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Apply now to begin your studies in September 2025

Certificate in Catechesis
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This two-year course is for catechists and for those who wish to transmit the Catholic faith to others. 

The Light of Truth Certificate in Catechesis prepares you for these essential roles:

  • catechetical work in your parish, school, or diocese

  • understanding and communicating the Catholic Faith to adults, youth, and children in face of cultural challenges

  • teaching, witnessing to, and accompanying others in their journey of faith

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It is designed for new or experienced catechists who wish to gain a greater understanding of their mission in the Church and of the mysteries of faith which they transmit to others in a changing cultural context. It equips them to share their faith with confidence, passion, and in faithfulness to the Catholic tradition, using the sources of catechesis. 

 

Those applying would include catechists, children's Liturgy leaders, parents, and everyone passionate about passing on the Catholic faith to others. No previous qualification is required to sign up for the programme. 

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This certificate is offered  by the Dominican Sisters of St Joseph, UK. Their teaching, substantial yet accessible to all, is the fruit of their 25 years of experience in catechesis and catechists training at the service of the Church. Sign up to experience the beauty of an authentic Dominican formation.

Watch our open evening video
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The Light of Truth Certificate in Catechesis is approved
by the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales
for the formation process of those who will be instituted
as catechists under the authority of their diocesan Bishop.

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Course Description

The Certificate in Catechesis aims to provide a foundation of knowledge and practical skills necessary to catechists, and adapted to their cultural and ecclesial context. It covers essential aspects of the doctrine of faith, of the liturgy and the sacraments, of the moral life and of prayer. It also forms catechists to engage in practical ways in missionary, kerygmatic, and liturgical catechesis, relating it to evangelisation and to the principles and practice of accompaniment. The course’s parts are divided according to the Directory for Catechesis’ definition of the catechist as a teacher, witness and accompanier (cf. DC 113). The first year is concerned with the catechist as teacher and aims to ground students in a basic understanding of the Catholic faith and of its sources, so that they are confident in communicating this faith to others. The second year considers the catechist firstly as a witness to faith through a life rooted in Christ, in grace and prayer, and secondly as an accompanier in faith, called to journey with others in charity and navigate specific pastoral situations with knowledge and sensitivity. Two in-person days - a formation day and a retreat day - are offered each year as part of the certificate. They provide an opportunity for the students to meet in a prayerful environment and deepen their learning experience.

Modules

Each module consists of 9 teaching sessions of 2 hours each, presented live, recorded and permanently accessible. The sessions are accompanied by summary notes and a library of resources. In the second year, accompaniment modules are elective. Students choose two modules out of four options: one module on the principles of accompaniment, and one module on accompaniment in action. YEAR 1 Module 1: Introduction to Catechesis - the Transmission of Faith Module 2: Teaching the Word of God - Revelation and Scripture Module 3: Teaching God - God, Creation, and Salvation in Christ. Module 4: Teaching the Church - her Nature, Mission, and Sacraments YEAR 2 Module 5: Witnessing by Life - the Human Person and the Life of Grace Module 6: Witnessing by Prayer - Spirituality, Liturgy, and Devotions Module 7a (elective): Principles of Accompaniment - Catechesis for Mission Module 7b (elective): Principles of Accompaniment - the Art of Communication Module 8a (elective): Accompaniment in Action - Catechising Adults Module 8b (elective): Accompaniment in Action - Catechising Children and Youth

Dates for 2025-2026

The course begins each September. The online sessions are delivered on Tuesday evenings for year 1 and on Thursday evenings for year 2, from 7 to 9pm. Induction Evening: 26th August 2025 at 7pm Module 1: Tuesday 2nd September - Tuesday 28th October Break Module 2: Tuesday 11th November - Tuesday 16th December Christmas Break Module 2: Tuesday 6th January - Tuesday 20th January Break Module 3: Tuesday 3rd February - Tuesday 31st March Easter Break Module 4: Tuesday 21st April - Tuesday 16th June Two in-person days take place each year. A Formation Day will take place in October 2025 A Retreat Day will take place in June 2026 *In the event of unexpected and unavoidable circumstances online sessions/assessments may be rescheduled. In this instance the online teaching session may be moved to another evening on a given week or, if necessary, recorded and uploaded for student access.

Fees

The fee for the online delivery of the course is £495 per year, payable in installments and subject to annual review. This fee does not cover the cost of the in-person formation days, which is extra and payable directly to the venue or to the Dominican Sisters of St Joseph. The teaching content of the in-person days is accessible online by all registered students. Should attendance to the Certificate in Catechesis be deferred on a given academic year, Light of Truth will honour the fee amount applicable at the time of enrolment. In the unlikely event that the Certificate is cancelled before the commencement of the academic year, Light of Truth will refund all fees. Furthermore, in the event that the Certificate is cancelled after the academic year has begun, Light of Truth will refund fees pro-rata for sessions already completed.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course students will: 1. Consider the role of the catechist as a missionary vocation of proclamation of the Gospel at the service of the Church. 2. Be able to articulate central doctrines of the Catholic Faith clearly, confidently and accurately. 3. Understand how to use the Sacred Scriptures and the Catechism of the Catholic Church both for personal faith formation and the planning of catechetical input. 4. Understand the importance of personal faith formation, both intellectual and spiritual, to their work as a catechist. 5. Be able to discern and devise their own catechetical approach, adapted to their pastoral circumstance, while adhering to a kerygmatic, catechumenal, and missionary style of catechesis. 6. Have confidence in navigating pastoral situations related to their specific catechetical ministry in awareness of people’s needs, in the practice of the art of accompaniment. 7. Be able to evaluate the role of the catechist in relation to and in communion with others in the parish and the diocese.

Assessment and Accessibility

Each module is assessed through a 10-minute oral conversation with a tutor, aimed at evaluating knowledge of the kerygmatic truths and pastoral skill, creativity, and adaptability in communicating them. The doctrinal and pastoral knowledge gained from each module is also assessed with an online questionnaire, completed before the oral examination. This questionnaire requires the students to answer multiple-choice questions and to write short paragraphs relating to the content of the module. Students are encouraged to reflect on their learning process through a personal journal which will not be read or assessed as part of the course but will inform the discussion and reflection in the oral examination. Provisions are made to make the delivery and assessment of the course as accessible as possible to students who have impairments or specific needs. Optional individual tutorials are offered to the students who wish to receive extra help, deepen their understanding of the content, or discuss practical approaches to catechesis.

Application Process

Fill out the online Application Form below, and we will get in touch with you to carry out the next steps of registration on our course.

Find out more

If you would like more details about the course, please contact Sr Cooey: enquiry@lightoftruth.uk

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