Certificate in Pastoral Formation

The Diocesan Certificate in Pastoral Formation is a one-year, part-time course for all who desire to deepen their faith and enhance their participation in all aspects of Parish Pastoral Ministry.

A formative process, this course involves the gaining of knowledge, skills and reflection on action through the integration of four elements: 

• Four core units
• Two Formation Days
• Personal Spiritual Direction monthly
• Spiritual Companioning Groups once a month through the year

Getting your bearings

An Orientation Day held each January provides information about all the course components for the year ahead, introduces presenters, establishes the Spiritual Companion Groups and introduces Spiritual Direction and Theological Reflection.

Personal Spiritual Direction

Each participant is required to enter into Spiritual Direction once a month for ten months, and is issued with a list of qualified and approved Directors from which to choose a Director. Each participant is responsible for payment, where this is required.

Spiritual Companioning Groups

Each participant will be in a group of six which meets once a month for ten months, to learn the skills of Theological reflection. Core Units There are four core units, comprising ten weeks of lectures on each, one unit per school term, commencing Tuesday in early February to December from 6.30pm-9pm.  

The units are: 

• Experience of God: Spirituality
• Word of God: Scripture
• Speaking about God: Theology
• Called by God: Ministry

Time for Reflection 

Two Saturday Reflection Days are held throughout the year, the first in June, the second in November. 

Information posters and brochures are sent to all parishes and diocesan agencies in the final quarter of each year about the course for the year ahead, with notification made through Catholic Outlook.

To find out more about the Certificate in Pastoral Formation, please contact us.

 Application Form

Diploma of Pastoral Formation

The Parramatta Diploma of Pastoral Formation is available to those who have completed the Parramatta Certificate in Pastoral Formation. It involves a continuing program of formation totalling 150 hours that can be completed over the course of three years. The Diploma includes a ministry practicum, totalling 50 hours, in which the student negotiates an area of ministry to be explored, developed, reviewed or established within a parish or diocesan context.