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EQUIP Formation for the New Evangelization

Year End Celebration for Diploma in New Evangelization and EQUIP Program

This week marks the end of the year for the Diploma in the New Evangelization and the diocesan EQUIP program. Participants in the EQUIP program take part in small groups and retreats in order to be formed in the faith and trained to engage in the mission of the church at the parish level, while also taking courses to provide a solid theological foundation and education. EQUIP participants from across the diocese came together and celebrated their year-end retreat this past weekend as they reflected on the themes of Pilgrims of Hope, based on the theme of our current Jubilee Year.

Special congratulations to all the EQUIP participants who have completed their third year of the program, and who are now preparing to receive their Diploma in the New Evangelization at this weekends convocation ceremony at Atlantic School of Theology (AST). Please pray for these graduates, and all graduates of AST, as they celebrate this accomplishment, that they will find many ways to put their gifts at the service of spreading the Gospel within our parishes and the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth.

Be Equipped For Mission

EQUIP is a new Archdiocesan formation process, designed to help prepare you for the mission EQUIP brochure pic on FrontPanel 72 of New Evangelization – the mission to bring the Gospel to all those you meet in your daily life.

Many Catholics are engaged with their faith and desire to share their faith with others but don’t know how. EQUIP provides the teachings, skills,tools, and confidence to prepare leaders for the mission - whether that means leadership in your parish, your family, your workplace or the public sphere. EQUIP provides retreats, courses, and small group discussions in order to provide formation in the four key areas of Intellectual Formation, Spiritual Formation, Human Formation, and Pastoral Formation. Together, these pieces prepare our participants for the mission of evangelization within parishes in the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth, as well as giving them the attitudes, skills, and knowledge to bring the Gospel to their families and friends in their everyday life.

If you have the desire to witness to Christ and to bring Him to those you encounter – consider EQUIP!

EQUIP Formation 2024-2025 Components

Wednesday Evenings
(6:00pm-8:30pm)
Weekly classes in AST’s Diploma in New Evangelization

Small Group Meetings - Monthly

Webinars (on topics related to Evangelization) - Two per year (online)

Retreat Weekends (TBD)
1. Fall 2024
2. Spring 2025

Facts about EQUIPBible hands pen

1. Components of EQUIP

Courses Offered in partnership with Franciscan University of Steubenville

We are thrilled to announce that all of our courses are offered in partnership with Franciscan University of Steubenville. Courses are one-month long and are accomplished completely on your own time in a flexible approach that requires roughly 4-hours per month. Each year we focus on concrete skills you need to effectively share Christ with others, as well as providing you a solid intellectual foundation in your faith. These skills focus on your identifying your personal vocation and mission, sharing the faith with others, discernment, and leadership.

Each participant takes part in a small group cohort, facilitated by a mentor, who journey together through the courses in order to reflect upon and deepen the experience in a supportive small group community of peers.

Two Annual Retreats

Each year all EQUIP participants take part in a Fall Retreat in September and a Spring Retreat in May. These retreats are the beginning and end of the year, and are a chance to experience the wider diocesan community as EQUIP participants from across the diocese gather for community, prayer, and spiritual formation.

2. Flexible Approach

EQUIP is structured so that Catholics from across the diocese can participant. Courses are fully online and are accomplished according to the needs of your schedule. Small groups can take place either in-person or online, depending on the needs of each group.

3. Investing In You

Thanks to the generosity of local sponsors and donors, we are able to offer EQUIP free of charge to accepted applicants! That means that the cost of retreats and courses are fully covered for all successful applicants. This cost in training invested in you over the course of the program to help bring about renewal of the church and the world. Some costs related to optional accommodations for retreats may still apply.

4. Are You Ready?

EQUIP Application Form

EQUIP requires a commitment of your time and attention. The program is completed over three years. In particular EQUIP students are expected to:

  • be active in a local parish
  • participate fully in both components of EQUIP
  • complete all required readings, video courses, and personal reflections
  • attend the twice yearly retreats in person