STEUBENVILLE, OHIO & DEVON, ENGLAND—The School of the Annunciation—the United Kingdom’s only higher education school dedicated to the new evangelization—is now enrolling European students in Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Online Master of Arts in Catechetics and Evangelization Program.

Based at Buckfast Abbey in Devon, England, the School of the Annunciation (SOTA) enables students who enroll in the SOTA/Franciscan University program to take most of their courses online and attend a short residential summer program at their Buckfast Abbey campus. The abbey is a medieval monastery, refounded in 1882, and located in the Devonshire countryside, south of London.

“By virtue of SOTA’s connections with dioceses and parishes in the United Kingdom and beyond, many more catechists and Catholics seeking an advanced degree will have access to Franciscan University’s online program,” said Bob Rice, director of Franciscan’s online MA in Catechetics and Evangelization Program.

“The Holy Spirit is renewing the Catholic faith in Europe through efforts in the New Evangelization. This online partnership will equip catechists, teachers, priests, and religious with the knowledge and passion to evangelize Catholics who aren’t active in their faith and anyone who simply doesn’t know the Catholic Church’s message of salvation.”

Both institutions share a common vision for catechesis, grounded in the principles contained in Pope St. John Paul II’s Apostolic Constitution, Ex corde Ecclesiae.

Father Guy de Gaynesford, STL, rector of the School of the Annunciation, said, “All those associated with the School of the Annunciation will naturally be absolutely delighted to learn of the beginning of this exciting collaborative partnership with a world-renowned Catholic university. The remarkable progress both sides have achieved in creating this partnership was made possible by our common fidelity to the Catholic faith, our shared academic expertise, and our joint passion to form disciples of the Lord for the work of the new evangelization.”

Students will be taught by professors at both institutions, including Franciscan University professors Dr. Scott Hahn, Professor Bob Rice, Sister M. Johanna Paruch, FSGM; Dr. Petroc Willey, and Dr. Alan Schreck. SOTA professors include Dr. Caroline Farey and Dr. Andrew Beards.

The School of the Annunciation: Centre for the New Evangelization was founded in 2014 as a higher education institution dedicated to the new evangelization. In the past year, SOTA has launched three new courses in evangelization, catechesis, and Latin.

Students are now being accepted into the program, which begins January 2016. More information is available from the School of the Annunciation, or email [email protected].