Formation for Mission (FFM) is a team of diocesan volunteers all passionate about helping the baptised members of Christ to fulfil their mission of evangelisation by offering formation.
One of FFM’s main task is to offer support for catechists and to provide for catechetical formation throughout the diocese.
The Team is currently organising events and courses aimed specifically at catechists but also widely open to all baptised adults. The team is also involved in finding and promoting good catechetical and training resources.
Wednesday Gospel Webinar
Group study: Unlocking the Sunday Gospel
in the light of the Church’s teaching
Every Wednesday, 7 to 8 pm
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“The definitive aim of Catechesis is to put people not only in touch but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ: only He can lead us to the love of the Father in the Spirit and make us share in the life of the Holy Trinity.”
From St John Paul II, Catechesi Tradendae 5
Events
To register on any of the events below please fill in this form
If you need assistance, you may email ffm @ portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
A retreat Day for all our diocesan catechists. Bring a packed lunch.
When: 10 am to 3 pm
Where: St Dominic’s Priory, Lymington (St Dominic’s Priory, Shirley Holms Road, Lymington, SO41 8NH)
To register please fill in this form
Our annual diocesan event is once more taking place in Portsmouth Cathedral, with a Mass of thanksgiving for all diocesan catechists celebrated by Bishop Philip Egan. The theme of the 2017 diocesan day is Holy Scripture and the keynote speaker is Fr Richard Ounsworth, OP. Lunch is provided.
When: 10 am to 4 pm
Where: Portsmouth Cathedral (Bishop Crispian Way, Portsmouth, PO1 3HG)
To register please fill in this form
A day for everyone involved in Children’s Liturgy of the Word to pray, receive formation, discover resources and share practice together. Bring a packed lunch.
The day will start with Mass at 9.30 am in the church.
When: 9.30 am to 3 pm
Where: St Bede’s Basingstoke (Popley Way, Basingstoke, Hampshire. RG24 9DX)
To register please fill in this form
Past Events
15th October 2016 - Diocesan Day for Catechists
On Saturday 15th October, the feast of St Teresa of Avila, we celebrated a wonderful Year of Mercy Jubilee for Catechists at the Cathedral. Bishop Philip led the pilgrimage through the Holy Door for around 100 Catechists from across the Diocese and gave a talk on Evangelising Catechesis. After an uplifting Mass, the bishop presented the Maryvale Certificate in Catechesis to five students who had successfully completed the course and also the Bachelor of Divinity with First Class Honours to Sister Mary Catherine, OP. After lunch, the Catechists had the opportunity to take part in two workshops to assist them in useful skills for their ministry within the Diocese.
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 1:8
Courses
- House on the Rock: seasonal and topical resources for faith-sharing groups, to be held over 6 meetings. More details
- Anchor: 3 simple parish-based courses on the sacraments of Baptism, Confession and the Eucharist. More details
- Maryvale RCIA Module: This module (1 course book) is intended for catechists involved or intending to be involved, in RCIA in their parishes. The module provides a solid foundation for understanding the different catechetical, pastoral, and liturgical dimensions of the RCIA process based on the Rites. Methods for communicating and planning effectively and for using the key sources for developing RCIA catechesis are given, as well as an explanation of the different responsibilities of those involved in RCIA and of how to equip oneself to meet these responsibilities. This module can be studied according to different formats, on your own or as a group of RCIA catechists, over a few meetings. If you are interested, contact ffm@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
- Ascension Press Scriptures Courses: DVDs and Course books are available for loan to your parish, to set up your own Bible study group. These courses are beautifully presented and easy to follow. Several parishes in the diocese have followed at least one of these. The most popular is the gateway study "Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible". Over 8 weeks, participants discover the narrative story in the Bible and how all the books relate to each other. See below under ‘Resources’ for a list of all the courses available. For more details, email: parishstudies@gmail.com
- Echoes: 11 sessions to train your parish catechists. This short course can be held in your parish or deanery, and aims at discovering the sources of our faith. If interested, contact ffm @ portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
- Science and Faith: We recommend to you the first English edition of an internationally successful Catholic internet-based course on the dialogue between Science and Faith. For more information, see the website here: www.scienceandfaithbcn.com/en
- The Maryvale Certificate in Catechesis (MCC) is starting on 18th November 2017 in Chandler's Ford. This 2 year course offers a comprehensive but accessible formation for catechists, strengthening and deepening both Faith knowledge and Catechetical method. The full details for this course can be downloaded here. If you are interested to join or wish to know more about the course, or have access to funding, contact Sr Veronica Brennan ffm@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk. More information can also be found on the Maryvale website: www.maryvale.ac.uk
- MA in Pastoral Theology from St Mary ’s University, Twickenham
Download poster - MA in Catholic Applied Theology from Maryvale Institute
Funding is available for these courses from the Living our Faith fund under certain conditions. If you want to apply for funding or wish to have more details, check the Living our Faith page and email ffm @ portsmouthdiocese.org.uk
Resources
In our Cathedral Discovery Centre, you can browse and order some of the resources below for your parish. Contact the Discovery Centre: cdc @ portsmouthcatholiccathedral.org.uk. Download our Resource Evaluation Tool to help you evaluate the content of catechetical resources. This tool lists essential truths of our Faith that should be present in some form in catechetical resources, in a way adapted to the age of the participants. Where they are not evident in resources, these elements can be supplemented by catechists and/or by using complementary resources.
This evaluation tool is limited to the content of resources. The method of catechesis, varying according to resources, is open to choice according to audiences and circumstances.
The list of resources below is not exhaustive and will be updated regularly, to help catechists in the Catholic diocese of Portsmouth. These are recommended among a variety of other good resources.
| RCIA | ADULT FORMATION |
The Catholicism series and The Ascension Press Scripture studies are available for use thanks to the Hampshire Downs Parish. If you are interested in finding out more, contact parishstudies @ gmail.com
Ascension Press Scripture studies available from the Hampshire Downs Parish
Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible (8 sessions) |
|
SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION |
CHILDREN’S LITURGY |
CHILDREN’S ON-GOING CATECHESIS |
“The fire of the Spirit is given in the form of tongues and leads us to believe in Jesus Christ who, by his death and resurrection, reveals and communicates to us the Father’s infinite mercy. On the lips of the catechist the first proclamation must ring out over and over: “Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you.”
Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium 164
Contact
Sr Hyacinthe Defos du Rau OP, Dominican Sisters of St Joseph, St Dominic’s Priory, Shirley Holms Road, Lymington, SO41 8NH. Tel. 01590 681 874.
email: ffm @ portsmouthdiocese.org.uk