CFO and TLK Bishops sign Memorandum of Agreement with the President of St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth (SPPU)
Detail: 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 thedelivery 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 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, Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory 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.‘

The Rt Revd Adrian Wilkinson, Bishop of Cashel Ferns & Ossory, the Revd Professor Michael Mullaney, President St Patrick’s Pontifical University, Maynooth and the Rt Revd Michael Burrows, Bishop of Tuam Limerick & Killaloe sign the Memorandum of Agreement.