Foundations of Faith is a programme of six online sessions which introduces participants to Catholicism. Participants learn about the key Catholic beliefs and practices. It is an engaging and informative course offering excellent CPD for non-Catholic teachers or those who are not confident teaching RE. The course is structured to allow participants to ask questions and discuss ideas so they can gain insights into the Catholic faith. This in turn aids the teaching of RE and understanding of the Catholic Life of each school. The online structure enables schools across the Diocese to access the course and it means a group of teachers can take part without needing to leave school.

Target Audience: 

• Teaching staff
• Non teaching staff
• Governors

Testimonials:

“Very inspirational. Very good ideas to do with the children at school and with my own children at home.”

“Thank you, I now understand a lot more and feel more confident in helping the children develop their own understanding in RE”

Frequently Asked Questions:

What exactly is Foundations of Faith?

This is a basic introduction to the Catholic faith.

How much does it cost?

The cost of Foundations of Faith is £150.00 for an individual staff member or £300 per school ticket.   ​

Who can take part?

Although it was initially designed for new or non-Catholic teachers wanting to know more about the Catholic faith, it is suitable for anyone involved in Catholic education including Catholic teachers, TAs, SLT and Governors. Participants who have completed the course have fed back to say that this is extremely useful in terms of their own role within the school.

What are the benefits?

· Improves and reinforces Catholic theology and spirituality

· Develops religious literacy on a personal and professional level

· Efficient and effective CPD

· Enjoyable and rewarding

All delegates who interact with and complete the course will receive a certificate.

Is there any extra work?

There are no tests or assignments, although participants will be asked to contribute during each session.

How does virtual learning work?

Before the course, each delegate will get a welcome email from the adviser as well as the details of the course.

Each delegate will then get an invitation to register on Zoom. The adviser will run the session for an hour using a PowerPoint which includes theology, Scripture, videos and quizzes. All participants must have a working audio and video facility available for their course.

After each session, the supporting PowerPoint will be sent to each delegate.

Spring and Summer Term 2025

Session 1: Introduction to Catholicism

Course Leads: Claire O’Neill and Jo Browne

Date: Tuesday 14^th January 2025

Time: 3.45pm to 5.00pm

Objectives:

• Understand the context of Catholicism in England and worldwide.
• Grasp the belief in the Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Content:

• Core Beliefs: The Trinity, with reference to the Nicene Creed.
• Origins: The establishment of the Church.

Activities:

• Discussion of what participants already know about Catholicism and what they hope to learn.
• Reading and discussing the Nicene Creed.
• Timeline of the Church’s establishment.
• Q&A session to address initial questions.

Common Misconceptions:

• The Trinity is often misunderstood as three separate gods, rather than one God in three persons.
• Some may think the Catholic Church began only in the Middle Ages, instead of tracing back to the Apostles.

Supporting Church Documents:

• Catechism of the Catholic Church (Sections 232–267 on the Trinity).
• Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church from Vatican II).

Session 2: Revelation in Jesus Christ, the Church, and the Bible

Course Leads: Trisha Hedley and Flic Henson

Date: Wednesday 29^th January 2025

Time: 3.45pm to 5.00pm

Objectives:

• Understand God’s revelation in Jesus Christ, the Church, and the Bible.

Content:

• Jesus as the Incarnation.
• The Church as the Body of Christ.
• Overview of the Catholic Bible as God’s word, including a brief introduction to the Old and New Testaments.

Activities:

• Exploration of passages from the Bible illustrating God’s revelation in Jesus.
• Q&A session to address any questions.

Common Misconceptions:

• Some may misunderstand the divinity and humanity of Jesus, believing he was only a prophet or a moral teacher rather than both fully God and fully human.
• Misunderstandings regarding the way Catholics use and interpret the Bible

Supporting Church Documents:

• Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation from Vatican II).
• Catechism of the Catholic Church (Sections 101–141 on Sacred Scripture).

Session 3: Catholic Liturgy and Sacraments

Course Leads: Jo Marsh and Trisha Hedley

Date: Thursday 27^th February 2025

Time: 3.45pm to 5.00pm

Objectives:

• Understand the Liturgical Year.
• Understand the role of the seven sacraments in Catholic life.

Content:

• Liturgical Seasons: Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, Ordinary Time.
• Overview of the Sacraments: Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Marriage, and Holy Orders.

Activities:

• Walkthrough of the Liturgical Year with explanations of key components.
• Reflection on the role of sacraments in a Catholic’s spiritual journey.

Common Misconceptions:

• Some may think sacraments are merely symbolic rather than channels of divine grace.
• Misunderstandings about the Liturgical Year, such as the misconception that Lent and Advent are simply periods of preparation without spiritual significance.

Supporting Church Documents:

• Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy from Vatican II).
• Catechism of the Catholic Church (Sections 1066–1209 on Liturgy and Sacraments).

Session 4: Understanding the Mass and Catholic Prayer

Course Leads: Amanda Crowley and Michelle Wilson

Date: Thursday 25^th March 2025

Time: 3.45pm to 5.00pm

Objectives:

• Gain a deeper understanding of the Mass.
• Explore the significance of prayer, including traditional prayers.

Content:

• The Mass: Structure and the significance of the Eucharist.
• Prayer: What it is and an overview of the Lord’s Prayer.

Activities:

• Walkthrough of the Mass, explaining key components such as the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
• Reflection on the role of personal and communal prayer.

Common Misconceptions:

• The Eucharist is sometimes misunderstood as purely symbolic, rather than the real presence of Christ.
• Prayer is often viewed as simply asking God for favours, rather than building a relationship with God.

Supporting Church Documents:

• Ecclesia de Eucharistia (Pope John Paul II’s encyclical on the Eucharist).
• Catechism of the Catholic Church (Sections 1322–1419 on the Eucharist and 2558–2865 on prayer).

Session 5: Catholic Morality and Social Teaching

Course Leads: Jo Browne and Flic Henson

Date: Thursday 8th May 2025

Time: 3.45pm to 5.00pm

Objectives:

• Learn about Catholic moral teachings and social justice principles.

Content:

• Ten Commandments and Beatitudes: Their role in Catholic moral teaching.
• Catholic Social Teaching: Core principles like the dignity of the human person, the common good, solidarity, and subsidiarity.
• Ethical Issues: Catholic perspectives on life, social justice, and care for creation.

Activities:

• Case studies on applying Catholic moral teachings.
• Group discussion on contemporary social issues and the Catholic response.

Common Misconceptions:

• Some may believe the Church’s moral teachings are outdated or inflexible.
• Misunderstandings about Catholic Social Teaching, such as thinking it focuses only on charity, rather than systemic change for justice.

Supporting Church Documents:

• Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World from Vatican II).
• Laudato Si’ (Pope Francis’ encyclical on care for creation).
• Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church.

Session 6: Catholicism in the Modern World

Course Leads: Tony Hall and Claire O’Neill

Date: Thursday 20th May 2025

Time: 3.45pm to 5.00pm

Objectives:

• Explore the role and challenges of the Catholic Church in contemporary society.

Content:

• Vatican II: Overview and its impact on the Church.
• The Papacy: The role of the Pope and current papal initiatives.
• Catholicism Today: The Church’s response to modern issues such as secularism, religious freedom, and care for refugees.

Activities:

• Discussion on the Church’s role in global issues, including poverty, migration, and interfaith dialogue.
• Reflection on the course and the Church’s future.

Common Misconceptions:

• Vatican II is sometimes misunderstood as a complete break from tradition rather than a renewal of it.
• Some may perceive the Church as resistant to change rather than actively engaging with contemporary social issues.

Supporting Church Documents:

• Dignitatis Humanae (Declaration on Religious Freedom from Vatican II).
• Evangelii Gaudium (Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on evangelisation).