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Three Weeks of Faith Formation

A lot can happen in three weeks. For example, you could register to become a student with us and complete a life-giving, faith-filled VLCFF e-seminar, specially designed to grow you closer to God and connect you with the Church around the world!

Our e-seminars are only three weeks long, as opposed to our normal e-courses, which are five weeks. This accelerated version of online learning fits conveniently into your schedule without sacrificing high quality formation and connection. Right now, all courses in Cycle 2 are e-seminars, and they'll be open for registration until March 5th, 2026.

If courses like Images of Mary, Praying with Creative Arts: Poetry, Summary of Catholic Social Teaching, or The Role of Missionary Discipleship in Evangelizing Catechesis seem interesting, they are all available now…plus many more you can find on the Course Calendar! Visit our calendar page then register for a course today.

Lent: A Pilgrimage of the Heart

The sacred season of Lent is a time set apart for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving—a forty-day pilgrimage that calls us to turn our hearts more fully toward God and one another.

Whether through the connections you make in our online courses or through your local parish, we hope to support you in deepening your relationship with Christ and embracing the transformative power of this holy season. Together, let us seek to grow in humility, compassion, and generosity, inspired by Christ’s own sacrifice and love.

Whether you are new to Lenten practices or seeking to renew your spiritual commitment, you are not alone; our community is here to encourage and walk beside you. May this Lent be a season of grace, unity, and spiritual growth as we prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter! Visit our calendar page then register for a course today.

Mujeres Valientes Retreat 2026

Recently, we had the joy of kicking off the Mujeres Valientes (Valiant Women) Certificate Program with a retreat in Miami, FL with 100 Latina Catholic leaders from various dioceses around the country. This program, sponsored by the Catholic Extension Society, has been an inspiring partnership in which participants complete five e-courses through the University of Dayton's Virtual Community for Faith Formation (VLCFF) to receive certification and growth as pastoral leaders in their local parishes.

During this gathering, participants enjoyed a holistic experience that included a sunrise meditation, personalized consultations, and workshops focused on biblical leadership principles. They also engaged in mission outreach, panel discussions with alumni, and a special evening of celebrating Latin American culture, prayer, and Marian devotion.

Liliana Montoya (our Associate Director of Spanish Curriculum and Ministry) was instrumental in introducing participants to our platform and methodology. This is the fourth group to earn this certificate with us, and we are delighted to see how these partnerships strengthen the Church's mission of service and evangelization, empowering these valiant women to lead their dioceses with confidence, commitment, and faith. Visit our calendar page then register for a course today.

Celebrating Two UD Journeys

On January 21st, at the University of Dayton Service Anniversary Luncheon, we joyfully celebrated two remarkable milestones of our team: Jeaninne Chaffin's 30th year at the University, and Margie McCrate's 25th. Jeaninne began her UD journey in 1995, supporting both the History and Philosophy Departments, and later found her home with us, where she's spent the past 25 years working alongside Sr. Angela Ann as an Administrative Assistant. Her dedication has helped connect us to the global Church, and she is known for her warm communication with people across the country and the world.

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Margie joined UD in 2000, embracing a new chapter after years as a stay-at-home mom, and grew through roles in Religious Studies, Christian Leadership, and lastly, the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives. Also as an Administrative Assistant, her work has supported countless facilitators and students, fostering faith formation year after year.

Both Jeaninne and Margie embody the spirit of service that defines our mission, and we have been so blessed by their years of dedication!

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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.

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