Unit rationale, description and aim
This unit provides a systematic and contemporary approach to the formation of pre-service teachers and youth ministry leaders for participation in the evangelising mission of Catholic schools. Recognised as a highest priority by bishops, diocesan education offices, religious institutes, and the National Catholic Education Commission, the formation of Catholic educators is a critical pastoral strategy for sustaining the Catholic identity and mission of schools. Grounded in Church documents and current scholarship, the unit explores the theological, educational, and pastoral dimensions of Catholic schools as centres of evangelisation. As part of the unit, you will engage in a sustained formation experience, including the Porta Fidei retreat, and critically examine models of staff and student faith formation. Through research, analysis, and practical application, you will develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to contribute to the mission of Catholic education and the wider Church community as dynamic expressions of evangelisation.
Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unit.Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Explain the Church’s vision for the Catholic schoo...
Learning Outcome 01
Analyse how formation experiences assist teachers ...
Learning Outcome 02
Apply knowledge and skills of planning, leading, a...
Learning Outcome 03
Content
Topics may include:
- The nature and aims of the evangelising mission of the Catholic Church including a comprehensive and practical process for achieving this vision.
- Fostering the spiritual journey of faith that will enable participants to experience a range of relevant Catholic spiritual traditions and practices
- Participation in the ‘Porta Fidei’ retreat experience
- The role of the Catholic Church and schools as centres of evangelisation as described in key Church documents
- Contemporary models and frameworks, including the interrelated components of evangelisation in a Catholic school.
- Knowledge, skills and key concepts related to evangelisation and ministry in Catholic schools and parishes with reference to Church documents and other sources
- Ministry skills utilised in planning and leading student faith formation experiences, including prayer with students, personal testimony and sharing the kerygma in small faith communities
- Religious education curriculum formation models (CSYMA Secondary and Primary Four Phase Model)
- Evangelisation pathways from Catholic schools to local church, ecclesial movements and ministries.
Assessment strategy and rationale
To successfully complete this unit, you are required to attempt all assessment tasks and achieve a grade of 50% or higher.
Task one is designed to demonstrate knowledge of the role of Catholic schools in the mission of the church. It asks you to explain and analyse contemporary models of evangelisation with reference to Church documents. It aligns primarily with LO1.
Task two invites you to display achievement of LO1 and LO2 by drawing on your ‘Porta Fidei’ retreat experience by means of a personal, reflective journal. You are asked to identify how growth in faith can influence your approach to teaching as a ministry and vocation.
The third assessment task asks you to apply your knowledge in practice by conducting an interactive evangelisation ministry activity that can be utilised in a Catholic school context or in another approved context. A rationale on how the resource could be used and an evaluation of its contribution to evangelisation in Catholic schools must be included. This task is oriented towards both practical teaching of religious education or involvement in the parish, incorporating wisdom gained from your previous experience. It allows you to display achievement of all learning outcomes.
Overview of assessments
Assessment Task 1: Extended Writing Task Th...
Assessment Task 1: Extended Writing Task
This extended writing task asks you to explain the role that Catholic schools have in the evangelising mission of the Church, including an investigation and evaluation of contemporary models, with reference to key Church documents.
30%
Assessment Task 2: Formation Experiences and Ref...
Assessment Task 2: Formation Experiences and Reflective Journal
Drawing on your formation experiences in the unit, analyse how such experiences of Catholic faith can nurture spiritual growth and commitment to teaching as ministry. You are to use relevant Church documents and academic literature to support such an analysis.
20%
Assessment Task 3: Ministry Activity You are t...
Assessment Task 3: Ministry Activity
You are to plan and implement an interactive evangelisation ministry experience suitable for a Catholic school. Include an evaluation and rationale on how the ministry activity contributes to the evangelisation of Catholic schools.
50%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit involves 150 hours of focused learning. The total includes formally structured learning activities such as lectures, tutorials and online learning. The remaining hours typically involve reading, research, and the preparation of tasks for assessment.
The unit is normally offered in multi-mode. The learning and teaching and assessment strategies work together in an integrated way by using various approaches to support student learning. Students are asked to analyse and integrate new and existing knowledge, make critical connections and apply their learning in relevant contexts.
The unit integrates two formative experiences that encourage active participation as responsible learners. Firstly, an intensive learning experience that equips participants for evangelisation in a Catholic school context. A retreat experience forms part of this intensive formation experience. In addition, ongoing formation will be achieved through participation in interactive online seminars.
Secondly, an intensive ministry experience is provided through a Ministry Placement. You will visit a local school(s) providing the opportunity to successfully implement various ministry skills. The design of the placements is responsive to the diversity of students, including their capacity and confidence, as well as the needs and diversity of communities that enable these ministry placements.