At present, we are not accepting applications for Media and the New Evangelisation. The School is planning to offer the course again in Autumn 2017.
Media and the New Evangelisation
Thursday 13th – Sunday 16th October 2016
One Year distance-learning course1 with a 4-day residential weekend.
The residential weekend acts as an introduction to the course or as a stand-alone weekend experience.
Pope Francis encourages us to respond to the ‘great and thrilling’ challenge presented by the revolution taking place in the media and new media. This distance-learning, part-time course will enable you to respond to these challenges and opportunities with critical insight, energy and imagination. The aim of this one year course is to teach you the craft of transmitting the faith using the media in ways that lead others to personally encounter Jesus. ‘Media and the New Evangelisation’ has been designed by experienced practitioners in the media and new media.
Media and the New Evangelisation
‘The revolution taking place in communications media and in information technologies represents a great and thrilling challenge; may we respond to that challenge with fresh energy and imagination as we seek to share with others the beauty of God.’
Pope Francis, Communication at the Service of an Authentic Culture of Encounter. 1 June 2014.
Through the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation Jesus has given each one of us the capacity to communicate, with the Holy Spirit, not just His saving words and deeds but the Word of God Himself. Therefore, the approach taken by this course is not to use the power of the media and new media to proselytise, recruit or indoctrinate but to enable the life-giving encounter between the person and Jesus Christ.
Who is the course for?
The Media and New Evangelisation course is suitable for those who want to develop and use their God-given capacity to communicate the Word of God through the media. It will help you respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by the media revolution for transmitting the faith with critical insight, energy and imagination.
What does the course cover?
Media and the New Evangelisation is an applied course covering knowledge and understanding of magisterial teaching on communication and the media. The Church’s doctrine and ethics on the media are the foundation for formation in the attitudes and practical skills required to use creatively and effectively a range of media and new media in the New Evangelisation.
The key to unlocking our capacity to use the media to communicate the Word of God is to understand and practice our vocation, given as a right and duty at baptism, to proclaim the Gospel. To this end, the course will guide and form students in the authentic transmission of the Faith. This will involve learning the intellectual, affective and practical knowledge, attitudes and skills that nurture in ourselves and others this transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.
How do I take the course?
You study mainly from home, following prepared texts and online. You attend an initial introductory weekend in the beautiful setting of the Abbey at Buckfast. The Benedictine prayer life of the monastic community, including daily Mass, Vespers and Compline is central to the time students and staff spend together at Buckfast, which is steeped in monastic history. The natural beauty of the location and the wonderful hospitality of the site make for a unique residential time of prayer, learning and community fellowship.
As well as having the opportunity to spend time with experienced teachers during your stays at the Abbey, you have the support of dedicated personal academic tutors who provide regular guidance and feedback on your work.
Study for the course will also include the opportunity for residential practical sessions led by a producer of TV and radio for EWTN and leading practitioners in Catholic new media.
Course tutor: Rev Deacon Nick Donnelly
How much will it cost?
The cost for 2016 is £740 for the 1-year course. There is also an application fee of £50 payable upon application. The cost for the 4-day course alone is £345 with an application fee of £20.
Cancellation Rights:
You have a 14 day cooling off period which starts from the date of application.
When does it start?
The course begins with the residential study time at Buckfast Abbey which begins at 5.30pm on Thursday 13th October 2016. For those who are taking the one year, three module, distance-learning course, a Sunday morning lecture introduces the course structure before finishing with Holy Mass on Sunday morning 16th October 2016. The morning lecture is not required of those present for the residential weekend experience and their time is free before Holy Mass.
How much time will I need to spend on study every week?
We ask you to devote four to five hours to study per week.
How long will each module2 take?
Each module will take approximately 12 weeks to complete.
What work do I need to do?
For each module you will be asked to write a 2,500 word essay. You will be guided as you work towards this by your tutor.
What level is the course?
The course is at the level of a first year university course. An added advantage of doing the course is that it will exempt you from one module of the School of Annunciation’s Diploma, if you wish to go on to take that course.
How to apply:
Please click here to download and application form.
To apply online, please click here.
1 Course – this term refers to an entire series of studies which may result in a qualification, for example the Diploma in the New Evangelisation (referred to as a program in US terminology).
2 Module – one of the units which make up a complete course, for example Metaphysics (referred to as a course in US terminology).