Marriage: hardest "yes" you'll ever say, and (apparently 😅) the best theology class you never signed up for.
Three fancy words are about to become your new favourite party trick 🎉 — stick with us:
✝️ Christocentric — big word, simple idea: Christ is in your marriage, not just at the wedding Mass. He's there for the good days, the "who left the dishes" days, all of it.
👀 New perspective — nope, not new rules (breathe 😌). It's the same marriage you know, just seen properly for once: as a gift, not a chore rota with rings.
🛡️ Apologetics — because someone at Christmas dinner will ask "why does the Church even care about marriage?" 🙃 — and this course means you'll actually have an answer, and a good one.
Three words. One course. Zero boring lectures, we promise 😉
📍 Starts October 2026, kicks off with a residential weekend at Oscott
Apply today: https://www.maryvale.ac.uk/programmes/sacrament-of-marriage
Maryvale Institute International Catholic College
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The official page of Maryvale Institute, a Catholic, distance-learning college, based in the Archdio
Since its establishment over 35 years ago as the Archdiocesan centre for Catechetics and Adult Education, Maryvale has remained true to its founding mission to build up the Church by forming lay Catholics in a deeper knowledge of their faith. Over that time it has earned an international reputation for the quality of its teaching and its fidelity to the Catholic Church, and now provides courses at
📖 Ever tried reading the Old Testament cover to cover and lost momentum somewhere around Leviticus? 😅 We feel you.
This September, Maryvale Institute is launching the Biblical Course: OT Covenant Year — Genesis to 2 Maccabees, guided week by week, with someone who actually knows why all those genealogies matter (spoiler: they really do 👀).
Taught by Tamra Fromm in partnership with the Catholic Biblical School Ministry. Weekly online lessons + live tutorials. No prior study needed — just curiosity and a willingness to finally understand the whole story. The course starts with a Welcome Session on Thursday, 17 September 2026, at 18:45 UK time.
✨ Enrolment is open now. Give the Old Testament the second chance it deserves.
https://www.maryvale.ac.uk/programmes/biblical-old-testament
Warning: this course may cause you to actually understand St Paul's sentences. 😄
New Testament — Encounter Year, starting this September with Colleen Vermeulen, walks through the Synoptic Gospels and the Pauline Letters — properly, patiently, and with someone who genuinely loves the text (watch below 🎥👇).
Online, year-long, open to all — no prior study needed.
Places are limited. Enrol now.
👉 maryvale.ac.uk/new-testament.html
27/07/2026
Registration to be part of the next cohort taking part in the 'Certificate in Altar Server Studies' course is now open.
It is designed for adult servers looking to further their knowledge in the history of liturgy, the sacraments, scripture, communication, leadership and people skills and the theology of service.
This course is run by the Maryvale Institute in partnership with the Guild, part of the Oscott College seminary and is open to all servers aged 18 and over and delivered in monthly 1-hour on-line sessions over 6 months with an optional session in-person at Oscott, Birmingham.
Visit our website to learn more and register, the deadline for registration is 15th September. guildofststephen.org/certificate
15/07/2026
We are excited to announce that registration to be part of the next cohort taking part in the 'Certificate in Altar Server Studies' course is now open.
This course is run by the Maryvale Institute in partnership with the Guild, part of the Oscott College seminary and is open to all servers aged 18 and over and delivered in monthly 1-hour on-line sessions over 6 months with a final optional session in-person at Oscott, Birmingham.
This course has received the endorsement of Cardinal Nichols, Archbishop Longley, and recently Archbishop Moth has added his support.
It is not a ‘how to serve Mass course’, rather it is designed for adult servers looking to further their knowledge in the history of liturgy, the sacraments, scripture, communication, leadership and people skills and the theology of service.
Visit our website to learn more and register, the deadline for registration is 15th September. guildofststephen.org/certificate
06/07/2026
29/06/2026
All at Maryvale are saddened to hear that our friend and former visiting professor, Brother Herman Lombaerts, has peacefully departed to the Lord, his Creator. Brother Herman generously shared his energy, time, and experience in developing and supporting the Ecclesiastical Licence in Catechetics. He served for more than ten years as a PGR student supervisor and examiner.
Requiescat in pace
Broeder Herman Lombaerts | Huis Arijs Zoon van Cyriel Lombaerts(†) en Amelie De Coster(†)
20/06/2026
Unlock the New Testament with Maryvale Institute
📖 Join us this Autumn to explore the Synoptic Gospels — Matthew, Mark, Luke — and Acts of the Apostles and the Pauline Letters, reading them as one continuous testimony to the encounter with the risen Christ.
🙏 If you are a catechist, pastoral minister, lector, parish formators, post-RCIA participant or any lay person who wants to read the with the eyes of faith, this flexible online learning course is for you.
📌 Enrolling now for launch in September: https://www.maryvale.ac.uk/new-testament.html
19/06/2026
Unlock the Old Testament with Maryvale Institute
📖 Join us this Autumn to explore the historical books — Genesis to 2 Maccabees - each book read in its own setting and , towards a deeper understanding of Christ and the Church.
🙏 If you are a catechist, pastoral minister, lector, parish formator, post-RCIA participant or any lay person who wants to read the with the eyes of faith, this flexible online learning course is for you.
📌 Enrolling now for launch in September: https://www.maryvale.ac.uk/old-testament.html
10/06/2026
Maryvale HIRS Director Deacon Dr Harry Schnitker leads retreat for the priests of the Diocese of Victoria at Little Flower Monastery (British Columbia).
Find out more: https://www.maryvale.ac.uk/meet-harry-schnitker1.html
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Location
Category
Website
Address
St Mary's College Oscott, Chester Road, Sutton Coldfield
Birmingham
B735AA
Opening Hours
| Monday | 9am - 4:45pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 4:45pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 4:45pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 4:45pm |
| Friday | 9am - 4:45pm |