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The Season of Creation:
Caring for Our Common Home

Each year, from September 1 to October 4, we enter the Season of Creation—a time to renew our relationship with God and all of His creation. It is a season for prayer, for listening to the cry of the earth and the poor, and for committing ourselves anew to the care of our common home.

This year, we also celebrate the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ prophetic encyclical calling us to ecological conversion. As people of faith, we are invited to see creation not as a resource to be exploited, but as a gift to be cherished.

As we celebrate this Season, we invite you to take the next step in your faith journey. In Cycle 7, the VLCFF is offering a special Spanish-language e-course—El Líder: Un Buen Administrador de los Bienes de la Creación—designed to help leaders grow in their understanding of ecological stewardship as a part of Christian discipleship. We invite you to come and be formed as a faithful caretaker of God’s creation.

Get Ready for Cycle 7!

The journey of faith never ends—it is a path that God calls us to walk each day. This fall, new opportunities await you to grow in wisdom, prayer, and service. Beginning September 10, registration opens for our final cycle of online courses this year.

In Cycle 7, we are offering courses in English and Spanish on Scripture, theology, ministry, and spiritual life. Each course is more than a class—it is an invitation to listen to God’s Word, to be nourished by the Church’s wisdom, and to walk with others who are seeking Christ.

Why take a course? Because formation deepens discipleship. In the midst of busy lives, these online courses provide space to reflect, share, and discover how God is moving in your life. Whether you are preparing to serve, discerning God’s call, or longing to grow closer to Him, there is a place for you here.

Explore our Course Calendar and register before October 23. Let this be your next step on the journey of faith.

Certificate Programs:
Growing in Faith and Service

At the heart of the VLCFF mission is the call to form disciples who can serve the Church with faith, knowledge, and love. Our certificate programs provide a pathway for deeper learning and leadership in ministry. Each program is designed to help participants grow in their understanding of Catholic tradition while preparing them to share the Gospel with others.

Whether you are preparing to become a catechist, discerning the diaconate, or seeking to lead in parish ministry, these programs offer a structured yet flexible journey. Courses are taken online, allowing you to study at your own pace while engaging in meaningful conversation with others around the world.

More than a credential, a certificate is a commitment to ongoing formation. It affirms your dedication to living out your faith and serving the People of God.

Explore our programs, discover where God may be calling you, and take the next step with us at the VLCFF.

Proclaim a Holy Year

2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives (IPI) at the University of Dayton, a milestone in faithful service to the Catholic Church since its founding in 1995. For decades under the visionary leadership of Sr. Angela Ann Zukowski, the IPI has mobilized UD’s resources to share and articulate the Catholic faith across the globe.This includes the incredible work done by the VLCFF, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year!

Throughout 2025, we have been joyfully celebrating our own kind of jubilee alongside the Church’s Jubilee in Rome. This Holy Year reminds us of Jesus’ mission in the Gospel of Luke: “[to] bring good news to the poor… proclaim liberty to captives… let the oppressed go free, and… proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”

Through the work of our staff, collaborators, facilitators, course designers, partners, and students, we strive to live out that mission each day. With gratitude for the past and hope for the future, we continue this year of celebration with open hearts.

As we begin the second half of this exciting celebration, we invite you to hear a special message from University of Dayton President, Dr. Eric Spina. Enjoy!

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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

The Season of Creation: Caring for Our Common Home

Get Ready for Cycle 7!

Certificate Programs: Growing in Faith and Service