Institute for Pastoral Ministry AGM and Graduation Ceremony in Gozo

by Gozo News · July 31, 2024

The Annual General Meeting of the Institute for Pastoral Ministry (IPM) of the Diocese of Gozo was held last Friday.

On the same occasion, the Graduation Ceremony took place for the Academic Year 2023-2024, with the awarding of certificates to 30 students who attended the courses throughout this year. The courses offered were: Award in Safeguarding of Minors and Award in Biblical Formation.

Among the speeches made, there was a welcome address by the Chairman of the IPM Dr. Joe Azzopardi, where he recalled how this Institute was started and its objectives based on which it was founded.

Among others, he spoke about the importance of continuous formation so that the pastoral operators in Gozo are well prepared to carry out the ministries entrusted to them, and how the IPM is trying to offer this formation. He also thanked all those who offered service within the Institute.

Msgr. Noel Saliba, Director of the IPM, started by giving details about the External Audit that was carried out at the IPM by the MFHEA in the last academic year. This was the first audit of its kind ever carried out in this Institute, and served to renew the IPM licence.

In this audit IPM’s policies were checked and verified, the financial aspect, how the courses offered are designed and approved, how much teaching and assessment are focused on the students, how they are accepted the students for the courses offered, how they can progress and receive certificates that are recognised, the competence and professionalism of the lecturers who offer the courses, the resources that include the library and the support offered to the students, how the IPM information is kept in compliance with the Laws of Malta, the information that is given to the public, how regular internal monitoring is done, and how the audit is done by external entities to ensure the quality and the standard of the courses.

Then the Director mentioned the two courses that during this academic year were offered by the Institute and which were attended by 30 students overall; a review of the Course Award in Safeguarding of Minors which was accredited at Level 3 was requested so that it has now become an Award in Safeguarding of Minors and Vulnerable People which will be at Level 4; and another course Award in Psycho-dynamics of Family Relationships – Theory and Skills was approved, which will be given by Bishop Anton Teuma.

Looking ahead, Msgr. Saliba mentioned that the IPM is working to start offering these mentioned courses in the next academic year along with others: Award in Biblical Themes, Award in Archiving / Paper Conservation and Paper Restoration, Award in Liturgical Formation, Award in Current Moral Issues, and Award in Leadership Skills.