Autumn Opportunities at Mt. St. Anne’s

Mount St. Anne’s Retreat and Conference Centre (Killenard, Portarlington, Co. Laois) is located in the heart of the Irish midlands. The very special surroundings and the closeness to nature contribute to the renewal that can be experienced through these Autumn Opportunities on offer through the Centre. All courses will run from 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm (GMT).

Mount St. Anne’s are delighted to offer a series of Autumn Course Opportunities (online) via ZOOM.  These will start in October and continue to the end of November.  The courses listed below can be booked by emailing Dr. Oonagh O’Brien, at ceo@mountstannes.com

The extensive schedule is as follows:

Title: ‘Laudato Sí’  in our Contemporary World.
Date: October 6, 13, 20, 27   (Sean McDonagh, SMA)

This course will explore ‘Laudato Sí’  and the Challenges of Biodiversity and Climate Change.

Fee: €100 for full course.

Sean McDonagh is a Columban Missionary priest, author and renowned Ecological Theologian. His publications include ‘To Care for the Earth’ (1986); ‘Climate Change: The Challenge to us all’ (2004); ‘The Death of Life: Extinction is Forever’ (2006: and ‘Robots, Ethics and the Future of Jobs’ (2021).

Title: Women in the Bible: Our Mothers in Faith.
Date: October 7, 14, 21, 28  (Rosalie Moloney)

The diverse women of the Bible offer us inspiring examples of Faith in action. This course invites us to follow in the footsteps of some of these remarkable but very human characters: from Ruth and Naomi and the mothers of Genesis, to the women of Jesus’ parables and the female leaders of the early Church.

Fee: €100 for full course.

Rosalie Moloney took early retirement in 2009 to study Theology, initially in the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology in Cambridge. During the following decade she focused increasingly on Biblical Studies and graduated from Cambridge with a PhD on Genesis 38. She now works as a free-lance lecturer and is particularly interested in encouraging people to read the Bible and in making the study of the Bible accessible and enjoyable.

Title: Celtic Spirituality: What is it? Has it any significance for life today?
Date: November 3, 10, 17, 24   (Michael Drumm)

There is a lot of talk today about Celtic Spirituality. But the question arises – what exactly is it? Does such a spirituality exist? Is it anything more than romantic nostalgia for a dead past? Who were the Celts? Can we access their spiritual insights? During this course some characteristics of Celtic life will be identified which might legitimately form the foundations for a renewed Celtic spirituality today.

Fee: €100 for full course.

Michael Drumm is a priest of the Diocese of Elphin and ministers in Rosses Point, Co Sligo. Previously, a Lecturer in Theology and Director of Mater Dei Institute of Education in Dublin, he has published books and articles on theology and on the role of religion in Irish society. He was the founding chairperson of the Catholic Schools Partnership.

Title: Exploring the Synodal Pathway: The Ongoing Reception of Vatican II.
Date: November 4, 11, 18, 25  (Janet Forbes and Oonagh O’ Brien)

This course will explore the upcoming Synod as the continuation of the Second Vatican Council with a particular focus on the Spirituality of Synodality; the participation of all, especially young people, and the need for structures and resources to support the local church.

Janet Forbes and Oonagh O’ Brien featuring Sr. Nathalie Becquart and Rafael Luciani.

Fee: €100 for full course.

Janet Forbes is a Graduate Student of Boston College’s School of Theology and ministry.  Having worked in leadership and vocational education Janet has research interests in Catechetics, pastoral theology and Synodality.

Oonagh O’ Brien is a theologian with a specialty in ecclesiology, ministry and practical theology. She is currently CEO at Mount St Anne’s having previously been Principal at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology in Cambridge UK.

Sr. Nathalie Becquart is a religious sister and member of the French Congregation of Xavieres.  She has been appointed by Pope Francis as the first female Under-Secretary to the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops in Rome.

Rafael Luciani is a professor of theology at the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in Venezuela and an Extraordinarius professor at Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry. He serves as Adviser to the Latin American Bishop`s Council (CELAM) and the Latin American Confederation of Religious (CLAR). He has recently been appointed to the theological commission for the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.

You can download a Summary Sheet of these and all scheduled retreats taking place at Mount St. Anne’s Retreat & Conference Centre from October to end of December 2021 Autumn Online Courses & Advent Retreats at Mt. St. Anne’s Oct to Dec 2021

See also Mount St. Anne’s Website Mount St. Anne’s Retreat & Conference Centre » Retreats and Courses (mountstannes.com)