Current Online Learning Opportunities

"Follow the Star" Online Epiphany Retreat

Wednesday, January 6.  9:00am-2:00pm (CST). Mark Burrows and Chrstine Valters Painter present this retreat opportunity sponsored by Abbey of the Arts.  The day includes meditation, reflection, song, gentle movement and creative practice. $75.00 fee.  Pre-registration required.
> Learn more here.

Spiritual Practices for Living With Depression

Saturday, January 9. 9:00am-Noon.  The Franciscan Spirituality Center sponsors this workshop presented by Dr. Monica Coleman. Participants will learn about the religious challenges experienced by individuals living with depression, seven religious teachings that undermine/invalidate the experience of depression; three religious principles that support the journey of faith and depression and spiritual practices to engage while living with depression.
> Learn more here.

A Sheltered Day of Solitude

Tuesday, January 12. 9:00am-4:30pm.  Here's an opportunity to spend a day in intentional reflection and solitude under the direction of a trained spiritual director from the Franciscan Spirituality Center in LaCrosse.  Registration fee of $25 includes an optional private spiritual direction session. Register by noon on January 11.
> Learn more here.

Meeting Alzheimer's--The Healing Power of "Yes"

Thursday, January 14. 7:00-8:30pm.  Sinsinawa Mound Center hosts this online workshop presented by Dr. Jade Angelica, author of Two Worlds Touch--A Spiritual Journey Through Alzheimers.  Participants will experience a presentation that is informative, inspiring, empowering, and engaging and learn the most important technique for communicating with persons living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. $20 per person due January 13 at 4:00pm.
> Learn more and register online here.

Seeing With New Eyes (2021)

Saturday, January 16. 8:30am-2:00pm (CST).  This one-day virtual retreat, sponsored by Ignatian Resources,  helps participants uncover God’s deep desire for us to be our truest and most authentic selves, loved, gifted, and free to to love and be loved, to follow God, and to “let go” in trust.
> Learn more and register here.

Praying With Ignatius

February 19-21.  This weekend virtual retreat, sponsored by Ignatian Resources, is facilitated by Andy Otto. The retreat will offer an overview of the structure and wisdom of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola.  Participants will gain an understanding of the structure of the Spiritual Exercises, pray with the main themes and graces from the Exercises, and experience guided meditations drawn from the Exercises.
> Learn more and register here.

Virtual Grief Retreat

Saturday, February 20. 9:00am-Noon.  “Navigating Together” is the theme for this retreat day for anyone who is grieving the death of a loved one.  The day is sponsored by the Franciscan Spirituality Center in LaCrosse and will include opportunities for reflection, discussion and creative expression. 
> Learn more and register here.
 

What Is Spirituality? (2020-21)

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.
> Listen of past sessions in the series here.

St. John's Theology Webinars (2020-21)

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.

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.

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Continuing Online Learning Opportunities

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.