Certificate in Spirituality Course Aims and Focus
- To train the participants in creative ways of bringing the gospel to young people. The course offers transferrable youth ministry skills through a series of experiential workshops and lectures.
- Promotes the personal and spiritual development of the participants
Course Topics
- Introduction/course ethos – theological, educational and anthropological underpinnings of the course
- Safeguarding
- Adolescent Development Piaget, Erikson, Marcia, Vygotsky
- Understanding the social media culture and influences on today’s teens
- Holistic understanding of mindfulness and wellbeing
- Christian meditation and young people
- Class facilitation skills, group work, and practical approaches
- Practical use of music
- Practical use of drama and ice breakers
- Use of YouTube, video and film
- The Use of Story
- Youth culture and difficult questions
- Images of God. How our images of God affects our retreat facilitation and youth ministry.
- The universe story, ecological awareness and responsibilities
Learning Progression
1 or 2 year Diploma in Spirituality: Applied youth ministry and facilitation
This course will be delivered using a blended learning format
CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS July 28, 2023
Zoom meetings starts from 9.00 to 17:00. Unless stated.
August 26 Orientation Day – Zoom
September 2 Seomra na Cullachta, St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth
September 16 Zoom
September 30 Seomra na Cullachta, St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth
October 7 Zoom
October 14 Seomra na Cullachta, St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth
October 21 Seomra na Cullachta, St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth
November 4 Zoom
November 11 Zoom
December 9 Morning only Zoom
2023
January 13. Zoom
April 13 9.00 – 15.30 Closing Day Seomra na Cullachta, St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth This day is optional for certificate students
Admission Criteria
Course Pre-Requisites:
- Ongoing commitment and a basic knowledge of their Christian Faith
- An openness to ongoing personal faith development and reflective practice
- A general awareness of the influences on adolescents today
- An aptitude and openness in working with young people
- An openness to using culturally and youth appropriate methodologies
- A proven academic ability to undertake a level 6 Certificate
- A good standard of written and spoken English
Cost of Certificate
1 Year €800
(This includes a €100 registration fee, student card, library access and resources)
Can be paid in full at the beginning of the first semester or in two instalments, €400 BEFORE 29th August and €400 BEFORE January 12).
Module 1: Adolescent development, psychology and culture
Learning outcomes
Students will
- Demonstrate an understanding of the complex period that is adolescence and the relevant learning theorists
- Describe how youth ministers can help adolescents cope with the challenges they may face, such as anxiety, depression, bullying and alcohol or substance abuse
- Appraise and critique the implications of contemporary culture in dealing with young people in retreat and pastoral situations
- Discuss and evaluate the effect of social media on young people. Propose ways in which young people can use social media can enhance the Christian way of live
- Identify the main characteristics of today’s understanding of the spiritual, psychological and social development of adolescents
- Identify ways of engaging with young people who are disenchanted with the institutional Church and who no longer practice their faith
- Identify the ways in which the Shekinah course can respond to the issues outlined in the wellness strand of the school curriculum – psychological and spiritual health of young people
Module 2: Applied skills in youth ministry
Learning outcomes
Students will
- Identify the skills and practice to engage in a multi-disciplinary approach to youth ministry.
- Illustrate the value of facilitation skills over a teaching or preaching method
- Identify the skills needed to develop an understanding of group management and boundaries
- Evaluate the key areas needed to enhance skills and practice in youth ministry
- Examine ways of finding language and symbols to engage young people with gospel and faith values
- Identify the relevant professional protocols when dealing with schools or parishes
- Significantly enhance their effectiveness in ministering to adolescents through a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent in a rapidly changing culture
Module 3: Approaches to theology, scripture, spirituality and reflective practice
Learning outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Examine ways of finding language and symbols to engage young people with gospel and faith values
- Relate the practice of meditation to an understanding of the Christian mystical tradition
- Examine how the image of God developed in the Old Testament and how it achieved its fullest expression in the person of Jesus
- Compare and contrast the difference between descriptive and reflective writing
- Significantly enhance their effectiveness in ministering to adolescents through a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent in a rapidly changing culture
Module 4: Practical placement
Learning outcomes
Students will
- Show knowledge, ability and comprehension of the characteristics involved in organising and preparing a youth retreat or youth ministry programme
- Demonstrate their ability to apply their knowledge and comprehension of the necessary elements in youth retreat and youth ministry programmes to address the complexities of the current cultural situation for today’s youth
- Demonstrate their ability to design and implement an effective evaluation methodology for their work
- Demonstrate their ability to reflect on their practical experiences and make appropriate changes to their practice.
STUDENT WORKLOAD AND CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT
Students are required to attend all 9.5 course days. The Saturday workshops provide students with opportunities to ask questions that motivate reflection, inquiry and further research. Students will take turns to prepare and facilitate icebreakers or reflective involvement exercises, end of day prayer and Christian Meditation
3 Essays, 1,000 words
Students will submit photographs of 4 completed craft assignments together with instructions for each one
Set by course tutors at the end of each day
Preparation and presentation of 1 supervised retreat online. This will be followed by a meeting with the supervisor
Students are responsible for the arrangement of a 2 placements in a school or parish. See handbook for details
