Below you will find descriptions of each of the approved courses and methods for fulfilling the Coursework requirement for Basic Formation.  The "What is Ministry?" course is required in all options.  Click Here for a listing of the coursework options.

"What is Ministry?" is a six-hour "in-person" course taught by a diocesan staff member. 

It explores models of the Church, the role of the laity coming from Vatican II, the baptismal call to be priest, prophet and king, as well as defining evangelization.  Participants will be introduced to the four areas of formation from  CoWorkers in the Vineyard of the Lord and the USCCB's modules on Intercultural Competency.  Activities will surround communication and learning styles, multiple intelligences and pathways to prayer.
 
Contact the Office of Faith Formation to schedule a course in your area.  Cost is $30 per participant, with a minimum of 10 participants per site.

Foundations of Catholic Belief (formerly Core Course: Introduction to the Catholic Faith) is a seven-week online course offered through STEP at the University of Notre Dame.  The course utilizes the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults (USCCA) as the primary text to explore six core areas of the faith.  

The course is offered in August/September, January and June each year.  Participants enroll in the course and complete it with a cohort of individuals from across the country/world.  Each week there is a reading assignment, short written assignment and an online chat session with the cohort.  Outside of the scheduled chat session, participants work at their own pace each week.

Participants need to have access to a computer and internet connection for the course.  An orientation will be provided to the software for those who desire it.  Access to the USCCA is available online.  Cost is $74.25 when "Davenport" is selected as the diocesan discount code. 
Click here to Register.

Catholic Faith and Tradition for School Teachers used to be offered however has been rolled into the current course offering called "Foundations of Catholic Belief" and is still structured as it previously was, however the discussions are now more generalized rather than focused primarily on teachers.

For those individuals who prefer in-person courses, each section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church will be offered as a one-day course.  Courses will be scheduled throughout the diocese based on instructor availability and interest.  Participants selecting this option would need to complete the following four courses:

• Profession of Faith

• Celebration of the Christian Mystery

• Life in Christ

• Christian Prayer

Contact the Office of Faith Formation to schedule a course in your area.  Cost is $30 per course, per participant, with a minimum of 10 participants per site.

"Faith Foundations" is an online course offered through My Catholic Faith Delivered.  This course contains videos, stories, analogies, prayers and discussion questions.  Individuals register for the course at their convenience and have access to the course for one year.  It takes approximately one hour to complete each of the 36 lessons in the program.  Cost for the course is $80.  Click here to register.

"Echoes of Faith - Emmaus Edition" is the brand-new online version of the popular Echoes of Faith series published by RCL Benziger in conjunction with the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. 

Participants selecting this option for Basic Formation are asked to complete the following 4 Theology Modules:

• I Believe, We Believe

• Liturgy and Sacraments

• Catholic Morality

• Prayer and Spirituality

The learning format includes reflection, journaling, reading, videos and discussion questions.  Participants purchase the course and have access to the materials for one year.  Cost is $50.  Click Here to Register.

"Echoes of Faith Plus" is the parish-based version of Echoes of Faith.  This option must be completed in a group setting.  Participants will watch the DVD and work through the associated booklet with a facilitator.

Participants would complete the following 4 Theology Models for Basic Formation:

• I Believe, We Believe

• Liturgy and Sacraments

• Catholic Morality

• Prayer and Spirituality

Parishes electing to utilize this material will submit a Request for Approval to the Office of Faith Formation indicating their intent to offer the coursework at their parish.

The Office of Faith Formation has a copy of the DVDs available for checkout from the Media Library, but parishes would need to purchase the accompanying book from RCL Benziger for each participant.  

"Pillar I: The Creed" and "Pillar II: Sacraments" from Ascension Press are designed as parish-based formation.  This option must be completed in a group setting.  In each 12-session program, participants are engage the corresponding section of the Catechism through DVD-lecture, individual preparation/reflection and group discussion.  

Parishes electing to utilize the material will submit a Request for Approval to the Office of Faith Formation indicating their intent to offer the coursework at their parish.

The Office of Faith Formation has the DVDs and Leader Guide available for checkout from the Media Library, but parishes would need to purchase the student workbooks from Ascension Press.  

Participants selecting this option for Basic Formation Coursework would need to complete the Life in Christ and Christian Prayer components in another format.  Options include the following:

• Faith Foundations

  • Enroll in the Foundations - Life in Christ AND Foundations - Prayer and Spirituality courses.  Cost of these individual modules is $33 each. 

• Echoes of Faith - Emmaus Edition

  • ​​​​​Enroll in the course and complete the Catholic Morality and Prayer and Spirituality Modules. 

• Echoes of Faith Plus

  • Complete the Catholic Morality and Prayer and Spirituality Modules.

• In-Person

  • Complete the Life in Christ and Christian Prayer Courses.