Upcoming Faith Formation and Catechetical Certification Opportunities for Spring 2026
May 22, 2026

Catechesis is central to evangelization and mission in the Church and core to catechesis are the Scriptures and the Tradition of the Church. Whether you are active as a catechist or are interested in learning more about your faith, the courses and seminars offered by the University of Dayton’s VLCFF through the Diocese of Wheeling Charleston will deepen your understanding of the Catholic faith and Tradition. Courses are offered in person, online and hybrid. Below is the hybrid course being offered beginning June 1st. All courses offered are free, but registration is required. Courses are underwritten by the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston’s Office of Evangelization & Catechesis, who pays 100% of the tuition and the cost of any books associated with the courses.

The course instructor is Dr. Rodica Stoicoiu. For further information or to register, please contact Rodica at rodicastoicoiuphd@gmail.com with your name, address, email, and phone number.

The Diocese of Wheeling Charleston offers Catechetical Certification and recognizes VLCFF courses for various levels of certification. Certain courses are especially designed for volunteer catechists, Catholic school religion teachers, members of OCIA teams and all those who would be enriched by formal training in this field. For further information regarding the VLCFF certification program please contact Dr. Stoicoiu or Ms. Shirley Carter at scarter@dwc.org. There are 6 required courses for level one certification including the Introduction to Scripture class below. This class is open to ALL adults interested in deepening their faith and growing in their understanding of the theology and Tradition of the Church.

Introduction to Scripture

If you want to understand: how the Bible came to be and what the Bible is, how Roman Catholics read and interpret the Bible, the key Church documents related to the study of the Scriptures, the similarities and differences between Catholic, and Protestant Bibles, key terms like “inspiration,” “inerrancy,” and “revelation” in Scripture, the history and context of the synoptic Gospels and the Gospel of John, the oral and written traditions of the Scriptures, and much more . . . then this course may be for you! This course welcomes those who are just beginning their exploration of the Scriptures, those who are working on their Catechetical Certification, lectors, OCIA team members, and anyone who wishes to deepen their understanding and love of the Bible. This is a five-week hybrid course that combines online material with a once a week Zoom meeting. It begins the week of June 1st. There are two classes being offered: Wednesday evenings at 7pm and Thursday afternoons at 4 pm. A minimum of ten students is needed for a class to proceed.

To register or for further information about any of the courses please contact Dr. Rodica Stoicoiu at rodicastoicoiuphd@gmail.com

We are called throughout our lives to turn and return to God. This is the process of ongoing conversion. Deepening our understanding of faith, growing in our relationship with God and one another includes learning about that faith, the Scriptures and our Tradition. Take time this year to meet other Catholics, learn, discuss and deepen your faith.