Formation
The Sion Youth foundation Year will involve many things, but one of the essential bits we’re focusing on is the role of learning. You’ll find yourself getting some quality teaching on all sorts of stuff. Read on to find out more…
We want to invest the best we have in you. We’ll have time in between missions and events for formation where we’ll spend plenty of time studying the Bible and the Faith of the Catholic Church. The teaching is a mixture between really practical leadership skills (like how to communicate) and a good grounding in theology. Don’t worry if academia isn’t exactly your thing – this teaching will stretch your minds but it’s also intended to be really accessible and relevant. Our hope is that it will set your hearts on fire and not just give you a headache.
If you want a more detailed picture of the teaching it will involve teachings given by Fr Simon Penhalagan, Michelle Moran, Sr Mary Paul Friemel, Ros Powell, Stewart Bewley, Alice Hall and other invited guests. Teachings are likely to cover:
1. introduction to scripture:
Mark Hart will help us to cover the whole of Salvation history as well as the Gospel of Matthew, Acts and Revelation. The point is to really get to know our Bibles and the God of the Bible. Whilst doing this there’ll be lots of space for discussion, questions, enjoying and thinking through what God says to us.
2. introduction to the sacraments:
Various speakers throughout the year will give input on the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, helping us to understand and engage with them at a deeper level.
3. key theological questions:
Ever wondered how God could be three and one at the same time or what and who Jesus was and is? What about all that stuff on the Cross, sacrifice, and Salvation or have you just got some questions on the work of the Holy Spirit. Did Jesus really intend to build his Church on a rock and what part does it play? We’ll look at all these ideas and questions, plus a few more besides!
4. tough questions:
There are lots of theological issues today from 'what about suffering?', hell, other religions, science etc., engaging with some of the modern objections to Christianity. We’ll spend time looking into some of these discussions and have time left over to debate the whole end of the world issue … if we’re still here.
5. apologetics:
We’ll also spend some time looking at some of the most engaging and classic objections to to the Catholic faith that are about today including Mary, the Papacy and Salvation.
6. theology of the body:
The world famous popular theologian, Christopher West, will be helping us to unpack who we are called to be as men and women and how that applies to vocation, sex and relationships.
7. theology of evangelisation:
The Church is mission. We will explore what this means for us and how we can proclaim the Gospel in all that we do and say.
8. communication:
Stewart Bewley and Michelle Moran will be teaching on the principles of communication, how to prepare and give talks, the key things to avoid and to aim for. This will provide a safe environment to give talks and receive feedback.
9. ‘praying for people so that stuff happens’:
Ros Powell and others will be giving teaching on hearing God’s voice, growing in the gift of prophecy, praying for healing of the body and heart, what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit and growing in the gifts of the Spirit. These sessions will be both biblical and practical.
10. leadership and values:
Over the 11 month period your mission team leader will be taking you through various character building exercises as well as teaching on what it means to be a servant hearted leader.
and finally… There’ll be a certain amount of flexibility involved! We’re doing everything we can to make the teaching exciting, deep and really practical. We believe that this stuff is important – the more we understand and believe in our heads, the better equipped we are to live it through our lives!
We want to invest the best we have in you. We’ll have time in between missions and events for formation where we’ll spend plenty of time studying the Bible and the Faith of the Catholic Church. The teaching is a mixture between really practical leadership skills (like how to communicate) and a good grounding in theology. Don’t worry if academia isn’t exactly your thing – this teaching will stretch your minds but it’s also intended to be really accessible and relevant. Our hope is that it will set your hearts on fire and not just give you a headache.
If you want a more detailed picture of the teaching it will involve teachings given by Fr Simon Penhalagan, Michelle Moran, Sr Mary Paul Friemel, Ros Powell, Stewart Bewley, Alice Hall and other invited guests. Teachings are likely to cover:
1. introduction to scripture:
Mark Hart will help us to cover the whole of Salvation history as well as the Gospel of Matthew, Acts and Revelation. The point is to really get to know our Bibles and the God of the Bible. Whilst doing this there’ll be lots of space for discussion, questions, enjoying and thinking through what God says to us.
2. introduction to the sacraments:
Various speakers throughout the year will give input on the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, helping us to understand and engage with them at a deeper level.
3. key theological questions:
Ever wondered how God could be three and one at the same time or what and who Jesus was and is? What about all that stuff on the Cross, sacrifice, and Salvation or have you just got some questions on the work of the Holy Spirit. Did Jesus really intend to build his Church on a rock and what part does it play? We’ll look at all these ideas and questions, plus a few more besides!
4. tough questions:
There are lots of theological issues today from 'what about suffering?', hell, other religions, science etc., engaging with some of the modern objections to Christianity. We’ll spend time looking into some of these discussions and have time left over to debate the whole end of the world issue … if we’re still here.
5. apologetics:
We’ll also spend some time looking at some of the most engaging and classic objections to to the Catholic faith that are about today including Mary, the Papacy and Salvation.
6. theology of the body:
The world famous popular theologian, Christopher West, will be helping us to unpack who we are called to be as men and women and how that applies to vocation, sex and relationships.
7. theology of evangelisation:
The Church is mission. We will explore what this means for us and how we can proclaim the Gospel in all that we do and say.
8. communication:
Stewart Bewley and Michelle Moran will be teaching on the principles of communication, how to prepare and give talks, the key things to avoid and to aim for. This will provide a safe environment to give talks and receive feedback.
9. ‘praying for people so that stuff happens’:
Ros Powell and others will be giving teaching on hearing God’s voice, growing in the gift of prophecy, praying for healing of the body and heart, what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit and growing in the gifts of the Spirit. These sessions will be both biblical and practical.
10. leadership and values:
Over the 11 month period your mission team leader will be taking you through various character building exercises as well as teaching on what it means to be a servant hearted leader.
and finally… There’ll be a certain amount of flexibility involved! We’re doing everything we can to make the teaching exciting, deep and really practical. We believe that this stuff is important – the more we understand and believe in our heads, the better equipped we are to live it through our lives!
