An important anniversary for Britain's School of the Annunciation

(Vatican Radio) The School of the Annunciation, based in the beautiful surroundings of Buckfast Abbey in the rolling English countryside of Devon, celebrates its first anniversary on 25th March 2015.

Last September, Pope Francis explained in a training seminar for newly-ordained bishops that the essential mission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel; and moreover, how there is now an urgent need for a missionary conversion which “concerns every Christian and every parish”.

The School of the Annunciation aims to meet this call of the Holy Father, and with the celebration of such an auspicious anniversary, the new Rector of the School, Fr Guy de Gaynesford, looks forward to preparing men and women for mission at home and in the parish over the coming years.

He spoke to Vatican Radio's Phil Andrews about how he believes the School can serve the Church, being the only institute of higher education dedicated to the New Evangelization in the United Kingdom.

Listen to the interview: 

The School’s flagship course is the two year on-line Diploma in the New Evangelisation, designed and delivered by a team of expert practitioners led by Dr Petroc Willey, appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as a Consultor to the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelisation. The Diploma, and all the School’s courses, aim to foster in both students and staff the passion, insight and creativity that only comes from obedience to God’s revelation safeguarded and taught by the Church’s Magisterium.

At the heart of the life of the School of the Annunciation is a commitment to the Church’s vision of Catholic Higher Education, as set out in Pope St John Paul II’s Apostolic Constitution, Ex Corde Ecclesiae. The past year has been significant for the further realization of this vision by the School with the assumption of the role of patrons by His Eminence George Cardinal Pell, Prefect of the Secretariat of the Economy, and the Right Reverend Mark O’Toole, Bishop of Plymouth.

Looking forward to the rest of 2015, and beyond, the School is offering new one year, on-line courses in the Autumn, including Foundations of Philosophy for Faith, Sacred Art and the New Evangelization, and Media and the New Evangelization.

Visit the school's website here.