St. Francis Seminary

Continuing Education

At St. Francis, we recognize that, for our clergy and chaplains, learning never ends. We are proud to offer these opportunities for our community to grow in ministry.

Boosting Your Confidence! Two hour session on Zoom
Thursday January 23 - 7 till 9pm. $50

Feeling a little anxious about those first weddings? Need some practise?

Still feeling a little unsure of yourself as you work with couples?

You aren't alone.

You’ve taken the course, you’ve got your business cards, and you might even have couples calling…. But you are still feeling a wave of nervousness as you consider weddings on the horizon.

In non-COVID days we would gather at Mt Carmel to practise together and work out the kinks. But Zoom is great and you don't have to leave your house!

Join Bishop Deb in this two hour session designed to help you

- get more comfortable in the officiant’s shoes

- settle your nerves

- break the ice easily when you meet couples

- show you new ways to personalize a basic ceremony to each couple and

- overcome the blocks and obstacles sapping your confidence

Groups are limited to 8 people. A new session will be determined if there is a waiting list.

Thursday December 10 from 7 till 9pm.

The cost is $50. A certificate of completion will be sent.

Payment:

To register, please send along an etransfer for $50 to revdeb@sympatico.ca or pay conveniently through Paypal

Finding Your Voice - two hour session online January 28 - 7 till 9 pm $50

We hear it all the time, “I hate my voice.” Comparing our voices to others with an enviable speaking voice can make us hesitate to speak in a group.

Whether you are an ordained minister considering online ministry or a wedding officiant preparing to celebrate marriages before a group, discomfort around your speaking voice can be a stopper. Help is here!

Join Bishop Deb for a two-hour workshop to help you find your best voice.

You'll practice a variety of exercises and strategies to help you

-improve your speaking voice

-build confidence as a reader

-polish your speaking skills

-develop a winning presentation style

Groups are limited to 8 people. Thursday November 12 from 7 till 9 pm.
The cost is $50. A certificate of completion will be sent.

Payment:

To register, please send along an etransfer for $50 to revdeb@sympatico.ca or pay conveniently through Paypal

Creating and Personalizing Ceremonies
TBA

In this online Advanced Wedding Officiant Course Bishop Jean and Archbishop Deb will help you:

gain confidence working with the wishes of your couple
discover ways in which to personalize any ceremony
create fun, imaginative theme weddings
write memorable vows that your couple will love

The session focuses on how to add power to your personalized wedding ceremonies. Why? Each couple's story is more than a chronology of events that they tell others; a personalized ceremony done well reveals the unspoken power of their story.

A well-done ceremony will delight the couple and inspire the guests. It will be the ceremony that people talk about and you will be the officiant who gets the raves.

Bring a notebook and prepare to have a great session!

Registration:
Send along an etransfer to communitycatholic@bell.net or pay with a credit card through PayPal below.

An Advanced Training Certificate for Ceremony Creation will be sent upon completion.

Registration -

$40 (plus a small processing fee)

Wedding Officiant Advanced Training - May 24

To be held either in Niagara Falls or Queenston

Advanced Officiant Training:

- Build confidence!
- Couple management techniques
- Practise officiating!
- Have social time to meet and network

Tentatively: Mt Carmel Spiritual Centre,
7020 Stanley Ave, Niagara Falls, ON L2G 7B7

10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Lunch included. $85

Advanced Officiant Training Certificate given upon completion