Parish & Church entities – Pastoral Formation Institute

Sport and Community Building

16/05/2024 Catholic Institute, Floriana

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

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

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

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

Target Audience Age: 18+

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

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

Lecturers: Sr Rachel Camilleri ASGM

Mode of Attendance: Part-Time

Part 1: Theory

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

Part 2: Practicum

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

Assessment: Activity Observation 40% & Written Activity Report 60

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

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

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

Duration: 5 sessions part-time including:

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

Click here to view the PFI`s Grading System

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

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

EQF/MQF Level: Level 5

Accreditation Category: Higher Education Programme

Total ECTS: 2 ECTS

Award Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

Teaching Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

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

Applicants must be in possession of:

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

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

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

Values in Sports Ministry

07/03/2024 Catholic Institute, Floriana

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

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

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

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

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

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

Target Audience Age: 18+

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

Code	Mode of Delivery	Value
ASM5003	Weekly Lectures	2 ECTS

Lecturers: Mr David Azzopardi & Mr Karl Cortis

Mode of Attendance: Part-Time

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

Easter Recess between 25th March and 7th April 2024

Assessment: Written Assessment

Duration: 7 sessions part-time including:

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

Click here to view the PFI`s Grading System

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

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

EQF/MQF Level: Level 5

Accreditation Category: Award

Total ECTS: 2 ECTS

Award Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

Teaching Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

Applicants must be in possession of:

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

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

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

Award in Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults

17/02/2024

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

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

If you are a registered pastoral worker with the Archdiocese of Malta, you can benefit from a 33% discount on this course. Start your application process as a pastoral worker on parrocci.knisja.mt/pfi

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.

February 2024

Lecturing Period

Mode of Delivery	Date & Time	Venue
In-person	17^th February 2024	Archbishop`s Curia, Floriana
Recorded Material	17^th – 26^th February 2024	Recorded Videos on the VLE platform

Assessment Period:

Assessment	Available From	Due by
Short Multiple-Choice Online Exam	26^th February 2024	Monday 4^th March 2024
Reflective Journal	26^th February 2024	Monday 26^th March 2024

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 written assessment

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

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

Language: Primary level understanding of Maltese and English.

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

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

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

Sports as a Means for Holistic Development

18/01/2024 Catholic Institute, Floriana

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

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

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

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

Target Audience Age: 18+

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

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

Lecturers: Rev Bernard Micallef

Mode of Attendance: Part-Time

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

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

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

Final Award: Award in Sports Ministry

Duration: 7 lectures, part-time including:

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

Click here to view the PFI`s Grading System

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

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

EQF/MQF Level: Level 5

Accreditation Category: Award

Total ECTS: 2 ECTS

Award Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

Teaching Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

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

Applicants must be in possession of:

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

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

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

Accompanying Persons Towards Christian Initiation

15/01/2024

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

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

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

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

Target audience: 25+

Code	Mode of Delivery
ICM4001	Asynchronous

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Principles of Spiritual Accompaniment

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

The role of the sponsor through the RCIA process

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Award in Creating & Animating Prayer Spaces

21/11/2023 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 Creating and Animating Prayer Spaces is accredited at EQF/MQF Level 5, as a Higher 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).

This course is designed to:

Equip 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 participants to accompany others and explore their faith, spirituality, and life’s essential questions in a safe, creative, and interactive way.
Lead 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 centre, a parish hall, the workplace, an open-plan area, or an outdoor place.

Click here to view and download a detailed course description

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 counsellors,
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 over six 3-hour sessions.

Lectures will be held from 17:00 – 20:00

	Date	Session Title
Tuesday	21.11,2023	Introduction to Prayer
Thursday	23.11.2023	The Values of Prayer Spaces
Tuesday	28.11.2023	The Purpose of Prayer Spaces and Prayer Spaces Theology
Thursday	30.11.2023	Preparing for the setting of Prayer Spaces
Tuesday	05.12.2023	Creating Prayer Activities
Thursday	07.12.2023	Recruiting and training a prayer space team, running a Prayer Space and follow up

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 (40% of global assessment);
and successfully complete 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).

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.

CPD – Formation Course on Liturgy For Catechists

28/10/2023 Refectory Hall, The Archbishop`s Curia, Floriana, & Ċentru Parrokkjali Santu r-Rokku, Valletta

While nurturing an understanding of the mystery of Christ, catechesis also assists in comprehending and experiencing liturgical celebrations. These formative sessions help catechists grasp the importance of liturgy in the Church’s life, introducing a deeper knowledge of sacraments and sacramental life, especially the Eucharist – the source and summit of Christian life. Moreover, this course aims to offer an interpretation of sacred rites in light of salvific events, in accordance with Church Tradition and provides an introduction to the meaning of liturgical signs. Participants, primarily catechists, will thus be better prepared to share the acquired knowledge within their own communities.

Catechists
Other persons interested in the subject, may also apply.

Target Audience Age: 18+

Session format

Lectures will be on Saturdays from 9:30am to 11:30am starting from 28th October 2023.

Date	Lecture Title
28/10/2023	Introduction to Liturgy
18/11/2023	The Liturgical Year
27/01/2024	Baptism
24/02/2024	The Sacrament of Confirmation
27/04/2024	The Eucharist
25/05/2024	The Practical Aspects Related To The Liturgical Celebration for Children

This course has two exit certificate options:

Certificate of Attendance

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

2. Certificate of Participation

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

Final Award: Formation Course on Liturgy For Catechists

Awarding Institute: Pastoral Formation Institute

Duration: 6 Saturdays

Qualifications

Each application will be evaluated based on its individual merits. The Pastoral Formation Institute welcomes a diverse array of qualifications, aiming to assess applications primarily in terms of academic potential. We consider a broad spectrum of academic, vocational, and professional qualifications, alongside relevant work experiences and skills.

Pastoral Initiatives in Lent

25/10/2023

The participants will engage in preparations for the imminent Lenten season, during which the Diakonia, spiritual, and cultural dimensions of this significant period in the Church will be emphasized and explored. This preparation aims to equip and enrich them for their pastoral roles in their respective parishes and communities, enabling them to guide others effectively on their journey during this special time of grace.

Upon acquiring new insights and skills, participants will be encouraged to collaborate with their parish priests in organizing and planning a schedule for Lent for their respective groups. This collaborative effort seeks to ensure a well-rounded and meaningful Lenten experience for the parish community, incorporating elements of Diakonia, spirituality, and culture to foster a deeper connection with the season’s spiritual significance.

Pastoral Workers, especially those involved in decision-making bodies.
Religious people and Priests
Individuals interested in the subject

Target Audience Age: 18+

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

Date	Session
10th January 2023	Culture in Lent
17th January 2023	Spirituality in Lent
24th January 2023	Diakonia & Prayer Experiences

This course has two exit certificate options:

Certificate of Attendance

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

Certificate of Achievement

To obtain a Certificate of Achievement, students must:

attend a minimum 80% of all contact hours
pass written assessment

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.

Introduction to Parish Ministry

25/10/2023

“If the parish proves capable of self-renewal and constant adaptivity, it continues to be ‘the Church living in the midst of the homes of her sons and daughters”
Pope Francis.

Throughout this course, participants will explore the parish as a significant symbol of God’s presence in our community. The course will start by delving into the contemporary reality of today’s parish. Participants will then proceed to learn about the different roles within the Church; identifying the decision-making bodies of the Church and different ministries in a parish, highlighting the importance of everyone’s participation. This will include a discussion on effective teamwork and service to others. Attendees will then be introduced to the principles of communal discernment, examining its definition, tools, and practical applications. The course will conclude by presenting a model of communal discernment, elucidating the different roles within it, and outlining the composition of discerning groups.

Specifically tailored for those actively involved in parish ministry, the course seeks to inspire a deeper commitment to the renewal of parishes, aligning them as vibrant evangelizing entities in today’s society, guided by recent teachings on parish life.

If you are a registered pastoral worker with the Archdiocese of Malta, you can benefit from a 57% discount on this course. Start your application process as a pastoral worker on parrocci.knisja.mt/pfi.

Pastoral Workers, especially those involved in decision-making bodies.
Individuals interested in the subject

Target Audience Age: 19+

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

Dates	Session
31st January 2024	Today’s Parish – What is a Parish?
7th February 2024	The different roles in the Church & Ministries in a Parish
21st February 2024	Executive and decision-making bodies in a Parish
28th February 2024	What is communal discernment? What are the tools used?
6th March 2024	A discerning method

This course has three exit certificate options:

1. Certificates of Attendance

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

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

3. Certificate of Achievement
The student will receive a Certificate of Achievement when:

attending a minimum 80% of all contact hours
passing short multiple-choice online exam and written assessment

Language: Applicants are required have an understanding of Maltese and be fluent in English.
Digital: Applicants are required to be digitally literate especially, in office suites.

Introduction to Diakonia

25/10/2023

This course will explore the roots of Diakonia in; Sacred Scripture and early Christian communities. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the relationship between Diakonia, faith and prayer whilst delving into key areas of Catholic Social Teaching. Participants will also examine the evolution of Diakonia in Malta and learn about available services.

If you are a registered pastoral worker with the Archdiocese of Malta, you can benefit from a 38% discount on this course. Start your application process as a pastoral worker on parrocci.knisja.mt/pfi

This course is intended for:

Individuals who are already involved in Diakonia and wish to deepen their involvement in it.
Individuals who are interested in becoming involved in Diakonia.
Individuals who are interested in offering Diakonia-related services through a Church entity that they form part of.

_{N.B. completing this course does not entitle the student to automatically become a pastoral operator engaged in Djakonija within any specific parish. Such appointments are made at the discretion of the Parish Priest/Chaplain of the respective Parish/community.}

Target Audience Age: 18+

The following topics will be explored:

Biblical meaning of the word Diakonia and the word in the Old Testament;
Djakonija in the New Testament with special reference to Acts;
Djakonija in the first communities – the link between kerygma, koinonia, diakonia and liturgia;
Personal prayer life leads me to Diakonia;
The link between faith and life is one of the cornerstones of Christian theology and can be described in a variety of ways. For St Paul, “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”;
Evangelisation, djakonija and the digital age;
Malta’s reality has changed – what are today’s sociological ‘pains’?;
The Preferential Option for the Poor & the four pillars of Catholic social teaching; human dignity common good, subsidiarity and solidarity;
How the Church in Malta was a pioneer in the Diakonia sector;
What Diakonia services are being offered today? What are the different types of professionals working in this field?

This course has three exit certificate options:

Certificate of Participation

will be awarded to students that pass from short multiple-choice exam on each topic.

Certificate of Achievement

will be awarded to students that pass from short multiple-choice exam on each topic and pass from written assessment.

Qualifications

The Pastoral Formation Institute accepts a wide range of academic, vocational, and professional qualifications as well as work and other appropriate experiences and skills.

Language Competence

A primary level understanding of Maltese and English is required.

Digital Competence

Ability to access the internet and use a word processor is required.

_{Every application will be considered on its individual merits and evaluated on the basis of academic potential.}