Educational and Catechetical Centre

Education and formation for those who combine faith, active life and service.

The Tree of Life Educational and Catechetical Centre operates at St Thomas Aquinas Institute of Religious Studies in Kyiv. The purpose of the Centre is to train and form Christians in such training programmes as “Catechetical Ministry and Evangelisation” and “Family Counselling”. Both lay people and consecrated persons, as well as representatives of the clergy (in particular, for family counselling) are accepted for training.

Major features of the Tree of Life Educational and Catechetical Centre:

• More than 20 years of experience: training of catechists has been carried out since 2001, evangelisers – since 2013, family consultants (Catechists of brides and grooms) – since 2008.
• Promotion of the spiritual and professional development of both matriculated and non-matriculated students in an active and friendly community that they create together with lecturers.
• Top lecturer practitioners from all over Ukraine (priests, lay people, consecrated persons).
• Practical non-formal training, where lectures and seminars are combined with the development of personal ideas and projects.
• Full- and part-time training and distance learning, which makes it possible to receive training from anywhere in the world. Lecture recordings are provided.
• Opportunities for further education and training for graduates.

We offer the following training programmes:

Catechetical Ministry and Evangelisation – More information

• Area of specialisation: “Parish Catechetical Ministry and Evangelisation” (including fundamentals of pedagogy and Christian ethics)

Family Counselling – More information

• Area of specialisation: “Family Counselling and Methods of Preparation for Marriage and Parenthood” (including fundamentals of catechesis of brides and grooms, Christian ethics and family psychology)

The training and formation programmes are designed:

• for Catholics who live their faith: experienced catechists and novice assistants, evangelisers and parish workers, members of parish groups, communities and movements; for teachers and all those individuals who feel called to catechetical ministry and evangelisation.
• for those who want to participate in family pastoral care and help young people and brides and grooms prepare for marriage; for teachers, psychologists, theologians, lawyers, economists, employees of family counselling centres (advisory offices, family centres, psychological, medical and pedagogical counselling centres, etc.) and all those who feel called to serve families in accordance with the teaching of the Catholic Church.

Training conditions:

• Face-to-face or online learning? You can choose freely and combine these two formats! Lectures and classes are held in classrooms, via ZOOM (remotely), and in a combined form. Recording allows you not to miss a single class.
• The training process involves interactive communication with lecturers, even if the student takes online classes.
• Training takes place monthly during non-working hours (several days a month, dates and times are agreed separately). Lecture recordings are also available.
• The training lasts three years. Upon completion of the three-year training, a diploma is awarded. It is also possible to participate in individual sessions as a non-matriculated student (a certificate is issued). Diplomas and certificates that are issued by the Centre do not have state accreditation.

Requirements for applicants:

• Catholic faith (rite irrelevant) and a letter of recommendation from the rector (priest).
• For representatives of the clergy, seminarians and monks – a letter of recommendation from a representative of the Church authorities (according to the status of the applicant – from the bishop, rector/rectors).
• A motivation letter that includes a biography and an explanation of the reason why the applicant wants to study and how they plan to use the knowledge gained.
• A medical certificate of fitness to study (form 086/о – this requirement may vary depending on the circumstances).
• Registration for training (the date of the entrance interview is discussed individually) via the Internet or by calling the phone numbers provided.
• The training process takes place thanks to donations from students of the Center, the help of the Order of Preachers and charitable contributions from private sponsors.