School of Christian Formation … Online

Diocese of Palm Beach Participants: Those who have earned Basic/Intermediate or Foundation/Level 1 Certification through the Searchlight Virtual School automatically receive credit for this course when they enter the School of Christian Formation. 

Course Description: This course develops the principle that the Second Vatican Council remains the fundamental event in the life of the contemporary Church and is the constant reference point for pastoral action. This course will:

• Familiarize students with the antecedent historical context of the Council
• Familiarize students with the Popes behind the Council
• Assist students in understanding that Vatican II addressed an extraordinary number of issues, and familiarize them with ten basic principles of reform
• Explore vital Church teachings and practices, first through a historical examination of the vision set forth by the major documents of the Second Vatican Council and then in light of the Church’s contemporary life and practice

Course Requirements:

• Complete the Online Tutorials for Vatican II and the Text Assessment for the required text: Vatican II Today.
• Submit the completed course worksheets to the Searchlight Virtual School. To submit, attach the completed document to an e-mail. Send to Michelle@SearchlightVS.com.
• Read The Decree on Ecumenism. You may read the Decree on Ecumenism online at the Vatican Website. You can also download a PDF version of the document. Reading this document in its original form is a required part of your course. This document is also the topic of your required reflection paper.
• Submit a written reflection on the Decree on Ecumenism.  Narrow the focus of your reflection to something within the document that stood out to you, grabbed your attention for a particular reason, or perhaps even surprised you. Explain why.
• This reflection paper has no specified length but should demonstrate that you have given sufficient thought and attention to the issues at the heart of this document.
• The last page of the PDF document sent to you for this course contains a text input field for you to use for your reflection paper. If your reflection requires more room than allowed, the text box will automatically scroll. 
• This is a single course, so all requirements must be met within a three month time frame.

Course Description: This course emphasizes that the Christian moral life begins with the experience that we are loved by God in an unimaginable, unfathomable way and that living faithfully is our attempt to respond to the gift of that love. This course will help students:

• Understand the meaning of Christian morality
• Explain why morally good choices lead to true human fulfillment
• Examine and explain what the true human goods are and why they lead to human fulfillment in this life and in the next
• Clarify what is meant by "loving others"
• Realize and embrace the Christian's moral responsibility to take an active role in the work of establishing the reign of God

Course Requirements:

• Complete the two online tutorials and submit the completed corresponding course materials to the Searchlight Virtual School.
• Purchase and read the required course text.
• Complete and submit the "Assessment" materials associated with the course text. The format for the Assessment is "open book."
• Since this is a single course, all requirements must be met within a three month time frame.

Required Text:

Building A Culture of Life - The Church's Social Teachings

A Six-Step Tutorial

Theological Advisor: Rev. John D'Mello, Ph.D., S.T.L.

Course Description: The history of the Church is the story of faith handed on, of how fallible human people have struggled to live out the Gospel in the very concrete circumstances of their lives for two thousand years. This course will help students:

• Understand that the entire Church is responsible for the conservation and transmission of the Gospel message
• Examine the role that prayer, study of Scripture, and the teachings of the Church have played in the Christian story
• Learn from the insights and wisdom, as well as the mistakes and missteps, of those who have striven to live the Gospel message throughout the history of Christianity
• Understand why some knowledge of the depths and riches of the past help nourish the ministry of the Church today

Course Requirements:

• Complete the two online tutorials and submit the completed corresponding course materials to the Searchlight Virtual School.
• Purchase and read the required course text. Complete and submit the "Assessment" materials associated with the course text. The format for the Assessment is "open book."
• Since this is a single course, all requirements must be met within a three month time frame.

Required Text:

Online Tutorial Links:

Christian Spirituality: Themes from the Tradition

By Lawrence S. Cunningham

and Keith J. Egan

Paulist Press

Purchase Text Online:

List Price: $16.95

Amazon.com

A nine-part tutorial based on the book:

Six Keys to a Deeper Spiritual Life

By Therese Cirner

Used with the permission of the author. 

Introduction

First Things First

First Key

Second Key

Third Key

Fourth Key

Fifth Key

Sixth Key

Journey's End

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The Searchlight Virtual School does not provide or distribute the texts associated with the courses. Each participant is responsible for obtaining the text. Texts can be ordered online or by special order through a local book store.

Forward in Hope

Saying AMEN to Lay Ecclesial Ministry

Bishop Matthew H. Clark

Ave Maria Press

Purchase Text Online:

List Price: $11.95

Amazon.com

Ave Maria Press

The Searchlight Virtual School does not provide or distribute the texts associated with the courses. Each participant is responsible for obtaining the text. Texts can be ordered online or by special order through a local book store.

Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord

A Resource for Guiding the Development of Lay Ecclesial Ministry

A Statement of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Co-Workers Tutorial 1: Describing and Responding to New Realities

Co-Workers Tutorial 2: Understanding the Realities in Light of Theology and Church Teaching

Excerpts from Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord Copyright © 2005, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C.  All rights reserved.  No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright holder.

If you would like to obtain the entire Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord document, use this link: Amazon.com

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