Engaging Evening with Tom Groome
On 6th March 2017, Professor Tom Groome spoke at the first event organised by the Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education, part of the new DCU arrangements at the University’s Institute of Education on the DCU St. Patrick’s Campus. The evening with Tom Groome ‘Can We Educate for Faith?’ was held in conjunction with the Council for Catechetics of the Irish Catholic Bishops Conference.
Professor Brian McCraith, President of DCU, opened the evening welcoming Tom and over 160 people who attended. He provided a helpful explanation of the Centre’s remit in the University and spoke about DCU’s determination to build on the heritage of St. Patrick’s College and Mater Dei Institute of Education in providing teachers and chaplains for the Catholic schools among others. He mentioned also the Church of Ireland Centre which will continue to provide a similar service for schools of the Reformed Traditions.
Bishop Brendan Leahy, Chairman of the Council for Catechetics, introduced Tom and his work in Boston and worldwide, highlighting his role now as Director of the ‘21st Century Church’ Centre at Boston College.
Professor Groome’s presentation addressed three clear themes:
- Challenges and (Irish) Hopes for Religious Education
- What Faith to Teach through Catholic Education?
- Educating for Christian Faith: A Life to Faith to Life Approach to Religious Education
As well as presenting key ideas for a positive reflection on the significance of religious education today and of faith development, Professor Groome invited participants to engage with each other a number of times eliciting ideas and encouraging debate with and among his audience. There was a palpable sense of commitment to appropriately conceived of and designed education for faith. Speakers from the floor indicated their keen desire for creative engagement with young people around faith. It was felt by many afterwards that hearing Tom give examples of how to use his method was very helpful. The final part of his presentation helped people develop a real sense of the value of what he was suggesting.
At the end of the evening, Dr. Gareth Byrne, Director of the Mater Dei Centre for Catholic Education, brought proceedings to a close, thanking Tom for his generous and enthusiastic delivery and for the engagement he managed to create in the room with so many participating in the conversation. Gareth noted that there were undergraduate, Masters and Doctoral level students present as well as teachers, chaplains, school principals and representatives of various educational leadership groups in Catholic education, nationally and locally. He thanked everyone for their willing and happy participation in the discussion and invited those present to register themselves with the Centre so they could be kept posted about future events. A presentation was made to the speaker and the conversation continued over tea and coffee.