S-1, A Talk or Series, Basic & Intermediate (Rev. D. P. Burrows, Ph.D.)

The Bible and biblical themes 

Fr. Peter is able to offer a variety of talks on Sacred Scripture - how to read it,

specific biblical books (Jonah, Ruth, etc.), parables of the New Testament, Old

Testament theology, Jesus the Messiah, principles of Creation and the Gospel of John - or any other theme desired. 

S-2, A Talk or Series, Basic & Intermediate (Rev. D. J. Hemer)

The Bible and biblical themes

Fr John is able to offer a variety of talks on the New Testament.

S-3, Series of 4 Talks, Intermediate (P. Edmonds S.J.)

Matthew: the Gospel for 2008 

1.  The story of Matthew's gospel.

2.  The portrait of Jesus in Matthew's gospel.

3.  The vision of discipleship in Matthew's gospel.

4.  Jesus' death and resurrection in Matthew's gospel.

On most Sundays of the new liturgical year (from Advent 2007), the Sunday gospel will be taken from Matthew’s gospel. At first glance, this gospel is very like the others. This is true, but there are also important differences and changes of emphasis which made this gospel especially suitable for its original audience. Matthew has his own particular portrait of Jesus whom he calls Emmanuel. His Jesus is a great teacher and one who shares our burdens. The disciples are portrayed as forerunners of the Church. The Church continues their mission of teaching all nations what Jesus

commanded. Matthew's gospel has always been the most popular in the liturgy of the church. It has much to say to our own burdened generation too.

S-4, Series of 4 Talks, Intermediate (P. Edmonds S.J.)

St Paul: preparing for the Jubilee Year 

1.  ‘God was pleased to reveal his Son to me’

2.  ‘The Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me’

3.  ‘If justification came through the law, Christ died for nothing’

4.  ‘For freedom, Christ has set us free’

Paul is read on most Sundays at Mass. Moreover, Pope Benedict XVI has announced a Jubilee Year from June 2008 to June 2009 to celebrate the 2000 anniversary of the martyrdom of St Paul. Taking the Letter to the Galatians as a basic text, the talks will consider the story of Paul’s life, with particular reference to his conversion 

experience, his theology, concentrating on his understanding of the person of Christ, and his teaching about Christian life and behaviour as a consequence of his

understanding of what God has done for us through Christ. Paul has much to say to our world as well as his own.

S-5, Series of 4 Talks, Basic (P. Edmonds S.J.)

The Bible and its place in Christian Life  

1.  What is the Bible?

2.  The Bible in the Catholic Church?

3.  Praying the Bible.

4.  The Bible in the Liturgy.

These talks are for Catholics who want to know more about the Bible but do not know how to approach it and may even feel threatened by it. The aim is to

encourage a knowledge and love of the Bible that will bear fruit in a richer Christian life. The first aim is to learn what sort of book the Bible is and what it contains. We then consider what the Catholic Church has been teaching about the Bible over the last century. We then examine how the Bible has been used in personal prayer and how we can pray it in our own lives. Finally, we discuss how the Church uses the Bible in its public worship and how this can be made more profitable for each of us.

S-6, A Series of 2 talks, Basic & Intermediate (Fr J. Deehan)

Reading the Scriptures and preparing for Holy Week 

1.When we read the Scriptures  

2. Scripture Readings in Context

These two talks are suitable for people who may be starting to read the Scriptures in Lent and find them perplexing. The first talk tries to clear the ground - what do we think we are doing when we read the bible? We look at the Scriptures as God's word, his self-revelation; the importance of reading the Scripture in context; the stories at the heart of the Old Testament and New Testament, and conclude by 

considering what the great Saints and teachers of the Church have said about

the Bible.

In the second talk we compare and contrast the account of Jesus' Passion that we will hear on Palm Sunday with the account in John that is read on Good Friday. We consider why they are different and how each gospel tells the story with quite

different emphases.

S-7, A Series of 4 talks, Intermediate (Fr J. Deehan)

The year of Luke in the Lectionary 

1.  The four gospels - 4 manuals for different aspects of the process of Christian 

initiation. The Community of Luke.

2.  Luke: the Gospel for Mission, Advent and Christmas.

3.  The Gospel Readings for Sundays 3-12 in Ordinary Time. The Readings for Lent.

4.  Sundays 13-33 in Ordinary Time. The Passion and Resurrection narratives.

A series of 4 talks that could be modified to suit parish needs. The main themes are that Luke's God is a faithful God and that Luke's community is one preparing for mission to the wider world. To be ready for mission the community must be ready to cross boundaries and embrace strange and alien people, as the Lord did.

S-8, A Series of 4 talks, Intermediate (Fr J. Deehan)

The Gospel of John in the Lectionary 

1.  John the Easter Gospel.  Community and Storyline.

2.  John at Christmas. John in ordinary Time (chapters 1 and 2).

3.  John in Lent and Holy Week.

4.  John in Eastertide.

This course can be a series of 8 one hour talks, 4 two hour sessions, or modified to suit parish needs. It aims to offer the audience some background and context, both biblical and liturgical, from which to hear and understand the passages from the Fourth Gospel read during the major moments of the church year, at Christmas, Lent and Easter. Of all the Gospels, John helps us meet the risen Lord through story and symbolism. We will touch on many of the memorable passages that we listen to at Mass as the liturgical year proceeds.

S-9, A Series of 4 talks, Advanced (P. Edmonds S.J.)

The Book of Revelation 

1.  The setting of the book and seven letters.

2.  Visions of heaven and of Christ.

3.  The seals, the trumpets and the bowls.

4.  The victory of God and his saints and the new Jerusalem.

The Book of Revelation is little known by Catholics. It is however the final book of our Bible, even its final chapter, and it is not a good idea to ignore the final chapter of a book. Many are put off by its extravagant imagery, its violence and general aura of mystery. But once the situation of the author and his audience is understood and the type of writing recognised, the book has much to teach us today about God, about Christ, about the Church, and about Christian fidelity in a hostile world. An informed understanding of the book, based on a step by step reading,  helps us deal with its frequent misuse for religious and political purposes.

S-10, A Series of 3 talks, Basic (M. Crowley)

A look at the Word on Sundays 

A series of talks reflecting on the Sunday readings of Advent, Lent or the Easter

Season. These talks will attempt to place the scripture in its liturgical, historical and theological context and help participants to reflect on their response to the Word of God, heard on Sundays, in their daily lives.

SL-1, A Talk, Intermediate

Signs and Symbols in our Sacramental Life (B. Briliute S.T.L.)

Our lives are permeated with signs and symbols, but the meaning of signs and symbols can change over time and between cultures. Again, contemporary society can create signs and symbols of its own. What are these symbols? What do they mean? What makes a symbol Christian and sacramental? 

SL-2, A Series of 3 Talks, Intermediate

'Being Amazed' - Eucharistic living, life after the liturgy (Dr. C. Watkins)

1. 'Amazement' and 'Living': exploring John Paul II's teaching on the Eucharist.

2. Exploring the mystery and becoming amazed: theological insights into the mystery of the Mass.

3. Living what we celebrate: reflecting on the  transformation of everyday life.

The talks can be offered singly or together. They grow out of some observations on John Paul II's Encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia, reflecting on its themes of 'Eucharistic Amazement' and 'Eucharistic Living'. Participants will be encouraged to examine their own sense of devotion and wonder at the Mystery of the Mass, and to deepen their sense of and commitment to a transformation of living growing out from

Eucharistic celebration. When taken together, these sessions will draw on a wider range of theological and magisterial texts, to unpack these themes.

SL-3, A Series of 2 Talks, Basic & Intermediate (Fr T. McGuckin)

Renewal of Eucharistic Faith and Devotion: teachings of John Paul II

and Benedict XVI 

Pope John Paul II constantly emphasised the central importance of the Eucharist in the life of the Church and at the heart of our faith. Throughout his pontificate of 27 years, he gave to the Church profound teaching reflections, instructive and

inspirational. Among the writings are: The Holy Eucharist (1980), Ecclesia de

Eucharistia (1983) and Abide With Us Lord, inaugurating the Year of the Eucharist (2004-5) in the course of which Pope John Paul died. Pope Benedict XVI, since

becoming Pope in 2005, has similarly promoted the importance of renewed

reflection on this sacrament of sacraments, especially with Sacramentum Caritatis, an

Exhortation both enriching and uplifting.

ML-1, A Talk, Intermediate (Dr A. Abram)

You don't have to be brave in order to be courageous 

Courage is an ambiguous term; it can mean different things to different people; it covers a great variety of situations of danger, conflict and fear. What is courageous today may not be tomorrow. Not every action that is brave is in the end

courageous. What exactly is courage? While reflecting on stories of courageous Christians (Oscar Romero, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and St Francis of Assisi) this session will attempt to explore the meaning and the role of courage in human life. It will consider notions of ‘heroism’, ‘resilient steadfastness’ and ‘risk-taking’. It will suggest that courage is not a motive for action but an outcome of the motive; and that it is courage that is needed in order to open up truly to God, to the other, and to

oneself.  

ML-2, A Talk, Intermediate (Dr A. Abram)

Conscience - what is it? 

Contemporary moral theologians point to ambiguities that exist in the understanding of conscience. This session will attempt to deal with some of these ambiguities by distinguishing conscience from what it is not. One of the most common errors in thinking about conscience is to mistake it for what some Freudian psychologists mean when they speak of the ‘superego’. The superego is the result of the authority over us. It has an important place in the formation of conscience but only as a 

passing stage. What is the mature / well-formed conscience? In addressing this

question we will make use of the fable of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi and the story of

Sir Thomas More recorded in Robert Bolt’s play A Man for All Seasons. Audio-visual

presentations will aid this half-day session.  

ML-3, A Talk, Very Basic (Fr D. Williamson)

Starting Ethics: the surprising freedom of being Catholic 

There are two schools of Ethics: Ugottado and Iwannado. Catholics use the

second one. What are the moral values that all human beings share? Can I be holy if all I want is to be happy? What's the link between Pleasure and

Happiness? So - what's God like, then?

ML-4, A Series of 3 Talks, Basic & Intermediate (Fr David Williamson)

Patterns of Morality 

1. God's Morality: Creation, Rescue and Liberation.

2. Marriage and the danger of Weddings; Happiness and the problem of pleasure.

3. Why do modern morals look the way they do - the danger of education.

God usually offers 'patterns' for our moral behaviour, rather than straightforward rules; these patterns have to be adapted by each generation. The course first looks at what we can learn for our own morality by thinking about God and his moral

motives in the Old Testament. It then looks at modern questions, including the

apparent death of morality in the modern world, to apply these patterns and discern their development.

ML-5, A Series of 3 Talks, Intermediate (Fr S. Wang)

How to Be Happy: the true meaning of Christian Morality 

1. The search for happiness and the need for morality.

2. The true meaning of the Commandments and of the moral teaching of Christ and of the Church.

3. Christian conversion, conscience, confession, and communion.

Christian morality gets a bad press. It seems like a list of rules imposed upon us, that go against our freedom and our desire for happiness. But in the Catholic tradition, Christian morality is the way to true happiness. It helps us to be who we are meant to be; it helps us to overcome false ideas about the meaning of human life; and it helps us to find what we are truly searching for - the peace and joy that come from loving God and loving our neighbour. This course will look at the nature of morality; the meaning of the Commandments and the moral teaching of Christ and of the Church; and the place of conversion and conscience in the Christian life.

ML-6, A Talk, Intermediate (Rev. Dr. M. Poulsom, SDB)

Humanity in the midst of Creation 

In the context of contemporary discussions about environmental concerns, this course aims to develop our thinking about being part of God's creation, as well as our action in the world. It will address the following themes:

 - the implications of thinking of the world as God's creation

 - the place of humanity in the created order

 - God's action in, and commitment to, creation, and our own.

IN-1, A Talk, Intermediate (B.Briliute S.T.L.)

Inculturation 

What do we mean by inculturation? Is it simply a matter of race and ethnicities? In reality inculturation involves multi-layered processes of simultaneous changes and transformations in our social and religious lives. Some thinkers speak about the clash of civilizations: a Christian West verses an Islamic East. Is this a real clash or a

misreading of the signs of our times? How may the Christian faith engage with the culture of each group that receives the Gospel?

IN-2, A Talk, Intermediate (A. Karaliute S.T.L.)

Christianity and Culture 

The World Value Survey suggests a dramatic decline in participation in Church

services in economically well developed countries, England included. So, what does the survey say about people’s beliefs? What values do they express in their daily lives? What makes their/our lives meaningful? What effect do religious values have on our culture?

IN-3, A Talk, Intermediate (A. Karaliute S.T.L.)

Vatican II: its relevance today 

In the forty years since the start of the Vatican II Council, its importance and impact for the Church and her faithful has continued to grow. There has been much

dialogue and debate about the growth and drawbacks the Council has brought to the Catholic Church. This talk will give an opportunity to reflect upon the Council's

importance and to consider how one can view the Council forty years on.

FL-1, A Talk or Series, Basic & Intermediate (Rev. D. P. Burrows, Ph.D.)

Marriage, human sexuality, child development, etc. 

Fr. Peter is able to offer a variety of talks on marriage, human sexuality and celibacy, child development, family problems, relationships and the biblical understanding of love - of God and neighbour.

FL-2, A Series of 3 Talks, Basic & Intermediate (Fr D. Williamson)

The Theological Story of Marriage 

1. Marriage and sexuality in the Bible.

2. From Augustine to Trent: a tricky evolution.

3. Marriage set free for God: Pius XII and John Paul II.

The Old Testament and the beginnings of a theology of marriage, and its 

development in Genesis. St Paul's positive thinking about marriage. What about St Augustine?  Catholic developments in the Middle Ages. Developments by the 

modern popes. 

FL-3, A Series of 3 Talks, Intermediate (E. Adamus MA)

Towards a Civilization of Love 

1. 'Man and Woman He Created Them'-theology of the body.

2. 'Smart Loving -The Gift of Self in Marriage'.

3. 'Virtues for Life- Raising our Children in Christ'.

FL-4, A Talk, Intermediate (Mrs N. Parker  FCP.RN. BSc. BPE. Dip Ed)

Sex, Marriage, Fertility and Family Planning: The Catholic vision for life

- exploring a contraceptive culture… 

The Session would cover the Catholic church's powerful vision for sex, marriage and the place of Natural Fertility Management.

Looking at the gift of fertility and human life

Exploring Humanae Vitae as a visionary document-  prophetic and rich

Contraception and the contraceptive culture

Understanding the gift of Natural Fertility Management

The workings of natural human fertility

How Natural Fertility Management works and its benefits

Addressing the problem of Infertility from a moral and ethical perspective

FL-5, A Talk, Intermediate (E. Adamus MA)

'Man and Woman He Created Them'-Theology of the Body 

An introductory presentation of the central themes of John Paul II's vision for 

authentic human sexuality and the complementarity of masculinity and femininity.

FL-6, A Talk, Intermediate (E. Adamus MA)

'Smart Loving -The Gift of Self in Marriage' 

A practical overview of the pastoral resource 'Celebrate Love' with testimony from couples to encourage enthusiasm for living the sacrament of matrimony.

FL-7, A Talk, Intermediate (E. Adamus MA)

'Virtues for Life- Raising our Children in Christ' 

Practical insights for living and loving the spirituality of the Christian home as the single most important channel for mutual evangelisation.

FL-8, A Talk, Intermediate (E. Adamus MA)

Fertility Awareness/Bio-Ethics - What can men do? 

This talk is intended to be as a source of encouragement and empowerment for men [especially the married/and or engaged and young adults] to appreciate their 

God -given capacity to be life-giving as God intends manhood to be. It is not 

intended to be exclusively for men though it could be advertised as such.  

FL-9, A Talk, Very Basic (Fr. J. Conneely JCL)

Annulments and the Catholic Church's Teaching on Marriage 

Recent press reports surrounding a nullity of marriage case involving a member of the Kennedy family show how much confusion there is about the annulment process.  Are annulments only for 'elite' Catholics and how are the children of a couple

receiving one affected? Is the process a modern version of the 'Spanish Inquisition'? These questions will be considered as the workings of the Church's marriage

Tribunals are explained. The aim is to show how the role of the Tribunal fits in with the challenging teaching Christ himself gave his disciples on the meaning of marriage.  

FL-10, A Talk, Intermediate (Dr. C. Watkins)

Christian Education and the Vocation of Schools 

In an educational culture which is target based, and which sees education as another product or material achievement, the witness to a Christian model of education

becomes important. Indeed, Christian educators and schools can be seen as standing at an essential interface of faith and contemporary secular culture; and there is a sense of vocation which can accompany this. This sense of vocation is explored in the talk, drawing on some ancient, as well as contemporary Christian thinking about education. The aim is to renew our understanding of teaching as a Christian

vocation, and of our schools as places of evangelisation of culture and persons, and places of renewal for Church life.

FL-11, A Talk, Intermediate (E. Adamus MA)

'The Gift of Fertility - a Male Perspective!'

An introductory presentation of the central themes of John Paul II's vision for

authentic human sexuality and the complementarity of masculinity and femininity,

and a practical overview of the pastoral resource 'Celebrate Love' with testimony from couples to encourage enthusiasm for living the sacrament of matrimony.

Practical insights for living and loving the spirituality of the Christian home as the single most important channel for mutual evangelisation.

EC-1, A Talk, Intermediate (Rev. Mark Woodruff)

Ecumenism 

It is often a complete revelation to Catholics that ecumenism is not only something that the Roman Catholic Church has warmed to since the aggiornamento, and which can be discerned in its core belief and practice, but also something on which

Catholics have taken the decisive lead time and again throughout history. Simply put, Ecumenism is not a Protestant story.

CR-1, A Series of 3 Talks, Intermediate (Fr S. Wang)

Knowing God 

1.  Knowing God through Reason and Revelation.

2.  Knowing God through the Scriptures.

3.  Knowing God through the Christian Tradition and through the Church.

Many people wonder whether there is a God and how we can know him. This course looks at the Catholic understanding of how we come to know God. We can know about his existence by using our reason; but we only know him fully because he has stepped into our world and revealed himself to us in Jesus Christ. This unique revelation is not just a thing of the past, it is handed on to each age, in the

Scriptures, in the Christian Tradition, and in the ongoing teaching of the Church. By studying these central Christian topics, the course will act as an introduction to Catholic theology

CR-2, A Series of 3 Talks, Intermediate (M. Nash)

Credo? - The very basics of Catholic Belief 

1.  Credo? - Mary and all the saints.

2.  Credo? - This life and the next.

3.  Credo? - The 'Good Book' and the Church.

Starting with the Creed, this talk (series of talks) will look at the basic tenets of Catholic belief. From Heaven, Hell and life after death to Mary; from Saints and piety to Scripture, we will discuss what we mean when we say 'I Believe.' The talks will take in a history of the Creed, popular piety and Catholic beliefs and attempt to give a view of worldwide devotion and belief (highlighting both diversity and universality). The talk(s) will also make use of questionnaire responses and audience participation.

CR-3, A Talk, Basic & Intermediate

Christology through Art (D. Klein)

Using Art, the participants will reflect on the nature of Jesus Christ, particularly with how the divine and human are related in his person. Although this study of the

inter-relationship of these two natures is the foundation of Christology, some

essential sub-topics will be included: the Incarnation, the resurrection, and the salvific work of Jesus (known as soteriology).

CR-4, A Series of 2 Talks, Basic & Intermediate (Fr T. McGuckin STD)

Particular Significant Aspects of Pope Benedict’s Jesus of Nazareth

Pope Benedict XVI’s recently published book, Jesus of Nazareth, is a surprising

bestseller. His study/contemplation of Jesus begins with an absorbing Introduction: “An Initial Reflection on the Mystery of Jesus”. Here the Holy Father writes in a

refreshingly personal way. The body of the work proceeds to consider Jesus “From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration”. We are presented with numerous very spiritual and practical insights. This unusual publication of a Pope truly deserves our consideration.

CH-1, A Series of 2 Talks, Basic & Intermediate (M. Nash)

What do we think of when we say 'Church'? 

The institutional, hierarchical Church is what most readily comes to mind when one hears of Church. This talk(s) will explore notions of Church and community with

a particular emphasis on building community in the parish context. With an

historical and theoretical element, there will be examples taken from a wide variety of contexts.

CH-2, A Talk, Very Basic (M. A. Sloan, JCL)

Canon Law & You 

The vast majority of Catholics are lay people not priests or religious. This talk will consider how Canon Law understands the role of the laity in the Church. The focus will be on how Canon Law encourages all Christ's faithful, and particularly the Lay Faithful, to work together to build up the Body of Christ that is the Church. It is only as active members of this global Faith Community that we will be able to meet the Gospel challenge of proclaiming the message of Christ's saving power to the ends of the earth.

CH-3, A Talk, Very Basic (Fr J. Deehan)

Come and See  

This is a reflective talk, illustrated with powerpoint, inviting the participants to make connections between the hospitality Jesus gave and received in the gospel stories, the life of the Trinity as expressed through the Rublev Icon, and the Eucharist. The title comes from the words of Jesus to Andrew and Peter (John1:39) inviting them to his home. In its original form the talk formed part of a session designed to help

parishioners get to know one another and build a sense of community. It will work best in a CAFÉ style format or a setting where refreshments or a simple meal are part of the occasion.

CH-4, A Series of 2 Talks, Basic & Intermediate (Fr J. Deehan)

You must be Witnesses before the World 

This series of two talks, illustrated by powerpoint, is designed for parents whose children are about to be confirmed. The title, 'You must be witnesses before the world', is taken from the Bishop's address in the Rite of Confirmation.  Before we can be witnesses, we need to know who we are and what kind of world we are called to witness to today. Essentially, the talk is about spirituality, seen as the 

channelling of the deep restlessness that lies within all of us,  and it draws upon some of the ideas of Ronald Rolheiser's book, 'Seeking Spirituality, guidelines for a 

Christian Spirituality for the Twenty-First Century'.

CH-5, A Series of 4 Talks, Basic & Intermediate (Dr. C. Watkins)

'Living Baptism' - Deepening our understanding of the Lay Vocation in today's World 

1. Being a lay person in today's Church: difficulties and blessing.

2. How did we get here? The story of the theology of lay living in modern times.

3. Living Baptism: died and resurrected Christ.

4. Living Baptism: sharers in Christ's mission and offices.

Through exploring or (in the case of a single talk presenting) the theology implicit in the Church's teaching on Baptism, participants would be involved in reflecting and thinking about how they live their lay vocation in the world today.

A single talk would do this at a fairly basic level, aiming to inspire participants to learn about and pray and live baptismal vocation, as charismatically endowed

members of Christ's Body - priest, prophets and sovereigns in Him. The series (3 or 4 talks) offers an historical account of the theology of laity in modern times, and 

input and reflection on the key themes of the baptismal vocation - sharers in Christ's offices; a people gifted by the Spirit; a new creation; a people freed from sin.

CH-6, A Series of 4 Talks, Intermediate

Why be a Catholic? (Fr S. Wang)

1. The beauty of the Catholic Church: Jesus has not left us alone.

2. The beauty of Catholic teaching: Jesus has not left us without his guidance.

3. The beauty of Catholic lives: Many different vocations, many different saints.

Many people are puzzled or even scandalised by the Catholic Church. It can seem like a big institution with a lot of money and power, but with very little relevance to real Christian life. This course will look at the true significance of the Catholic Church: It is the place where Christians find their true home; where they are

nourished by Christ's Word and by his Sacraments; where his authentic teaching is handed on and interpreted. It is the place where Christians discover their deepest vocation, to love God and their neighbour, and to serve him in some

particular vocation.

CH-7, A Series of 3 Talks, Basic & Intermediate (Fr Michael O’Boy)

Catholic & Non-conformist in Elizabethan England 

1.  The Seminary and Jesuit Priests.

2.  The role of persecution. 

3.  Radical Change or Continuity?

In the course of the Reformation, Catholics who refused to attend the Established Church became known as recusants. This series of talks is aimed at a greater

understanding of how and why they became recusant. In the first of these talks we will look at the contribution of the Seminary and Jesuit priests who were ordained abroad and returned to England to minister to the outlawed Catholic community. In the second talk we will ask how effective the enforcement of the laws against

recusants was and how our understanding of the prosecution of recusants might affect an understanding of recusancy’s growth. Finally, we will address the question of whether or not being recusant can be understood as some kind of radical stand or 

the natural consequence of a continuing religious conservatism.