Distance learning expands continuing-education opportunities

The Center for Continuing Formation opened in 1996 at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Homeland to encourage priests, bishops, deacons and lay ecclesial ministers to grow intellectually and spiritually,

The problem, for most, was time.

“It is a nice facility with one drawback,” said Sulpician Father Phillip J. Brown, president-rector. “It just increased the difficulty for priests having to get away for continuing education. Programs for priests approaching retirement get good attendance. For other programs, attendance has been spotty.”

Pat LeNoir, interim director of planning, administration and promotion at St. Mary’s Seminary and University, noted that priests are busy, with many overseeing multiple parishes of up to four or more faith communities. 

LeNoir and Father Brown began working on an infrastructure to offer programs online during the pandemic, with online classes first becoming available last year. While classes for priests are the main focus, they also have designed programs for deacons, lay ecclesial ministers and volunteers.

“We recommend programs for all these groups,” LeNoir said. “We nurture the whole church.”

Topics for priests include “Pastoring a Diverse Parish” and “Striking Balance: How to Live a Balanced Life,” while deacons are offered “Living a Balanced Life” and “Guiding Sponsors and Candidates.”

Depending on the course, classes range from one to four sessions, with sessions either 30 or 40 minutes long. Live discussion sessions are possible and additional resources or links to similar topics are also available.

“How do you motivate a priest to engage in ongoing education? It is not a mandatory requirement,” Father Brown said. “Make it attractive to them. Focus on what is useful.”

LeNoir and Father Brown enlist presenters and priests who have a background in the proposed topics to put together the sessions.

“We’re getting to know who has the information,” LeNoir said. “This is new. We are entering into a learning community with you. As it is being developed, we need to have a dialogue about what is needed.”

On-site programming will continue, LeNoir said, along with conferences and retreats.

“It is a very busy place,” LeNoir said, “and diverse with distance learning.”

Email Katie Jones at kjones@catholicreview.org

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