"Book now for 2025-26" 

The National Course is a collaborative project between Missio and the Catholic Missionary Union (CMU), for pastoral ministers from overseas, working in England and Wales.
It is designed to help Diocesan fidei donum priests, and Religious Priests, Brothers and Sisters who have entered the UK within the last two or three years:

• To value their own cultures as well as to be open to the culture in which they are serving,
• To be willing to share their unique personal gifts in the service of the Church here,
• To be able to cope with the complexity of ministry in a cross-cultural setting,
• To be available to others so that they can be approached with trust and confidence, without fear of being judged,
• To understand the vital need for Safeguarding structures to protect children and vulnerable adults and to follow the current guidelines strictly,
• To be friends, in the host culture, to those whom God loves in a special way: the outcast, the stranger, the poor and the sinner,
• To possess a profound respect for other people, cultures, and religions, discerning the presence of God in their midst and willing to listen to and learn from them, and adapt accordingly,
• To reflect on how they can support the Church here to grow in its appreciation of diversity and include other cultures and traditions,
• To communicate something of the freshness and vitality of the Church from which they come,
• To value collaboration with priests, deacons, and pastoral agents in the Local Church, and
• To equip them with the means to become effective and fulfilled servants of the Local Church.

CMU and Missio have successfully run this course together in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021and 2022. Thanks to the generous support of Porticus,  CMU and Missio were able to extend the course to two residential weeks in 2021-22, with peer group and mentor support in the intervening months. The reflection is that this is a most effective model of delivery.

Dates and Fees
Two workshops:

• Monday 27 October 2025 to Friday 31st October 2025
• Monday 18 to 22 May 2026

There will also be peer group gatherings with a mentor in the intervening months.
Due to cost of living rises and no longer having external funding, we have reluctantly increased the price to £1100. However we believe that this still represents excellent value for money for a 2 week course with associated support and materials-– all-inclusive apart from transport costs.

Booking Form

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Venue

Wistaston Hall Retreat Centre near Crewe.    Quality, en suite accommodation.  

A collaborative project between Missio and the Catholic Missionary Union

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Facilitated by
​Fr Anthony Dampson SMA (UK & Ghana) 

Guest speakers  including :
Mr Richard Owens
Dr Helen Costigane
Fr Eamonn Mulcahy CSSP
Br. Brendan Geery
Fr Anthony Chantry MHM
Mr Danny Curtin
​Fr Barry O Sullivan 
Fr Liam Cummins MHM 
Fr Leo Abgene CSsP
​Ms Claire Colleran

​WHAT SOME OF THE PREVIOUS PARTICIPANTS HAVE SAID ABOUT THE COURSE..........................................................​

​"I liked the frankness...it helps take away prejudices"

"Fantastic for newly arrived non-British missionaries...it will water down some of the fears and anxieties they bring with them"

"It was practical with a pastoral touch"

"Honest and clear expression of British culture"

"The contributors are experts, realistic, down to earth and homely"

"I gained a lot from the course and would recommend it"

"It will help you to settle in to your new environment"

"I would definitely reccommend this course as an 'eye opener'
 for any religious missionary"

"100% recommend it. In order to do missionary work in the UK it is not enough to be a priest. This course is an introduction to the people, the language, the expectations, the history etc - without these our ministry would be to say the least, counter-productive"

"I enjoyed the course because it is practical, down to earth and reassuring. It is a good tool for the New Evangelisation in Britain"

"I will surely recommend to all Bishops and Superiors...this course has re-shaped me to begin my ministry with confidence"