Current Online Learning Opportunities

New - Teilhard de Chardin Lecture Series

October 26. 4:00pm (Iowa Time). "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" is the title of this presentation by Stephen Schloesser SJ, Teilard de Chardin fellow at the Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectural Heritage at Loyola University in Chicago.  Dr. Scholesser will discuss how to re-source the Catholic intellectual heritage to live creatively in an era of fleeting change.
> Register to participate here.

Voice of the Faithful Annual Conference

October 22-23. "Re-membering the Church--Moving Forward" is the theme of this year's one-day virtual conference featuring Sr. Carol Zinn SSJ, executive director of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, and Massimo Faggioli, professor of theology and religious studies at Villanova University.
> Learn more and register here.

Screening and Discussion of "Unguarded"

Thursday, October 7. 7:00-8:45pm. (Iowa Time).  "Unguarded" is a documentary film about a revolutionary experiment in the Brazilian prison system which focuses on the recovery of the prisoner instead of punishment.  This is one in a series of "Conversations on Restorative Justice" sponsored by the Hank Center at Loyola University in Chicago.  Screening of the film will be followed by a live discussion with the filmmakers.
> Learn more and register here.

An Interesting Conference About Sexuality

Thursday and Friday, October 7-8. 7:00-9:30pm (Iowa Time).  This two-part online discussion of sexuality in postmodern culture features presentations by Monica Coleman, Linda Kay Klein, James Alison, and Elaine Padilla.  Discretion Advised--This program may present viewpoints not consistent with Catholic teaching.
> Learn more and register here.

New - Growing Our Future

Tuesday, October 5. 1:00pm (Iowa Time).  "How the World Will Come to An End--Or How We Can Save Ourselves and Our Common Home" is the title of this presentation by Fr. Agbonkhianmeghe E. Orobator SJ, President of the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar.  One in a series of "Growing Our Future" programs sponsored by Jesuit Missions.
> Learn more and register here.

Origins of Consciousness

Saturday, October 2. 9:00am-Noon (Iowa Time).  This in-person and online retreat conducted by Tom Roberts explores the development of human consciousness and how developing human consciousness continues to define and deepen our spiritual journeys.  Sponsored by Franciscan Spirituality Center in LaCrosse.
> Learn more and register here.

Local -- 2021 Cedar Valley Community Book Study

TBA.  The Cedar Valley Antiracism Coalition hosts this year’s online discussions of “Caste—The Origins of Our Discontents” by Isabel Wilkerson.  Wilkerson argues that Americans have inherited an unspoken infrastructure of social hierarchy developed 400 years ago when Europeans first came to this land. While no one living today is responsible for starting it, this hierarchy places whites at the top and black people at the bottom.  Groups will meet four times during October.
> Learn more and register at uni.edu/resources/common-read
> Listen to an interview with Isabel Wilkerson at: https://n.pr/3tHRau8
> Read a summary of the book here: https://bit.ly/3ClaVuR

The Social Mission of the Church In a Post-Pandemic Society

Thursday, September 23. 12:00pm (Iowa time).  This panel discussion examines the role that the Catholic Church must play as the world recovers and rebuilds from the Covic pandemic.  Sponsored by the British Catholic journal The Tablet.
> Learn more and register here.

Conversations on Racial Justice

Wednesday, September 22. 4:00-5:30pm (Iowa time).  This ecumenical, interfaith conversation explores racial justice in four religious traditions: Judaism, Islam, Catholicism, and Baha’i. The conversation is one in a series on Catholicism in Dialogue sponsored by the Hank Center at Loyola University in Chicago.
> Learn more and register here.

Finding God in All Things Virtual Retreat Series

Starts Saturday, September 18. 9:00am-1:00pm.  This monthly virtual retreat, sponsored by the Franciscan Spirituality Center in LaCrosse, is based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.  It invites participants into a safe virtual community where they can ask these questions and seek answers that reflect the uniqueness of each individual and their individual lives.
> Learn more and register online here.

Practicing the Inner Work of Racial Justice

Friday and Saturday, September 17 and 18. This workshop will explore awareness and compassion practices that address identity-based suffering and aid transformation on the personal, interpersonal, and systemic levels.  Conducted by Rhonda V. Magee, Professor of Law at the University of San Francisco School of Law and the author of "The Inner Work of Racial Justice".  Sponsored by Trinity Church New York.
> Learn more and register here.

Why Dante Matters Today

Thursday, September 9. 4:00-5:30pm (Iowa Time).  This is one in a series of "Conversations on the Catholic Imagination" sponsored by the Hank Center at Loyola University in Chicago.  This program will discuss the enduring influence of Dante on the Catholic imagination in theology, art, politics and culture.
> Learn more and register here.

The Common Good

Pre-recorded.  This series of eight presentations delivered by Dr. Patrick Riordan explore the concept of Common Good through the three lenses of Aristotle’s philosophy, Catholic teaching, and contemporary political liberalism.  The series are recordings of the annual D’Arcy Lectures sponsored by Campion Hall at Oxford University.
> Access the presentations here.

Imagine

Alternating Wednesdays. Live at 8:00am Iowa Time.  This regular program produced by Jesuit Spirituality is inspired by meditative practices that engage with story, image, scripture, imagination, desire, affect, body and silence.
> Learn more here.
> Find archive of recorded programs here.

Ignatian Prayer Series

Mondays, June 14, 21,28 or Tuesdays, July 13, 20, 27. 6:30pm. (Iowa Time). This three-part examination of Ignatian Prayer explores several methods of prayer that call us to a real encounter with God, using our mind, imagination, and heart. Each week includes a guided meditation in the week’s Ignatian prayer practice by Andy Otto.  Sponsored by God in All Things.  Zoom account required.
> Learn more and register online here.

The Ignatian Way

Pre-recorded.  This series of eight presentations is an introduction to the key elements of Ignatian spirituality. Each of the segments, presented by Brian Grogan SJ, lasts about 10 minutes and explores topics such as Ignatian prayer, the spiritual exercises, discernment, and becoming a person for others.
> Access the presentations here.

This podcast series from the Franciscan Spirituality Center in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, examines the nature of the spiritual life.  The Center's spiritual director Steve Spilde interviews a variety of spiritual guides in order to explore numerous topics related to an understanding of connection, the divine, compassionate listening, and the search for meaning and wholeness.
> List of past sessions in the series here.

St. John's Theology Webinars (2021-22)

St. John's School of Theology and Seminary in Collegeville, Minnesota, presents this unique opportunity for Catholic adults and young adults who are seeking a deeper understanding of their faith and its place in their everyday lives.  The live webinars provide an opportunity to learn from and interact with the theologians at Saint John's and offer a chance for these scholars to gain insights and grow in their faith, as well.
> Learn more here.

"Know Justice Know Peace" Jesuit Anti-Racism Retreat (Spring 2021)

This online retreat sponsored by The Jesuit Post features a series of twelve talks published in video, podcast, and text formats available on demand across TJP ’s media platforms. The retreat seeks to assist Christians in their growth as anti-racist followers of Jesus.
> Learn more here.

Transforming White Privilege

The Catholic Parishes in Waterloo will host this four-week online opportunity designed to help participants  better identify, discuss and address common culture assumptions, narratives and norms which create and protect white privilege and its consequences in the lives of people of color.  Participation is limited.
> Learn more here.

A Season With the Saints (Fall 2020)

The McGrath Center at Notre Dame University sponsors this series of presentations by scholars from the Center and the University.  The presentations feature video recordings, reading materials, and discussion questions suitable for individual or group study and is available free through December 20.  It examines the lives of St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. Padre Pio, St. Therese of Lisieux, St. John Newman, St. Gertrude and St. Nicholas.
> Learn more here.

Crisis--Clergy Abuse in the Catholic Church (Fall 2020)

This ten-part podcast series is produced by The Catholic Project at the Catholic University of America.  It examines the origins, characters, causes, and reforms of a systemic problem that has plagued the modern church for at least 70 years. New episodes are available every Wednesday and can be accessed on a variety of podcast platforms including Spotify, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts.
> Learn more here.

•   •   •

Continuing Online Learning Opportunities

New -- Candlelight Compline Services

Daily at 7:00pm (Iowa Time).  Compline is a brief, luminous service that marks the close of each day and welcomes the quiet of nighttime in praising the source of light and life. These daily Compline services hosted by Trinity Church in New York offer a brief interval of respite and peace in the midst of a busy world.
> Watch the live-stream on Facebook here.

Catechetical Institute at Franciscan University

The Catechetical Institute at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio makes the best of the  University's resources available to Catholics everywhere.  This includes a broad range of workshops which feature experts in catechetics, theology, counseling, education, life sciences, and communication.  Access is available to local individuals and small groups and includes the guidance of a  local mentor.
> Learn more here.
> View a list of courses available here.
> Email us at dbqwcaf@dbqarch.org for registration information.

FORMED

A wide variety of on-demand opportunities for adults, young adults, families and children are available on this online platform sponsored by The Augustine Institute. 
> Learn more about these opportunities here. 
To access opportunities on FORMED:  log-in and create a personal account; once you do you should not have to register again.
• Use parish name: Waterloo.Formed.org
• Use code  QFCYJH

Learn25

Learn 25 is a life-long learning service which provides over 300 online audio and video programs of special interest to Catholic learners.  The provrams feature internationally recognized experts in presentations which combine scholarship with lively instruction designed to enlighten, entertain, engage and inform adult and young adult learners. 
> Learn more here.

STEP Online Courses

The McGrath Institute at the University of Notre Dame offers a wide variety of online courses about Catholic teaching, history and practice.  Most of the classes are six weeks long.  Participants read texts and watch video lessons before posting weekly assignments, sharing reflections in discussion forums and participating in real-time online discussions with classmates.  Enrollment is limited.
> Learn more here.
> Learn about STEP programs in Spanish here.

Word on Fire/Engage

Word on Fire/Engage provides virtual access to programs, workshops and sermons by Bishop Robert Barron, one of the preeminent Catholic evangelists in the church today.  You can watch Bishop Barron's singular series "Catholicism--Journey to the Heart of the Faith" as well as programs on important historical figures in church history, the Sacraments, the Mass, evil and suffering, the "last things" and more.
> View programs available here.

 

[Last Update  10.05.21]