Deborah Meli

Pastoral Formation Institute

The Pastoral Formation Institute (PFI) was established in 2005 with the mission of offering lifelong learning opportunities to those who want to enrich themselves in pastoral, human and spiritual formation. Since then it has offered about 21 courses on a part-time basis. These differ in duration and are not necessarily offered during the same academic year. The PFI has its chair at the Catholic Institute, in Floriana. The PFI has the prime purpose of providing a holistic formation, as required by all the members of the Catholic community in Malta. In its effort to reinforce the identity of this community of brethren, the Institute intends offering opportunities for (a) permanent formation and (b) spiritual experiences; the Institute also intends (c) promoting professional formation of pastoral workers for the performance of their ministries and other work; (d) providing experiences of dialogue with Maltese society. Through the decree published on the 28th September 2007, the Archbishop authorised the PFI to: _ issue certificates for the courses of pastoral formation; _ prepare schemes of levels and standards suitable for the different courses; _ ascertain that the level, contents and methodology of the courses provided by the all entities within the Diocese are of a satisfactory standard.