Each Sycamore session is self-contained, and you may wish to run a single session as part of a wider teaching or evangelisation programme that you have organised within your community.

A Sycamore “Pathway” is a selection of Sycamore sessions put together to form a coherent course. You need to decide which Pathway you are going to follow with your group.

Sycamore is a modular course that can be adapted for the needs of your group. There are twenty sessions in total. You can choose which sessions to run. In effect, you are creating your own course, depending on the time you have and the needs of your group.

It’s better, of course, if there is some kind of continuity, and the later sessions build on the earlier ones. But each session is self-contained and tries not to assume too much previous knowledge. Each session is presented as if the group is beginning a new topic, and at no point does the presenter say “as we learnt in a previous session” or something similar. This allows you to create different combinations using common sense and with an eye to the logic of how the course unfolds.

There are over thirty Sycamore courses, arranged into four areas. Take a look at the links below to which course will suit the needs of your community:

• Enquiry Pathways
• Formation Pathways
• Sacramental Pathways
• School Pathways 
• Marriage Enrichment
• Sycamore Plus Pathways
• Vocation Pathways
• Prayer Pathways

 

COMPLETE LIST OF SYCAMORE CORE MODULES

 

(1) THE SEARCH FOR HAPPINESS [“Film 1” in Series: click here to view]

The impossibility of sitting still. What is happiness? How to press the pause button.

 

(2) THE EXISTENCE OF GOD [“Film 2” in Series: click here to view]

Why bother thinking about religion? Five reasons not to believe in God. Arguments for the existence of God?

 

(3) A GOD WHO SPEAKS? [“Film 3” in Series: click here to view]

The hiddenness of God. When God broke the silence. Discovering the face of God.

 

(4) WHO IS JESUS? [“Film 4” in Series: click here to view]

He came to bring life to the world. The Saving Death of Jesus. The light of the Resurrection.

 

(5) THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE CHURCH [“Film 5” in Series: click here to view]

How the Holy Spirit can change your life. No one gets into heaven alone. Why we need signs, symbols and sacraments.

 

(6) THE BIBLE [“Film 6” in Series: click here to view]

What is the bible? Can we trust the bible? How the bible can change your life.

 

(7)  THE GIFT OF FAITH [“Film 7” in Series: click here to view]

What is faith? Are Christians just stupid or are there good reasons to believe? How to take a step of faith.

 

(8) THE POWER OF PRAYER [“Film 8” in Series: click here to view]

What is prayer? Does prayer make a difference? How to pray.

 

(9) FINDING TRUE FREEDOM [“Film 9” in Series: click here to view]

Is there such a thing as right and wrong? Where can we find moral guidance? How do you discover your true identity?

 

(10) THE MEANING OF LOVE [“Film 10” in Series: click here to view]

What is love? How to love your neighbour. Knowing the love of God.

 

(11) THE LIGHT OF CHRIST [“Film 11” in Series: click here to view]

The Christian Creed. The Light of Christ. The Holy Trinity.

 

(12) CREATION, FALL, SALVATION [“Film 12” in Series: click here to view]

The goodness of creation. Suffering and sin. The gift of salvation.

 

(13) THE COMMUNITY OF THE CHURCH [“Film 13” in Series: click here to view]

Why do we need the Church? The special place of the Catholic Church. Being Catholic today.

 

(14) THE SACRAMENTS OF BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION [“Film 14” in Series: click here to view]

The power of the sacraments and the liturgy. How baptism can change your life. Confirmation and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

(15) THE HOLY EUCHARIST [“Film 15” in Series: click here to view]

The meaning of the Mass. The Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

 

(16) FORGIVENESS, HEALING AND MISSION [“Film 16” in Series: click here to view]

Forgiveness and the Sacrament of Confession. Healing and the Sacrament of the Sick. Christian mission and the call to share our faith.

 

(17) THE CHRISTIAN VOCATIONS [“Film 17” in Series: click here to view]

The meaning of vocation. Marriage and family life. Ordination and consecrated life.

 

(18) THE SOCIAL TEACHING OF THE CHURCH [“Film 18” in Series: click here to view]

The dignity of the human person and the right to life. Christian teaching about family and society. Speaking the truth and following conscience.

 

(19) HOW TO PRAY [“Film 19” in Series: click here to view]

The amazing adventure of prayer. Four basic ways of praying. Prayers and devotions to help you through the day.

 

(20) MARY AND THE HOPE OF HEAVEN [“Film 20” in Series: click here to view]

Death, judgment, and our longing for eternal life. Holiness, the saints, and our hope for heaven. What Catholics believe about the Blessed Virgin Mary.

 

COMPLETE LIST OF SYCAMORE PLUS MODULES

You will need a SycamorePlus subscription to access these modules

 

(P1) PRAYER FOR BEGINNERS [“Film P1” in Series: click here to view]

 

(P2) SEVEN RULES OF PRAYER [“Film P2” in Series: click here to view]

 

(P3) THE PRAYER OF ADORATION, PRAISE AND WORSHIP [“Film P3” in Series: click here to view]

 

(P4) THE PRAYER OF SORROW, CONTRITION AND CONFESSION [“Film P4” in Series: click here to view]

 

(P5) THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND GRATITUDE [“Film P5” in Series: click here to view]

(P6) THE PRAYER OF ASKING AND INTERCESSION [“Film P6” in Series: click here to view]

 

(P7) PRAYING WITH THE BIBLE [“Film P7” in Series: click here to view]

 

(P8) HOW TO PRAY THE MASS [“Film P9” in Series: click here to view]

 

(P9) PRAYING TO THE SAINTS [“Film P11” in Series: click here to view]

 

(P10) SILENT PRAYER AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD [“Film P8” in Series: click here to view]

 

(P11) HOW TO OFFER UP YOUR SUFFERINGS TO GOD [“Film P10” in Series: click here to view]

 

(P12) PRAYING TO MARY AND PRAYING THE ROSARY [“Film P12” in Series: click here to view]

 

(V1) HOW DO I KNOW WHAT MY VOCATION IS? [“Film V1” in Series: click here to watch]

 

(V2) WHAT CAN I DO TO DISCOVER MY VOCATION? [“Film V2” in Series: click here to watch]

 

(V3) HOW DO I MAKE A DECISION ABOUT MY VOCATION? [“Film V3” in Series: click here to watch]

 

(V4) IS BEING SINGLE A VOCATION? [“Film V4” in Series: click here to watch]

 

(V5) HOW DO I KNOW IF I AM CALLED TO MARRIAGE? [“Film V5” in Series: click here to watch]

 

(V6) HOW CAN I FIND A GOOD HUSBAND OR WIFE? [“Film V6” in Series: click here to watch]

 

(V7) WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF A VOCATION TO THE PRIESTHOOD OR CONSECRATED LIFE? [“Film V7” in Series: click here to watch]

 

(V8) WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF A VOCATION TO THE PERMANENT DIACONATE? [“Film V8” in Series: click here to watch]

 

(PFL1) BEING A PARENT TODAY [“Film PFL1” in Series: click to watch]

 

(PFL2) MAKING TIME FOR YOUR CHILDREN [“Film PFL2” in Series: click to watch]

 

(PFL3) MEALS AND CELEBRATIONS IN THE FAMILY [“Film PFL3” in Series: click to watch]

 

(PFL4) LIVING YOUR FAITH AS A FAMILY [“Film PFL4” in Series: click to watch]

 

(PFL5) PRAYING AS A FAMILY [“Film PFL5” in Series: click to watch]

 

(PFL6) DEALING WITH DIFFICULTIES IN FAMILY LIFE [“Film PFL6” in Series: click to watch]

 

(PFL7) MORAL VALUES AND FAMILY LIFE [“Film PFL7” in Series: click to watch]

 

(PFL8) SMARTPHONES, SCREENTIME AND SOCIAL MEDIA [“Film PFL8” in Series: click to watch]

 

(PFL9) EDUCATION, SCHOOL, AND SPECIAL NEEDS [“Film PFL9” in Series: click to watch]

 

 

Please note that the accompanying “Film Number” (e.g. “Film 13”) and Session Number (e.g. “Session 13”) refer to the complete list of Sycamore films and not to the order of each module in this course.

You can find the complete list of Sycamore films here and the complete list of Session Guides here. The “Film Number” and “Session Number” is a fixed code number so you know which film is being referred to, even if it appears in different places in different courses.

If you are using Sycamore as a central part of your sacramental preparation and catechesis, see the page here about Sycamore and sacramental preparation.

If you are using the YouCat readings as part of your course, see the page here about using the YouCat.