New Online Program from University of Dayton Trains Lay Catholics to Take on Ministry Roles in a Church Challenged by Priest Shortages

DAYTON, Ohio, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — A new online program will help train lay Catholic leaders in dioceses worldwide to take on greater roles in church ministry.

Those leaders now can earn certificates from the University of Dayton’s Institute for Pastoral Initiatives, which has provided inexpensive online religious and faith education for nearly 15 years.

With many parishes — urban, suburban and rural — facing challenges ranging from financial constraints to a shortage of priests, the new certificate programs will help lay people take on greater ministerial responsibilities, according to institute director Sister Angela Ann Zukowski, M.H.S.H.

The number of parishes without a resident priest has risen nearly sixfold since 1965, according to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University.

“A number of dioceses, particularly from rural areas, had requested we develop a program for an online certificate in catechesis (faith formation),” she said. “They see a need for more advanced training for lay people who will be leading diocese or parish programs for faith formation and religious education.”

The first program, Certificate in Catechesis, started in January, she said. Later in the year, certificate programs for adult faith formation, media literacy education, foundations in ministry formation, and Certificate in Hispanic Catechesis (in Spanish) will be available. The institute’s program may serve as the foundation for the certification that allows lay people to serve in ministry activities.

Only a diocese can certify an individual for ministry, Zukowski said. Dioceses can use the certificate program, which was based on common certification requirements and utilizes the institute’s already robust curriculum, to build their own ministry-formation programs.

A pioneer in the use of new media for religious education, Zukowski said dioceses and parishes increasingly must rely on lay members for leadership. But many barriers hinder formation efforts.

“Ministry formation offered at a church or diocese might be at an inconvenient time or too far away for many people,” she said. “Interest in a particular topic might be limited to one or two people, or a qualified instructor might not be available.”

In partnership with more than 40 dioceses worldwide, the institute already provides outreach to hundreds of Catholic communities through the Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation (VLCFF), she said. It has been particularly successful in rural or developing areas such as the Caribbean, where distances are great and resources are limited, she said.

“We offer more than 60 courses in English and Spanish in topics that include basic Catholic beliefs, liturgy, ecclesiology, Scripture and media education,” Zukowski said. “Courses are geared for beginners, for intermediates and for the more advanced learners who are playing greater and greater roles in lay ministry.”

The courses were designed by catechetical experts working closely with the institute’s team and utilizing the resources of the University of Dayton, one of the top 10 Catholic universities in the U.S. More than 400 sections of the online courses are offered each year.

Cost to enter the certificate program is $15 and course fees are $30-$40 for residents of dioceses who are Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation partners. Costs for residents of non-partnering dioceses are $30 to enter the program and $60-$90 for course fees.

For more information visit http://vlc.udayton.edu.

About the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives

The Institute for Pastoral Initiatives mobilizes the resources of the University of Dayton for innovative pastoral initiatives designed to meet the needs of the Church and to articulate faith within the context of contemporary culture. The institute coordinates the Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation, one of the Catholic Church’s largest online ministries for grassroots faith and ministry formation in the United States and around the world.

About the University of Dayton

The University of Dayton is Ohio’s largest private university and one of the top-10 Catholic universities in the U.S. Founded by the Society of Mary in 1850, UD emphasizes transformative education and prepares students for leadership and service in their communities in the Marianist tradition. Visit http://udayton.edu

SOURCE University of Dayton