Orientation Course for Overseas Pastoral Workers - since 2011 Richard Owens has been facilitating a course to help people understand better the context of their ministry here in the UK -  a vital opportunity for an honest sharing of their fears and hopes.

The 8 participants on the 2014 course in September

The next programme runs: 
  14-19 September 2015
and is open to religious sisters, lay missionaries, religious priests and diocesan clergy.
from experience we find this course works for both newly arrived and people who have arrived within the last 12-16 months - as it is about personal development and not the basic initial localised induction which is proper for the community to provide.

To pre-register contact us

Covering issues including:
- Culture shock 
 - team dynamics  
- models of church 
- safer boundaries - making friends
- healthy living and the health system
- personal communication styles 
- modern society 
- constitution & law 
- expressions, language & humour 
- calling to overseas mission
- women's issues 
- models of communication
- history 
- food and manners
- societal expectations & structures
- pastoral differences
- money, inequality and economy
- addictions

Guest speakers in the past have included: Fr Brendan Rice, Fr Rob Morland SMA,Jean Washbourne, Msgr Vincent Harvey, Fr John Heneghan, Alice Davidson OBE, Sue Gravells, Suzi Jaques, Sr Kathryn Summerfield RSJ a diocesan safeguarding professional and Richard Owens 

Richard Owens, the course facilitator,  has been the secretary of the Catholic Missionary Union of England & Wales since 2011

All inclusive cost reduced to £500 - a discount of 10% on this fee if you register 2 or more participants

The Programme is delivered in a comfortable venue with private bedrooms and space for learning and liturgy . 

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New.....a page and forum (password protected) for 'students' and 'alumni' of the Orientation Programme

The 2014 participants with Fr Brendan Rice of the Irenaeus Project for Spirituality and Growth

Fr Ambrose, Fr David and Fr Paul meeting Mgr Vincent Harvey, parish priest of St Edmunds Southampton for a session on pastoral-practice in 2013

What some previous participants said:

"I liked the frankness...it helps take away prejudices"

"Fantastic for newly arrived non-British missionaries...it will water down some of the fears and anxieties they bring with them"

"It was practical with a pastoral touch"

"Honest and clear expression of British culture"


"The contributors are experts, realistic, down to earth and homely"

"I gained a lot from the course and would recommend it"

"It will help you to settle in to your new environment"

"I would definitely reccommend this course as an 'eye opener'
 for any religious missionary"

"100% recommend it. In order to do missionary work in the UK it is not enough to be a priest. This course is an introduction to the people, the language, the expectations, the history etc - without these our ministry would be to say the least, counter-productive"

"I enjoyed the course because it is practical, down to earth and reassuring. It is a good tool for the New Evangelisation in Britain"

"I will surely recommend to all Bishops and Superiors...this course has re-shaped me to begin my ministry with confidence"

The April 2012 Course helpers and participants (x6)

The autumn 2011 course

The participants with Fr Rob Morland SMA, presidnet of the Catholic Missionary Union, who facilitated one of our sessions