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Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a powerful symbol of Christ’s boundless love and mercy for humanity. Devotion to the Sacred Heart invites us to reflect on the compassion, sacrifice, and forgiveness offered by Jesus, especially through His Passion and the Eucharist.

For the faithful, this month is an opportunity to deepen personal prayer, attend Eucharistic Adoration, and offer acts of reparation for the wounds inflicted on His Heart by sin and indifference. Families and communities can renew their dedication to Christ by praying the Litany of the Sacred Heart or consecrating themselves to His loving care.

At the VLCFF, we encourage you to explore our courses that nourish the heart and spirit, helping you grow closer to Jesus. May this month inspire all of us to embody His love in our daily lives. Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Enroll in Cycle 5
Anytime, Anywhere

The summer months in the Northern Hemisphere are often filled with vacations, sunshine, and fun. But why not also nourish your faith, too? The VLCFF’s upcoming Cycle 5 offers you the perfect opportunity to join a short 5-week online faith formation course.

What makes VLCFF unique is its flexibility; you can learn anytime, anywhere, while connecting with a global community of fellow Catholics. Each course invites you not just to read or study, but to reflect, share, and apply what you learn in real life. This is faith formation that meets you where you are and helps you grow into the person God is calling you to be.

Registration is open now through July 17, 2025. Classes begin July 21, 2025. Choose from over 50 course offerings in English, Spanish, and Arabic. Whether you are exploring new topics or working toward completing a VLCFF certificate program, this is the time to enroll in your desired or required course. Let this be your summer for spiritual growth.

Courses Scheduled; ;; Registration Page

Certificate in Youth Ministry
Inspire the next generation

Do you feel called to walk alongside young people in their faith journey? The VLCFF’s Certificate in Youth Ministry is designed to equip adult leaders with the tools, insights, and spiritual grounding needed to serve the Church’s youth with confidence and compassion. Today’s teens face unique challenges, and they need mentors who can meet them where they are — with understanding, authenticity, and the light of Christ.

This certificate program offers a series of engaging online courses covering pastoral care, adolescent development, program planning, and Catholic teaching. Whether you’re a parish volunteer, catechist, or aspiring youth minister, you’ll find practical guidance and deep theological reflection to strengthen your ministry.

Best of all, you can complete the program on your schedule, learning alongside others from around the world. Visit the Certificate in Youth Ministry page and see how you can make a difference in the lives of young people today. Let’s help raise a generation of faithful, joyful disciples!

Featured Course:
A Vision for Catholic Youth Ministry

What does effective Catholic youth ministry look like today? The VLCFF’s featured course, A Vision for Catholic Youth Ministry, invites adult leaders to explore the Church’s mission in forming young disciples. Rooted in the U.S. bishops’ document Renewing the Vision, this course, which is part of our Certificate in Youth Ministry , offers a rich, practical framework for engaging the hearts, minds, and spirits of youth.

Whether you’re a seasoned youth minister, parish volunteer, or simply someone passionate about supporting young people, this course will deepen your understanding of the goals, components, and principles that shape vibrant Catholic youth ministry. You’ll reflect on how to create welcoming spaces, foster meaningful relationships, and nurture the faith of today’s teens amid their real-world challenges.

Best of all, the VLCFF’s online format makes it easy to join from anywhere, connecting with fellow learners who share your commitment. Visit the course information page to learn more, and discover how you can help inspire the next generation of Catholic leaders.

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Our Mission

The Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation (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.

The VLCFF is coordinated and sponsored by the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives (IPI) at the University of Dayton - a Catholic Marianist Institution.

From Eric F. Spina, University of Dayton President:
"The Institute for Pastoral Initiatives is a pioneer in the e-learning field, delivering 24-7 remote classes to dioceses worldwide long before the pandemic prompted schools to go online and offer hybrid learning. With a successful model already in place, the VLCFF is poised to reach [even] more people with faith formation classes."

A Brief History of the VLCFF

Explore Our Program

Overview

Getting Started

Certificate Programs

Institute for Pastoral Initiatives

From our Students

"I have completed many courses through University of Dayton VLCFF online. I keep thinking I am through but the classes you offer are so interesting and beneficial for my job and in my personal faith growth that I continue taking classes!"

"I am eternally grateful to University of Dayton for treating me not as just a student, but as family. This was my first experience with online classes and I found myself struggling during a particular course since I was juggling studies, work, family and other activities. I felt swamped. I quickly fell behind and just as I was contemplating if I should quit, my facilitator taught me how to balance my assignments."

"So, every session has been awesome! Your facilitators take the time to give feedback on a personal level as well as reach out when assistance is needed."

University of Dayton Religious Studies

Did you know The University of Dayton offers undergraduate, masters, and doctoral degrees in Religious Studies?

As a Catholic Marianist university, the mission of the Department of Religious Studies is to discover, explore, and analyze religious experience in its various manifestations emphasizing the Roman Catholic tradition, in dialogue with the other Christian traditions and with the world religions.

For more information visit the Religious Studies website.

Make a difference!
Support the VLCFF.

The Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation is a non-profit organization at the University of Dayton. Your tax deductible gift can help further our mission of religious education and faith formation.

Learn More

Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Enroll in Cycle 5Anytime, Anywhere

Certificate in Youth MinistryInspire the next generation

Featured Course:A Vision for Catholic Youth Ministry