Get Your Pastoral Liturgy Certificate

21 August 2008

The Clifton Diocese Department for Liturgy sends news of a pastoral liturgy course.

The aim is of the course is to form pastoral liturgists for every parish community. It is designed to provide formation, creative skill development and education in the field of liturgy, offering a programme that allows for a diversity of goals for both laity and clergy.
 
Jane Smith, one of the students who previously completed the course said, “Doing the liturgy course has given me a much better understanding of the different ministries and how they are important in making good Liturgy. The lectures have been interesting and doing the essays encouraged wider reading, helped me to consolidate learning and really think things through. It’s been great to meet with people from other parishes and talk about different experiences.”

Another successful student, Marguerite Holliday said, “I have really enjoyed the course. It has fed and nurtured the music ministry I'm involved in at Holy Rood in Swindon and helped me to understand something of the origins, history and formation of the liturgies we celebrate and their importance within our faith.”

The course director, Father Michael Fountaine, says that his wish would be to have an accredited pastoral liturgist in every parish.

Weston-super-Mare parishioner Jean Davies, “Coming to this course with quite a varied background in liturgy and sacramental work but very little formal qualifications in either I found the course very useful. It encouraged me to take new ideas and approaches back into my work in the parish. Having done the course gives me a sense of being ‘credible’, that my thoughts are respected in a way I didn’t think they were before. The course covers a lot of ground but shows the student how to go further into the topics. I think it would be very useful for anyone wishing to work in liturgy or sacramental formation.”

Sheila Pollard is another who passed the course last yeay.  She said, "I have found studying for this course very enjoyable. The sessions have been lively and I have learned a lot. The course has given me the confidence to share what I have learned both in the parish and at the school where I work."

Taught over two years on twelve Saturdays each year, the course is delivered by staff drawn from the diocese and Bristol’s Wesley College, where the teaching takes place.

The next two-year course begins on Saturday 27 September and information will be received by parishes shortly.  If you would like further information, please contact Father Michael Fountaine, Director of the Department for Liturgy or Doreen Wyatt, Administrator of the Department for Liturgy.

Download the leaflet and application form in the mulitmedia panel on the right.