Institute for Pastoral Initiatives
The Institute for Pastoral Initiatives mobilizes the resources of the University of Dayton for partnerships with the Church that create and implement innovative pastoral initiatives designed to meet the needs of the Church and to articulate faith within the context of contemporary culture.
The Institute for Pastoral Initiatives and Dayton parishes have partnered to create a new Hispanic catechetical program to train catechists. The in-person sessions provide lessons on the Catholic faith, Mary, the sacraments, liturgy and the process of initiating the faith of adults. Learn more
Faith Friday Presentation
The Institute for Pastoral Initiatives, in collaboration with Bayard, Inc., held its first Friday Faith conversation webinar in November. Bill Johnston, professor of Religious Studies, discusses how we celebrate Mass and offers suggestions for a more full and rich spiritual experience during his presentation, “Christ our Living Bread.”
Look for more Faith Friday events in 2023!
What Do We Provide?
Resources for Inclusive Catechesis: The Institute for Pastoral Initiatives serves as a support network and resource to individuals with disabilities and their families by providing DVDs and print resources, consultations, and networking opportunities.
The Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation: A growing initiative to offer adult religious education and faith formation anytime and anywhere via the internet.
The Forum for Young Catechetical Leaders: A two-year program for students of the University of Dayton. The goal is to prepare students to become outstanding catechists or religion teachers.
Sister Angela Ann Zukowski '74 was sent in 1971 by her order, the Mission Helpers of the Sacred Heart, to Dayton to offer catechetical adult faith formation in parishes and Catholic schools. She thought her stay would be for a year. But the journey took her also to the University of Dayton. She’s still at Dayton, and she’s still doing adult faith formation.
Among the purposes of the University of Dayton are “fostering the Marianist charism of education and formation in faith.” Fifty years ago, UD and the Society of Mary took steps formalizing that commitment to faith; one led to the establishment of the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives, which Zukowski directs as well as serving as professor of religious studies.
Among the institute’s initiatives is the Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation, which in 2000 began, in cooperation with Catholic dioceses, offering online courses.
The Institute for Pastoral Initiatives and local parishes have teamed up to create a new Hispanic catechetical program.
Read more
The Institute for Pastoral Initiatives facilitates a milestone for Malawi through online faith formation classes.
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Virtual Learning. Virtual Faith Formation.
Grow in your faith through UD’s abundance of online resources.
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