The following article was published in The Catholic Week on July 14, 2006.

The Faith Formation Department of Church of the Holy Spirit encourages all parishioners to engage in Life Long Learning.  This is but one "new" way to participate in educating yourself and your family in our Catholic faith.  Note that the Archdiocese Office of Religious Education is sponsoring a discount program for this initial phase.  Additional investments and credits are being considered based on the response of individuals in the Archdiocese to this program.

If you have questions, you can

- go to the STEP web-site, http://step.nd.edu

- contact Kevin Ryan, the Faith Formation for Adults Coordinator for Holy Spirit (ktryan@holy-spirit-church.com, 277-3428)

- contact Dave O'Brien, Associate Director of Lay Development for the Archdiocese (dobrien@mobilearchdiocese.org, 251-433-6991) .

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Archdiocese offers online learning for adults

MOBILE - The Office of Religious Education, Lay Development Division through the University of Notre Dame Satellite Theological Education Program (STEP), will introduce online classes for adults throughout the Archdiocese beginning this Fall.

"More and more adults want to explore their Catholic faith for all kinds of reasons: to grow spiritually, to answer their children's questions or maybe to talk with their Baptist neighbor," explains David O'Brien, Associate Director of Lay Development. "STEP makes quality Catholic theology affordable and accessible for people in even the smallest parishes."

The Office of Religious Education will offer a 30% discount for students who enroll and complete STEP courses: 10% off upon enrollment and an additional 20% refund when the course is completed. Courses run between $29-$149 each.

Two Fall sessions (August 28-October 6 and October 9-November 17) are open for registration online at http://step.nd.edu

"We believe so much that adults have a right to quality catechesis that we are investing in the STEP program," states Rebecca Titford, Director of the Office of Religious Education.

Priests, deacons, Catholic school teachers, TIPS graduates and parish lay ministers can take classes for ongoing education and formation through STEP Parish adults seeking theological education may take STEP courses for spiritual and personal growth.

"I found the STEP classes from Notre Dame to be well prepared and highly informative," says Deacon Bernie Mileski, a STEP student. "The class I took gave me a lot of background and will be useful in all that I do in the parish. The nice part is that I could work on it at home after my normal workday."

Online STEP courses are taught by either a Notre Dame professor or a facilitator with an advanced degree in theology. The courses are concentrated in Catholic Doctrine, Christian Life, Church History, Liturgy, and Scripture, and range from four to seven-week sessions. Courses include video lectures, readings, weekly assignments, class discussions and a course, evaluation.

"We want to place the academic resources of the University of Notre Dame in the service of the whole Church," said STEP director Thomas C. Cummings.

The: late Holy Father John Paul II stated that the call to holiness of the laity is "an undeniable requirement arising from the very mystery of the Church."

The National Directory of Catechesis (US Bishops, 2005) echoes John Paul II when it asserts that in order for the faithful to embrace the fullness of the Christian life, the baptized deserve and have a right to lifelong catechesis. "We understand that people need to be able to competently and confidently articulate their Catholic faith in the workplace and in parish ministries," asserts Titford. "An educated adult population would make a huge impact on our churches and our communities."

Students enrolled in STEP represent more than 80 different dioceses in the United States. STEP has also welcomed students and applicants from Botswana, Canada, England, Ireland and Vietnam.

For more information, contact Dave at 251-433-6991 or online at dobrien@mobilearchdiocese.org.  to see courses offered this Fall, check out STEP’s homepage at http:/step.nd.edu; or contact the STEP office at 1-866-425-7837 (STEP); or stepnd@nd.edu