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By James McEvoy
Staff Writer
PISCATAWAY — Armed with a keyboard and mouse, as opposed to a pen and paper, people within the Diocese of Metuchen have a unique opportunity to learn and grow in their faith, all without even leaving their homes.
Through its partnership with the University of Dayton, the diocese is happy to welcome adult formation teams, Catholic school teachers, parish catechetical leaders and catechists to take advantage of a myriad of online courses.
Cecelia P. Regan, director of the Office for Catechesis, said the courses are open to all Catholics and are beneficial whether or not one is seeking specific certification.
She described the courses as being for people who want “to grow in their own faith formation.”
The Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation is a program designed at the University of Dayton to connect catechesis and adult learners throughout the country. Courses cover the range of theological subjects including sacraments, Scripture, liturgy and Christian morality.
Courses are offered in three categories; basic, intermediate and advanced and consist of a variety of testing tools, assigned readings and discussion boards.
All courses offered are ‘pass/fail’ and upon successful completion the student receive dual certification from both Dayton University as well as the diocese.
Students are expected to spend approximately five hours each week of any course. The courses are available in five week cycles, and there are approximately seven cycles during the year.
Patricia Martin, program coordinator of the Office for Catechesis, said that accessibility, flexibility and affordability are major benefits of the program.
“It’s very user-friendly,” she said, speaking from her own first-hand experiences with Dayton courses.
Most materials necessary for the courses are downloadable and that it is rare that texts are required for the classes, she added.
Enrollees pay $40 for each course and $30 for each seminar, a reduced rate associated the partnership.
Each course is worth 2.5 credits and each seminar is 1.5 credits.
Regan said that Catholic school teachers are often reimbursed by their employers. Parish catechetical leaders and catechists are often reimbursed by their pastors.
She emphasized the convenience of online studies for catechists who “have busy lives.”
“Accessibility is really a gift,” she said.
Regan also said that the feedback from users has been exceptional and that the program is growing by word of mouth.
“They’re very excited about it,” she said.
Debbie Yesis, an elementary coordinator at St. Thomas the Apostle, Old Bridge, said she found the Dayton Web site “very easy to follow.”
Yesis is starting her fifth class in October and is using the education for her own edification as well as to relate the information she learned to the children in class as well as her own family.
“I’ve learned a lot,” she said. “I found it very informative.”
Both Martin and Regan were also excited to detail how the online courses enable students to discuss the course subjects with other users across the nation.
“You get a different feel for what’s going on in different places,” Martin said.
Regan was also enthusiastic about the chat rooms, which allow for the professors to provide input to the many students utilizing the discussion boards.
Regan added that students do not have to follow a particular sequence and may skip a cycle if they need to.
The next cycle runs from Oct. 19 to Nov. 22, with registration for the cycle open from Sept. 2 to Oct. 15.
Metuchen is one of three New Jersey dioceses in partnership with Dayton; the other two are the Diocese of Trenton and the Archdiocese of Newark.
For more information including how to register as well as course offerings, visit vlc.udayton.edu.
