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[This page is under construction.]
Guide
to Online Learning Opportunities for
Catholic Adults
This guide provides information and links for continuing adult
faith formation, education and spiritual growth opportunities available online from a variety of Catholic
institutions and organizations. Some of the opportunities
listed below are available for college credit or continuing
education credit; others are available for personal enrichment.
Disclaimer
We believe the continuing education and formation opportunities listed below faithfully present
official Catholic teaching and the call of the Second Vatican
Council to renewal, reform and reappropriation of the Catholic
tradition. However, inclusion of programs on this list does not constitute agreement
or
endorsement of the content or institution by the pastors or staff of the Waterloo
parishes.
Boston College
C21
Online
Sponsor: Institute of
Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry at Boston College,
Boston MA. (Boston College is sponsored by the Society of
Jesus.)
Description: These non-credit adult education courses
provide spiritual enrichment, faith formation and an opportunity for shared reflection in an
online learning community. They model the kind of conversation
and participation that lead to deeper adult understanding of and
personal growth in faith.
Topics: Christian Faith and
Moral Character, The Creed, Gospel of Luke, Gospel of Mark,
Gospel of Matthew, Parents Handing on the Faith,
Sacraments, Spirituality Matters, Synoptic Gospels, Teaching
Religion, What Makes Us Catholic, Women Envisioning Church.
Length: Courses vary from two to six weeks
Format: Offered at various times throughout the year. Includes a discussion group
guided by an experienced facilitator for online conversation.
Fee: One course: $75;
two
courses (if taken simultaneously): $135.
Contact:
http://www.bc.edu/sites/c21online/
Center
for Contemplation and Action
Description: The Center for Contemplation and Action offers
a variety of programs on spirituality and social action written
and presented by Fr. Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest and
popular Catholic author and speaker. These programs are for
individual reflection and do not receive continuing education
credit.
Topics:
A New Way of Seeing--a New Way of Being, Adult Christianity and
How to Get There, Authority of Those Who Have Suffered,
Beginner’s Mind, Contemplative Prayer, Creating Christian
Community, Culture Scapegoating and Jesus, Divine
Dance—Exploring the Mystery of the Trinity, The Enneagram—the
Discernment of Spirits, The Eternal Now and How to be There,
Eucharist as Touchstone, The Four Gospels, Gate of the
Temple—Spirituality and Sexuality, Great Chain of
Being—Simplifying Our Lives, Holding the Tension—The Paradox of
Power, How Do We Breath Under Water—The Gospel and 12-Step
Spirituality, How Do We Get Everything to Belong? Jesus and
Buddha—Paths to Awakening, Jesus as Liberator/Paul as Liberator,
Journey of Faith—Making One of Two, Living the Eternal Now, Mary
and Nonviolence, Masculine Spirituality, Men and Grief, Men and
Power, Men Matter—Quest for the True Self, Path of Descent,
Paul—Mystic and Social Critic, Politics and Spirituality,
Prophets Then and Now, Scripture As Liberation, Shape of
God—Deepening the Mystery of the Trinity, Spiral of Violence—The
World, the Flesh and the Devil, Spirituality/Religion—Both And,
St. Francis—An International Vision, The Little Way, Two Major
Tasks of the Spiritual Life, What Difference Does Trinity Make?
Length:
varies
Format: available as MP3 downloads
Fee: Programs range from $15.00 to $50.00
Contact:
http://www.cacradicalgrace.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=MP3&Store_Code=CFAAC
C
C
Sponsor: S
Description:
Topics:
Length:
Format:
Fee:
Contact:
Knights of Columbus
Catholic Information Service
Sponsor: S
Description:
Topics:
Length:
Format:
Fee:
Contact:
http://www.kofc.org/un/eb/en/publications/cis/courses/index.html
Loras
College
Pastoral Education Program
Sponsor: Archdiocese of Dubuque and Loras College in
Dubuque, IA. (Loras is sponsored by the Catholic
Archdiocese of Dubuque.)
Description:
The
Pastoral Education Program offers graduate-level courses for
individuals who are engaged as, or wish to explore the
possibilities of becoming, lay ecclesial ministers in the
Catholic Church and other Catholic adults interested in
continuing education in the Catholic faith.
Topics:
Length:
Format:
Each course
uses a combination of online study and three class meetings (15
hours) of on-site learning at Loras College.
Credit: Masters Degree (requires 36 hours of study)
Fee:
Grants for individuals engaged in pastoral ministry or Catholic
education in the Archdiocese of Dubuque.
Contact:
http://www.loras.edu/academics/graduate/religious.asp
Loyola University/New Orleans
Loyola Institute for Ministry On-line (LIMEX)
Sponsor: Institute for Ministry at Loyola
University, New Orleans, LA. (Loyola University is sponsored by
the Society of Jesus.)
Description: These college-level courses are especially
designed for individuals are employed, or seek employment, in
church ministry; however, many will be valuable and helpful to
other adult Catholics seeking further education and personal
growth in their understanding of the Catholic faith.
Topics:
Adolescent Spirituality and Methods of Faith Development,
Contemporary Issues in Pastoral Ministry, Emergent Universe,
Foundations of Youth Ministry, Hispanic Experience of Religion
and Culture, History of Christian Spirituality, Inner Life of
Small Christian Communities, Ministry in the Marketplace, Parish
Life and Ministry, Pastoral Ministry in Hispanic Communities,
Public Life of Small Christian Communities, Spirituality and
Theology of Work, Spirituality for Ministers, Universe as Divine
Manifestation.
Length:
Format:
Credit: Each course is worth 3 graduate or continuing
education credits.
Fee: $720/graduate credit; $330/continuing education
credit.
Contact:
http://lim.loyno.edu/online/
Paulist National Catholic Evangelization Association
Paulist Evangelization Training Institute (PETI)
Sponsor: Paulist National Catholic
Evangelization Association' Evangelization Training Institute.
(Sponsored by the Paulist Fathers.)
Description: These formation and education programs
are designed particularly for church ministers and lay persons;
however, they will be useful to any adult interested in
understanding the role of lay Catholics in the Church's mission
of evangelization.
Topics:
The Evangelizing Catholic, Faithful Celebration of the Mass,
Forming Teen Disciples, Go and Make Disciples, Good News and
Religious Pluralism, Spiritual Grandparenting.
Length: 4 and 6-week courses.
Format:
Fee: $105/4-week courses; $135/6-week courses
Contact:
http://www.pncea.org/store/index.asp?DEPARTMENT_ID=68
Practice and Spirituality
Practicing Spirituality E-courses
Sponsors: Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, authors of
Spiritual Literacy and Spiritual Rx.
Description: These online retreats introduce participants to
the classic spiritual practices of Christianity and various
non-Christian traditions; they explore the spiritual insights of contemporary
spiritual masters and suggest practical ways to live our spirituality
in the midst of everyday life.
Topics:
Practicing Spirituality with... Anglicans, Buddhists,
Catholics, Jews, Native Americans, Protestants, Taoists;
Practicing Spirituality at Home, Practicing Spirituality at
Work, Practicing Spirituality through Creativity, Practicing
Spirituality with... Animals, Children, Friends; Practicing
Spirituality with...Pema Chodron, Henri Nouwen, Jesus, Rumi,
Thich Nhat Hanh, Thomas Merton.
Length: 21 and 40-day courses or retreats
Format: Each course consists of daily email containing a short reading
for reflection, a suggested activity, and access to a "Private
Circle" discussion group. Current courses are
available for a specified time; a library of past courses are
available on demand.
Fee: $15 per course.
Contact:
http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/ecourses/
University of Dayton
Virtual
Learning Community for Faith Formation
Sponsor:
Institute for Pastoral Initiatives at
the University of Dayton OH. (Dayton University is sponsored by
the Marianist Fathers.)
Description:
These
college-level non-degree courses provide continuing religious
education and faith formation for Catholic adults engaged in
professional church ministries and other Catholic adults who are
interested in developing a deeper understanding the their
Catholic faith.
Topics: Catholic Belief, Church Doctrine, Church
History, Sacraments, Introduction to Liturgy, Introduction to
Catechesis, Conscience, Marianist Studies and others.
Length: 6-week courses and 3-week seminars offered in seven
cycles each year.
Format:
Credit: Non-degree continuing education credits or
certificate of completion available.
Fee: $90 per course; $70 per seminar.
Contact:
http://vlc.udayton.edu/
University of Notre
Dame
Satellite Theological Education Program (STEP)
Sponsor: Institute for Church Life at the
University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN.
(Notre Dame is sponsored by the Holy Cross Fathers.)
Description: These online certificate courses are
taught by faculty from the University or staff from the
Institute for Church Life; they provide quality college-level
theological education for pastoral ministers and other adult
Catholics who are interested in professional or personal
development.
Topics:
American Catholicism, Biblical Literary Forms, Can We Write a
History of Jesus? Catholic Prayer, Catholic Social Teaching,
Christian Conscience and Ethical Dilemmas, The Creed, Doctrine
of Salvation, Eucharist/Source and Summit, Faithful Citizenship
2008, Gospel of John, History of Christianity, In God's
Image/the Mystery of Creation, Introduction to the Catholic Faith,
Introduction to the New Testament, Introduction to the
Sacraments, Jesus Christ/Yesterday and Today, Letters of St.
Paul, Liturgy/A Guide for the Perplexed, Mary as Mother, Old
Testament/The Pentateuch, Old Testament/The Prophets, Old
Testament/The Writings, On Prayer, The Papacy, RCIA/Can We Get
It Right? The Seven Story Mountain, Theology of the Body,
Vatican II, Women and Catholicism, Youth Ministry.
Length: Courses range from 4 to 7 weeks, beginning at
various times throughout the year.
Format:
Requirements: Windows 2000 or Windows XP/ Mac OSX; minimum
56 K high speed Internet connection.
Credit: May be taken for graduate credit or
certification.
Fee: Ranges from $29 to $99.
Contact: http://step.nd.edu/
• • •
Is Online Learning for You?
(Adapted from C21 Online at
Boston College)
Online learning
is a new experience for many adults. How will you
know if online learning is for you? For each of the
statements below, indicate as honestly as possible if it is true
or false for you.
-
I have ready access to a computer and to the Internet.
-
I am comfortable writing email and using the Internet.
-
I enjoy being part of a discussion board or listserv.
-
I don't mind asking for assistance when I need help.
-
I would like to discuss faith matters with people from
all over the English-speaking world.
-
I would enjoy being able to participate in a course
according to my own schedule instead of needing to arrive in
a classroom at a certain time.
-
I would enjoy not having to commute to participate in a
learning experience.
-
I like to learn through dialogue and interaction.
-
I am self-motivated when it comes to following through
on a project.
-
I am comfortable with trying out new ways to learn.
-
I am patient with myself when I try something new.
-
Dialogue does not have to include face–to-face contact
for me to learn.
-
I would find it relaxing and interesting to come online
and read messages from participants in different parts of
the country and the world.
-
I would like to receive feedback to my reflections from
an experienced facilitator and from my peers.
-
I value being a part of a discussion group or learning
community.
How many
statements above did you find true for yourself? Although there
is no pat answer to the question "Is this online learning
experience for me?" the more statements you answered true, the
more you are likely to enjoy an online learning experience.
Posted
07.10.08
•
Last Update 08.09.08
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