UFT E-News 2010 #1

WELCOME to the UFT for 2010. This initial e-news contains several important announcements about enrolment and graduation, so whether you are a first time student, or a completing student, please read it carefully.

1. UFT enrolments close 11 February 2010
2. UFT Welcome Day 18 February 2010
3. UFT Commencement Lecture 2010
4. Academic Skills Program for 2010
5. MCD Graduation 2010
6. Financial Assistance
7. MCD Centenary Conference 2010
8. Science and Religion Essay Prize Competition
9. Caring For Ex-Offenders
10. Slow Spirituality…. in a fast moving world
11. Haiti Emergency Response Appeal.
12. Ecumenical Lenten Studies 2010
13. Iconography Workshops: March 2010

1. UFT enrolments close 11 February 2010
All new and returning students are reminded that the final date for first semester enrolment forms to be submitted to the UFT office is Thursday 11 February 2010. Students will not be able to enrol in any units after this date. Enrolled students may alter their enrolment without penalty up until Thursday 11 March 2010 by submitting a Change of Enrolment form to the UFT office for approval by the Dean.

2. UFT Welcome Day 18 February 2010
The annual UFT Welcome Day for new and returning students will take place at the UFT’s three sites in Parkville on Thursday 18 February 2010. New students are encouraged to attend the Academic Skills Workshop to be held at the Centre for Theology and Ministry from 2pm to 5pm. All students are then welcome to attend an Orientation session at the CTM from 5pm to 6pm, followed by a light meal at Jesuit Theological College from 6pm. The day concludes with the UFT Commencement Lecture for 2010 at 7.30pm at Trinity College. *** Please RSVP for the Academic Skills Workshop and / or the meal at CTM reception (9340 8890) or by email to admin@uft.edu.au ***

3. UFT Commencement Lecture 2010
The 2010 UFT Commencement Lecture will be delivered by Dr Catherine Playoust (Lecturer in New Testament, Jesuit Theological College) at 7.30pm on Thursday 18 February 2010 at Trinity College in the new lecture facility at the Old Warden’s Lodge. Her topic is ‘A Time to Scatter, a Time to Gather’. All are most welcome to attend.

4. Academic Skills Program for 2010
In addition to the Academic Skills Workshop to be held at Welcome Day, there will be a series of further events throughout the semester to assist students with library research, essay writing, and citation skills. Dates will be circulated in the next e-news.

5. MCD Graduation 2010
If you completed your award in 2009 and believe you are eligible to graduate, you should notify the UFT office (9340 8890 or email admin@uft.edu.au) if you have not already done so. All students eligible to graduate at the MCD Conferral Ceremony on 22 April 2010 will receive paperwork in the mail in mid-February. If by the end of February you have not been contacted by the MCD Kew administration staff, you should contact the UFT office urgently to ensure you have a place reserved in the Conferral ceremony.

6. Financial Assistance
The MCD Student Bursary Fund supports students who may be experiencing financial difficulties. For further information or to apply for assistance, contact the UFT Registrar, Margaret Tropea, who will arrange to have it signed by the Dean and submitted to the MCD Registrar. Funds do not provide full fee bursaries; successful applicants are usually those who have demonstrated some commitment to studying at the MCD. This Bursary Fund is available to Australian citizens only. Applications will be considered in strict confidence and you will be informed of your application within 2 weeks of submission to the MCD.

7. MCD Centenary Conference 2010
2010 is the hundredth anniversary of the foundation of the Melbourne College of Divinity by Act of the Victorian Parliament in 1910. Full details of the centenary program are available from the MCD website www.mcd.edu.au, where the call for papers for the Centenary Conference ‘The Future of Religion in Australian Society’ (Trinity College, 4 – 7 July 2010) may be found. This conference is being held in conjunction with the annual ANZATS conference, and registration for one or both conferences is now available from the MCD website, www.mcd.edu.au

8. Science and Religion Essay Prize Competition
The International Society for Science and Religion is offering major cash prizes for an essay by a student or junior academic on an aspect of the work of John Polkinghorne. 1st prize is £10,000, 2nd prize is £5,000 and 3rd prize is £2,000. For further details, terms and conditions, please visit www.issr.org.uk. Entries close 31 March 2010.

9. Caring For Ex-Offenders
This is a forthcoming conference on how churches can deal with issues of sexual abuse with speakers from different perspectives and disciplines.  For details and registration form go to www.alphafriends.org.au/cfeoconferences, or contact John Clarke National Coordinator, Alpha for Prisons/Caring for Ex-Offenders, PO Box 2059 East Grovedale VIC 3216, 0430 388774.

10. Slow Spirituality…. in a fast moving world
The Passion of Christ: a series of events held at Highfield Road Uniting Church, Corner of Highfield & Prospect Hill Roads, Canterbury. 7pm soup & bread, $10 per session. Booking essential: contact Peter Gador-Whyte 0417 425 188 or petergw@netspace.net.au.
Feb 24 Music of the Passion (Martin Wright & Miranda Stanyon St Matthew’s Passion – J.S. Bach)
Mar 3 Hymns of the Passion (Rev Bruce Barber  Former Dean of the United Faculty of Theology, Melbourne)
Mar 10 Picturing the Passion (Dr Felicity Harley-McGowan Research Fellow, University of Melbourne)
Mar 17 Poetry of the Passion (The Right Rev John Bayton, on W.B Yeats, RS Thomas, Les Murray, Carl Sand Burg, Sczeslaw Milosz & John Bayton)
Mar 24 Passion Plays (Dr Philippa Maddern Professor of Medieval History at the University of WA)
Mar 31 Reciting the Passion (Professor Emeritus Robert Gribben & Matthew Champion)

11. Haiti Emergency Response Appeal.
Caritas Australia is running an appeal to assist Caritas Australia's local partners in the Caribbean in delivering aid to the worst affected regions of Haiti. You can support the Caritas Australia Haiti Emergency Response Appeal by calling 1800 024 413 or by donating online. For more information call Tim O'Connor (02) 8306 3444 or 0417 284 831.

12. Ecumenical Lenten Studies 2010
A series of Lenten studies led by Professor Christiaan Mostert (UFT) entitled ‘Imaging the Atonement: Exploring the Meaning of the Cross of Christ for Us’ will be shared by the congregations of Mark the Evangelist, Uniting, and St Mary’s, Anglican, North Melbourne begin on 24 February 2010. All sessions will be held at St Mary’s, corner of Howard and Queensberry Streets, North Melbourne. The studies begin at 6.30pm with a bring and share meal and are followed from 7pm-9.30pm with a study session. Contact Cecilia Francis or Richard Murray on 9329 5193 for information.

13. Iconography Workshops: March 2010
In March 2010 the Carmelite Library presents two workshops with tempera painting specialist James Waller, focusing on the Icon of Blessed Mary MacKillop. For more information and to register visit www.jameswaller.org or phone James on 03 9489 3585 or 0425 307438. People of all (or no) levels of experience are welcome. The complete beginner will find a very accessable step-by-step process with guidance at every stage. More experienced iconographers will benefit from James’ teaching on colour-mixing, colour harmony and tonal vibration. With the current focus on Mary McKillop’s pending canonisation this is an ideal opportunity to explore the meaning of iconography in a contemporary context. As part of the workshops, participants are also invited to attend a weekday seminar by Bishop John Bayton, founder of the St. Peter's Icon School in Eastern Hill, Melbourne. Entitled ‘Rublev’s Iconography’, the seminar looks at the Russian master Andrei Rublev and the world of iconography. Wednesday March 10, 2010 (7.30-9.30 pm) at St Peter's Church, Eastern Hill, Melbourne. Entry: $15, concession $12.