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Institute for Pastoral Initiatives News

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By Dorothy Mensah-Aggrey

It is about 10:30 p.m., and another aspect of my day is about to begin.  As a course designer and facilitator (we prefer to facilitate learning) staying up late to teach is the norm for me. 

At the University’s Institute for Pastoral Initiatives, located at Daniel J. Curran Place, our work covers the gamut.  From instructing undergrads on Saturday mornings in the Forum for Young Catechetical Leaders, to our work with the Chaminade Scholars, to our Special Needs Formation, and even our ministry programs for Hispanic youth, the institute makes a difference in the lives of people in our community and all over the world.  

“We are demonstrating the breadth and outreach of our programs,” says Sr.Angela Ann Zukowski,MHSH,Dmin, Director of the Institute.  “ IPI is unique. It was founded by the Marianist Community for outreach to the Catholic Church around the world.”

The IPI staff serves nearly 6,000  VLCFF students each year.  From the U.S. to Canada, the Caribbean, Australia, Europe and Africa, even Saudi Arabia, the VLCFF has been able to facilitate learning,while building great virtual communities. With more than 100 course subjects, in English and Spanish, students around the world login to take a course.  

University of Dayton alumni can browse our catalog and choose a  course for a reduced fee of $50 per class. And UD faculty and staff now have the opportunity as well. HR will cover the cost.

"Supporting the learning and development of our employees is essential to the work of HR," said Troy Washington, Vice President for Human Resources.  "Being able to do so in a way that supports the deepening of one's faith through the VLCFF, is important to who we are as an institution."  Click here for details.  https://vlcff.udayton.edu/ud_employee/

Covering more than 18 years, and still growing, the vlcff.udayton.edu learning experience offers online e-courses (5 weeks) and e-seminars (3 weeks)   Ensuring that the main aspects of a person’s development and learning are covered has been the keys to success; namely human, intellectual, pastoral and spiritual.  There are courses that cover social justice, human development, spirituality, and of course, intellectual advancement.

Since the VLCFF stresses building community in course rooms, participants are required to post a certain number of times by responding to others in the course (chat) room. 

“Some people will be intimidated by technology, or the online learning but do not be intimidated,” says Sara Acevedo, an adult learner from New Jersey. “ This was my fear. Now I regret not taking the online courses  sooner."

In 2015 I facilitated the first ‘e-course’ on special needs, Disabilities in Parish Life. There were four persons from the island nation of Mauritius, two from Trinidad, and the rest from various cities in the United States. 

The bonds we shared during that particular course have remained until this day. How? We felt connected to one another because of the subject matter, and even more so as we shared our stories. 

Distance did not matter.  Building community mattered. 

And as a Catholic and Marianist institution, community is more than a word, it’s our shared vision.

Dorothy Mensah-Aggrey, Ph.D., CPO, is the Administrative Specialist in Curriculum Design & Adult Catechesis for the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives.  She holds a doctoral degree in Education, a Master’s in Theology, and is a Certified Online Programmer. IPI oversees many university and global projects, including the VLCFF  (Find us on Facebook) as well as the Forum for Young Catholic Hispanics, Christian Meditation in Catholic schools, Special Needs in Faith Formation, Chaminade Scholars pilgrimage from Assisi to Rome. Catholic Schools for Tomorrow, the Forum for Young Catechetical Leaders, and the Caribbean School for Catholic Communications.  

 

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