CHARLOTTE — The growing popularity of online learning is changing the way the Diocese of Charlotte delivers adult faith education, with more programming going virtual to give people easy access to resources that will help them more fully live their faith.
While the diocese continues to offer in-person faith education opportunities, it also plans to enhance online courses so more people can engage at their convenience.
“People are increasingly comfortable using online learning platforms, particularly as a result of the pandemic,” said Father Roger Arnsparger, vicar of education for catechetical formation. “We’ll continue to offer in-person education for faith formation, community building, networking and discussion – and at the same time, we’ll extend our reach online.”
Online programs offer high-quality, comprehensive training that is available on demand, he said. “They offer a wide array of opportunities and methods for parishioners to study the faith in preparation for serving the Church.”
Many Catholic universities are also offering online programs of formation for the laity, such as Franciscan University, the University of Dayton, and the University of Notre Dame.
Digital natives in particular are accustomed to exploring online offerings that teach in a variety of ways, through elements such as video, graphics and different lecture and writing styles, diocesan officials said.
Online learning is a complement to more traditional educational outreach, Father Arnsparger said, such as the diocese’s catechetical conference, where adults from across the diocese come together for a day of prayer, continuing education and collaboration. The last conference drew 550 participants.
The shift in programming meant the recent closure of the diocese’s Lay Ministry Program, which graduated 119 people in 2020 but saw enrollment in the current program drop to an unsustainable 66 participants, Father Arnsparger said. The diocese hopes to build on the program’s 31-year legacy with online content that provides in-depth lessons delivered wherever participants are, on any device.
“Some of this diocese’s most devoted lay leaders have come through the Lay Ministry Program over the years, and we want to use technology to continue – and elevate – that tradition,” said Monsignor Patrick Winslow, the diocese’s vicar general and chancellor. “Digital programming helps us meet parishioners where they are and enable them to deepen their education at their own pace.”
Current participants in the two-year Lay Ministry Program have been offered the option to continue their second year of learning free through the diocese’s online catechist certification program. The diocese’s Faith Formation Office is planning to accompany the students with online assistance and in-person group meetings.
Candidates seeking to become permanent deacons have already moved to this program as part of their formation process.
Donna Schronce, a parishioner at St. Dorothy Church in Lincolnton, is among current Lay Ministry participants who said she will shift to the online offerings. While Schronce enjoyed her local class in Lenoir, she looks forward to deepening her knowledge of Catholicism through the online format, to help in her new role as altar guild director at her parish.
“I want to learn more about the Catholic faith, and the online program (format) doesn’t bother me,” said Schronce, who converted to Catholicism three years ago. “If I’m going to be more involved in a leadership position, I really want to deepen my understanding of the faith.”
Lay Ministry student Jesse Boeckermann said he too will complete the program online. He’s the director of Catholic Charities’ Western Regional Office. “The knowledge that I’ve gained from the Lay Ministry Program has added to my ability to be a better parishioner, volunteer and member of the Knights of Columbus and other parish ministries.”
Established in 1990, the diocese’s Lay Ministry Program trained 1,287 laypeople for service in their parishes and communities. Until last year, it was a prerequisite in the diocese’s permanent deacon formation program.
The online catechist certification program is free to registrants thanks to funding from the annual Diocesan Support Appeal. It is produced by the Catholic Education Center, a privately-owned initiative based in the Diocese of Arlington, Va.
“We’d like to make this program and many others available to all adults interested in learning more about the faith,” Father Arnsparger said. “One thing we learned from COVID is that good digital content can reach significant numbers of people and can play a key role in our efforts to bring people to Our Lord.”
— Catholic News Herald