Module: Liturgy, Sacraments & Spirituality

Module Specifications

Academic Year 2026 - 2027

Module Title	Liturgy, Sacraments & Spirituality
Module Code	EDU1042 (ITS: CCE401)
Faculty	DCU Institute of Education	School	Human Development
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

Catholic CRS3 is the last module on the Certificate in Religious Studies (CRS) programme. In this module students are reinforced in their understaning of the Catholic vision for Education, and made familiar with a variety of pedagogical approaches and strategies used by educators to teach the Patrons programme in Catholic schools at primary level in the Republic of Ireland.

Learning Outcomes

1. 1E1471AD-6D77-0001-1126-B2BE1EF0DCF0
2. Examine the importance of self-esteem and esteeming the true self (care of the soul) in the development of spirituality.
4. 20,8,21,11,9
5. 1
6. 1E1471AD-78C1-0001-3F94-6920E560150D
7. Identify what a Christian spirituality of teaching might be and how it might impact on one’s professional life as a Christian teacher.
9. 20,8,19,21,10
10. 2
11. 1E1471AD-871A-0001-FFE2-1CE012601875
12. Analyse Christian resources for the spirituality of the educator.
14. 22,20,6,11,9
15. 3
16. 1E1471B0-43C5-0001-BC76-9C5ED6808A80
17. Provide a basic overview of the Sacraments of Initiation from historical, theological, liturgical and pedagogical points of view.
19. 6,8
20. 4
21. 1E1471B0-4EEC-0001-FA5D-AE3015A8150E
22. Describe the principal periods of the Christian Church calendar and how they might be celebrated at school.
24. 7,8,10
25. 5
26. 1E1471B0-5BAD-0001-8074-41401F30A700
27. Demonstrate an understanding of how to prepare a para-liturgy in the primary school.
29. 7,8
30. 6
31. 1E1471B0-791D-0001-AF61-1DC0133DC000
32. Outline the process of, and resources available for the preparation of children for the sacraments of Eucharist, Reconciliation and Confirmation in the primary school.
34. 6,8,11
35. 7

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	5	No Description
Online activity	10	No Description
Independent Study	110	Study, reserach and assignments
Lecture	7	No Description
Total Workload: 132

Section Breakdown
CRN	10433	Part of Term	Semester 1 & 2
Coursework	100%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Vivek da Silva	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Digital Project	Video evidencing ability to engage in personal reflection, research and critical discourse to show how their religious and theological literacy and understanding of Christian spirituality impacts their enagagement with the content of the Catholic Pre-school and Primary Religious Education Curriculum for Ireland.	100%	Sem 2 End

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introduction to Spirituality.
The Spirituality component of the module will explore the significance of Spirituality for the Educator. This course synthesizes psychology, spirituality and theology to enable students to begin to integrate their psychological development and their spirituality into their developing sense of themselves as teachers. It will draw mainly on Christian resources for the spirituality of the educator.

Spiirtuality and prayer

Spirituality of Care

A Christian spirituality of Teaching and the Spirtuality of the Educator

Theological and historical overview of Sacraments of Initiation.
The opening elements of this component of the module (i.e. Liturgy and sacraments), will explore the notion of sacrament focusing on the Sacraments of Initiation and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Pedagogy of the sacraments.
The pedagogical approach to sacraments pays particular attention to the Catholic Preschool and Primary Religious Education Curriculum for Ireland as well as the Grow in Love programme.

Overview of Seasons of the liturgical year – Sunday, Easter Cycle and Christmas Cycle (colours and themes).
The Liturgical Year component will look at the various liturgical seasons and cycles with particular emphasis on Sunday, Easter and Christmas.

Silence and Stillness
The value of silence and stillness to face the reliaties of the self and the Divine

Meditation with Children in the Classroom

Visio and Lectio Divina
Introducing children to intercat and prayer with art and sacred text

Culture, Meaning Making and Pluralism

Christianity, other Religions and Worldviews
the imporatnce of dialogue, awareness of diversity, inter-religious literacy

Godly Play
Understanding and recognising the sacred through story telling

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Chittister, J: 1991, Wisdom Distilled from the Daily, Harper, San Francisco,
Rohr, R.: 2013, Immortal Diamond: the Search for our True Self, SPCK, London,
Benner, D.G.: 2015, The Gift of Being Yourself: The Sacred Call to Self-Discovery (Spiritual Journey), Inter-varsity Press, U.S.,
Palmer, P.: 1998, The Courage to Teach, Jossey-Bass Publications, San Francisco,
Durka, G.: 2002, The Teacherâ€™s Calling: a spirituality for those who teach, Paulist Press, New York,
Moore, T.: 2009, A Life at Work: the joy of discovering what you were born to do, Piatkus, London,
Monbourquette, J: 2009, in How to Discover your Personal Mission, Darton, Longmann and Todd, London,
Rolheiser, R.: 2014, Sacred Fire: A Vision for a Deeper Human and Christian Maturity, Image Books, New York,
Monbourquette, J: 2006, Self-esteem and the Soul: from psychology to spirituality, Novalis, Montreal,
Radcliffe, T: 2012, Take the Plunge, Bloomsbury Continuum, London,
Oâ€™Collins, G. & Farrugia, M: 2003, Catholicism â€“ The Story of Catholic Christianity, Oxford University Press, New York,
Irish Episcopal Conference: 2011, Share the Good News â€“ National Directory for Catechesis in Ireland., Veritas, Dublin,
Drumm, M. and Gunning, T.: 1999, . A Sacramental People: Volume 1 Initiation, Columba, Dublin,
Irish Episcopal Conference: 2015, Catholic Preschool and Primary Religious Education Curriculum for Ireland, Veritas, Dublin,
Pope John Paul II: 1998, Dies Domini / On Keeping the Lord's Day Holy, Pauline Books and Media,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

1: Website, National Catholic Education Commission, Together at One Altar,