The
Catholic Weekly
Online
Sydney
15 February 2004
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Birthday wishes for Aloysius
SA parishes merge
Focus on family
Gregorian Schola offers singers big chants
Gibson’s Passion ‘work of faith’, says cardinal
How to help create a ‘culture of peace’
Pregnant pause: The joy of showing our baby the way
There is a doctor in the house
Wollongong diocese buys site for high school
Boree log bush bash
Work in Catholic education brings honour for four
Bishop launches ‘significant’ new faith courses
$80,000 boost for drug fight
Editorial: Greatest story
Letters: Something special
Conversation: Fr Aiden Kelly, prison chaplain - Helping souls in a captive Congregation
On a walk with God ...
A credible Jesus
A biblical-based Mary
A life of Mercy with music
Care, prayer still very much in order
The Polding legacy
‘Catholic-only’ order denied
US-bound on the pitcher’s mound
Bishop launches ‘significant’ new faith courses
IMPACT: Bishop Porteous
By Marilyn Rodrigues
The impact of new youth ministry and adult faith education courses in Sydney “should not be underestimated”, says Bishop Julian Porteous.
The bishop, who is episcopal vicar for evangelisation and renewal, blessed the staff and teachers and launched the new certificate courses in youth ministry and adult faith education at the Catholic Adult Education Centre in Lidcombe.
“The provision of these courses for people of the Archdiocese of Sydney and beyond should not be underestimated,” he said.
“They mark a significant development; the provision of material for the formation of adults in the faith and the provision of means of training for a variety of forms of ministry within the Church.”
Bishop Porteous referred to the General Directory for Catechesis (1997 revision) which describes the goal of catechesis as putting “people not only in touch, but also in communion and intimacy, with Jesus Christ”.
“All evangelising activity is understood as promoting communion with Jesus Christ,” he said.
Fr John Flader, director of the education centre, said: “What we are trying to do at the centre is give education in the faith to adults of all ages.
“Only when we know our faith can we understand our belief and be convinced of the truth of it, and it nourishes our faith in God.
“It gives us strength for our role of evangelisation.
“The two purposes at this centre then are to strengthen our own faith, and enable us to be effective in spreading the faith.”
Peter Holmes, courses of study manager at the centre, is interested in offering ways to learn more about Catholic faith that are practical and impact on people’s everyday life.
“With every unit, every seminar we offer, we want you to go home knowing a little bit better what it is to follow Christ,” he said.
“We want people to use us a resource in their Christian living.”
The new units offered include introductions to philosophy and scripture, the Catechism, Catholic social teaching and Christian leadership.
Elective units on drugs, stress and depression, faith sharing and music, media and evangelisation and Theology of the Body will also be offered during the year.
For more information call the Catholic Adult Education Centre on 9643 3660 or visit www.caec.com.au