On Tuesday 18 th June the Rt Rev’d Adrian Wilkinson and the Rt Rev’d
Michael Burrows signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Rev’d Professor
Michael Mullaney, President of St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth. The
agreement establishes a collaborative framework between the two Dioceses of the
Church of Ireland and the Centre for Mission and Ministry (CMM) of SPPU for the
delivery of the Certificate in Christian Studies.
The Certificate Course will launch in September 2024 and will be taught using a
hybrid model both online and in person. It is an opportunity for adult learners to
explore their faith in a structured way. It is aimed at all adult learners. While it is one
component of the training expectations for Diocesan Readers, all who are interested
are welcome to join the course.
The course will be co-ordinated by The Very Rev’d Dr Richard Marsh, Dean of
Killaloe on behalf of the two dioceses.
The Right Rev’d Adrian Wilkinson, Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory said:
It is to the great credit of all involved that the Certificate in Christian Studies, which is
accredited by Maynooth, is again being offered to interested students across several
participating dioceses in the Church of Ireland. It provides a combination of both
online and in person learning, which is both accessible and intellectually stimulating.
I know that those who embark on this course will find their faith enriched as they
engage with others on exploring some of the central themes of theology and
practice.
The Right Rev’d Michael Burrows,Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe said:
‘This marks a happy and auspicious moment in the developing relationship between
a number of Church of Ireland dioceses and Maynooth. We are delighted that our
accredited programme of adult theological learning will continue to be the fruit of this
partnership , and we are confident that many students will find their studies
rewarding and enjoyable , and that the atmosphere of the wider diocese will be
vastly enriched as a result. We are grateful to all those who , on behalf of both
dioceses and college , have worked hard to bring us to this day ‘