Online Faith Formation Programs

Boston College

Boston College’s School of Theology and Ministry Crossroads program has a “focus on shared reflection in an online learning community”. The program offers non-credit courses “for spiritual enrichment and faith renewal” and its courses “foster conversation and participation that enhance understanding and encourage personal growth in faith.” (Crossroads website)

Courses vary in length and are offered on a number of topics, including Scripture, Prayer and Spirituality and the Moral Life; costs generally are between $30 and $60. The General Resources page of the Boston College Crossroads website has links to various Catholic web resources.

University of Dayton

The University of Dayton, a Catholic Marianist College, sponsors The Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation (VLCFF). Its website states that the VLCFF “is a growing initiative to offer adult religious education and faith formation anytime and anywhere via the internet. The goal is to support the church's professional ministry of religious education and faith formation in cyberspace.” (VLCFF website)

Courses and seminars are offered on many topics, ranging from Catholic Doctrine to Liturgy/Prayer to Bible Basics to the Spirituality of Parenting. Costs range from $80 to $105.

University of Notre Dame

The University of Notre Dame STEP program, sponsored by the McGrath Institute for Church Life, offers online courses which are “well-suited for catechists, school teachers, lay ministers, deacons and other adult Catholics who seek distance learning that is intellectually-rigorous and faithful to the Catholic tradition.” (STEP website)

STEP program courses vary in length and are offered on a variety of topics such as Faith and Science, the RCIA and an Introduction to the Catholic Faith. The cost per course is generally $99.