Wednesday, February 25, 2009

I promised...

...to give occasional reports on how things are going with the BA Divinity course, done through Maryvale. For those unfamiliar with this, it's a course run partly by correspondence, with occasional sessions of lectures held at Maryvale (Old Oscott House, near Birmingham - lovely old place with recusant connections).

My latest essay came back today, duly marked, and I fell on it with quivering fingers to find out what mark I had got. It was a pleasing one and made all the work and worry worthwhile. Jamie beamed. I beamed. Well, actually I danced around a bit.

Next essay tackling philosophy doesn't seem so daunting now.

The Maryvale academic team produce systematic material which arrives regularly, along with reading lists, supplementary notes, etc. There is great efficiency on all the smaller details such as arrangements for exams (July! gulp...) and for the various weekend lectures.

At Maryvale itself there are some rather endearing aspects to life,centred on the age of the house and the financial limitations of a Catholic institution... my personal favourite is the neat piece of paper on the dining-room notice-board, where you make a tick if you want an egg for breakfast.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

At Maryvale itself there are some rather endearing aspects to life,centred on the age of the house and the financial limitations of a Catholic institution...

What a deliciously understated comment!

Anonymous said...

Funny old world really.

I've often wondered how the Church in E and W can raise millions of pounds to support the fairly bland, if not useless, beaurocracy of Eccleston Square, yet will not summon up the reserves to help an Institution like Maryvale doing such valuable work for the Church, fulfilling the dream of Cardinal Newman (and, indeed, the Second Vatican Council) for an educated laity - and fully conformant with the Church's magisterial teachings. Perhaps therein lies the answer.

Good luck with your studies.

Lucy said...

Good on you Auntie! Keep up the good work. Much love from Turkey xxxxx

Lucy said...
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