ akkordji, xi melodija, jew xi biċċa lirika bil-Malti, dan huwa l-kors għalik!

Ħarbex huwa kors ta’ 3 workshops li l-Akkademja tal-Mużika Sagra Francesco Azopardi qed torganizza b’kollaborazzjoni mal-Pastoral Formation Institute u l-Malta Catholic Youth Network (MCYN) għal żgħażagħ bejn 18-35 sena u individwi li huma involuti f’pastorali maż-żgħażagħ.

L-għan tal-kors hu li jservi ta’ gwida u ispirazzjoni sabiex tħaddem il-ħiliet mużikali u litterali li diġà hemm fik biex jinkitbu għanjiet ġodda għat-talba tal-quddies. Se jkollna magħna għadd ta’ saċerdoti u lajċi li se jaqsmu magħna riżorsi u testimonjanzi li se jħeġġuna nifhmu l-attitudni tagħna fid-diversi mumenti li ngħixu f’din it-talba. Flimkien se jkollna mumenti li fihom se nkunu qed nerfgħu qlubna ‘l fuq, kif aħna mistiedna nagħmlu f’kull quddies.

Ħinijiet ta’ inkontri ma’ xulxin mhumiex se jkunu neqsin, u xejn inqas ħinijiet allokati biex nibdew inħarbxu xi ħaġa wkoll, kemm b’mod individwali, kif ukoll ma’ ħaddieħor. Għandna xewqa kbira li, flimkien magħkom, nixegħlu mqar fjamma t’interess u ta’ bidu.

Żgħażagħ bejn 18 – 35 sena u individwi li huma involuti f’pastorali maż-żgħażagħ.

The workshops will be held on Saturdays from 8:30am – 3:00pm

Data	Sessjoni
Saturday 18th January 2025	L-Ordinarju fil-Quddiesa
Saturday 15th February 2025	L-Adorazzjoni
Saturday 15th March 2025	Il-Liturġija tas-Sigħat

Dan il-kors għandu tip ta’ ċertifikat wieħed:

1. Ċertifikat ta’ Partiċipazzjoni

Sabiex jinkiseb Ċertifikat ta’ Partiċipazzjoni, l-istudenti huma meħtieġa jattendu għal tnejn mit-tlett workshops li qed jiġu organizzati kif ukoll jikkomponu mużika u/jew jiktbu lirika ġdida.

Dan il-kors qed jiġu provdut mill-Akkademja tal-Mużika Sagra Francesco Azzopardi f’kollaborazzjoni tal-Istitut tal-Formazzjoni Pastorali.

L-applikanti għandhom ikollom bażi tajba tal-lingwa Maltija u ta’ teknika awdjo-viżiva.

Liturgical Singing for Priests

24/09/2024

This course is intended to offer practical aides and musical preparation to deacons and priests of the Roman Catholic Church (latin rite) for better singing during the liturgy.

Deacons and Priests

Target Audience Age: 18+

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

Date	Lecture Title
28th April 2025	Singing in the Liturgy
5th May 2025	Mass Repertoire and the Liturgy of the Hours 1
12th May 2025	Mass Repertoire and the Liturgy of the Hours 2
19th May 2025	Gregorian Chant and the Singing of Psalms
26th May 2025	Basic Gregorian Repertoire 1
2nd June 2025	Basic Gregorian Repertoire 2

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 after passing a 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, as well as after passing a short practical examination.

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

To be eligible for this course applicants must either be deacons or priests including seminarians in their final formation years of the Roman Catholic Church (latin rite). They must also be proficient in both Maltese and English.