Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Cardinal Pell to celebrate Mass for new English school

Cardinal Pell to celebrate Mass for new English school

Last updated on: September 3, 2014 at 6:00 am by CNA Daily News

Cardinal Pell to celebrate Mass for new English school 2014-09-03T06:00:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

London, England, Sep 3, 2014 / 12:00 am (CNA).- The School of the Annunciation, which prepares students for the new evangelization in England and Wales, will mark its official foundation on Sept. 8 with Mass celebrated by Australia’s Cardinal George Pell.

Cardinal Pell’s visit follows an “unexpectedly large number of applications” for the school’s two-year program, the school said Sept. 1.

The school’s director of studies, Caroline Farey said that the school now has over 30 students for its part-time distance-learning diploma in the new evangelization. Enrollment in the two-year program has far exceeded the administration’s expectations that its initial target of 20 students would be “unrealistic.”

Farey said the course content has “quality and relevance.” It was developed by Dr. Petroc Willey, a consultor for the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization.

The school, based at Buckfast Abbey in Devon, said it aims to help students “deepen their knowledge and appreciation of the Catholic faith.”

The School of the Annunciation is the only center for formation for the new evangelization in England and Wales. It features part-time residential formation at the abbey for both religious and lay people as well as online support to teach distance education courses.

Cardinal Pell has become a prominent figure in the Catholic Church. He is one of the eight cardinals advising Pope Francis on church reforms. He is also the Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy, which oversees the economic and administrative activities of Vatican City and the Holy See.

Monsignor Graham Bell will attend the foundation Mass, representing the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization.

In addition to the two-year diploma program, the school offers autumn session short courses on topics such as catechetics, Latin, and the relation of the new evangelization to media, sacred art, and apologetics. Summer sessions include courses in liturgy, philosophy, theology, and sacred art.

The school has already hosted its first summer sessions: five four-day courses intended to help students understand the relationship between philosophy and Christian faith. The courses aim to help students engage productively with non-Christians.

Dr. Andrew Beards, the School of the Annunciation’s academic director, said that many of the summer students were “inspired to continue with us” in the diploma program.

One student, Tim Clegg, said that Christians need guidance from scholars.

“As Christians, we need more than ever to be able to articulate our faith, our beliefs, our Catholicism. We need to be able to defend our position and dispel the myths and propaganda that swirl around the modern day media,” Clegg said.

Residential sessions are structured to harmonize with the monastic day and integrate academic work into the monastery’s religious life.

Summer student Callum Hall praised the courses for integrating Holy Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours into their schedule.

“This school is a must for anyone, no matter their age or their previous education,” Hall said. “I have no degree in either philosophy or theology, but I found that all the lectures were constantly being adapted to the needs of the students.”

The Sept. 8 date for the school’s official establishment was chosen because it falls on the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The school was consecrated to Mary on March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation.

More information is available at the school’s website www.schooloftheannunciation.com.

Europe

Previous Post

September 3, 2014

Pope approves new bishop for Syro-Malabar eparchy in India

Next Post

September 3, 2014 Islamist extremists capture two more cities in Nigeria

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the king of Babylon during the exile of the Israelites?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Darius Nebuchadnezzar Belshazzar Cyrus