Institute for Pastoral Initiatives News
Proud (proUD) to serve community miles away
By Laura Franklin
So, after nearly two years of hard work, frequent email exchanges, some wonderful phone conversations, I am about to finally meet, face to face, with the people on their journey to Adult Formation Leadership through our online courses, at The University of Dayton Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation (vlcff.udayton.edu)
I hopped into my car with my 9-year old son heading east on I-70, on my way to New Jersey. The ceremony for the group from the Diocese of Trenton was scheduled for Sunday so I figured I’d get some sightseeing in prior to our first meeting.
The car ride to the east coast can be lengthy for a little boy (especially after we added some extra time to our trip when I went the wrong direction on the Pennsylvania turnpike after we stopped for lunch!) We spent some time sightseeing, smelling and eating in chocolate town, Hershey, PA, then hit the road again, finally arriving in Trenton. We visited a local Popcorn Park zoo – a refuge for sick and abandoned wildlife.
Sleep was hard to come by Saturday night – not just because was away from home and missed my own bed. I have been working with these wonderful ladies – the fabulous five as they have become known as – for quite a while – almost 730 days. In our close to two year journey together we had worked through some apprehension on beginning the online program, an unplanned change in the schedule, and some hardships with life events within the group.
I was anxious to meet these folks – not just to put faces and personalities with names – but to share with them in their celebration. They had a great deal to celebrate – they completed one of the VLCFF’s most specialized and intensive certificate programs. They grew in their faith, they grew as individuals, and they grew as a group. They grew in so many ways; I could not have been more proud! These students showed their dedication and commitment to their community, to their Church, and to each other as they expanded their knowledge during this time.
Throughout the program, they learned about many things that are needed to create an ongoing Adult Learning and Faith Formation process including: Pastoral Planning, Applying it to Adult Learning and Faith Formation,The Role of Technology in Adult Learning,The Importance of Marketing and Communication,The Role of Evaluation and Guidelines for Choosing Resources for Adult Learning and Faith Formation.
Driving up to the church, I was amazed by the charming beauty of the building. As many know, red is one of my favorite colors. Seeing the red doors on the church, I knew it was meant to be. I was meant to help these women on their journey; and I was meant to be here to share in their big celebration.
Finally, we all got to meet each other! Greetings were exchanged, hugs, some tears and congratulations shared before the mass. The time had come, though it all seemed a whirlwind from that point on. Father Alex Enriquez gave a wonderful homily, my son even chuckled at a few jokes thrown in with the day’s message. Father then went on to congratulate the five graduates for their commitment to the parish.
“That’s why we have partnered up with the University of Dayton VLCFF,” said Laura Rivas,who runs the Diocese of Trenton Adult Faith Formation and Evangelization program. "To further assist parishes with their Adult Faith Formation efforts. The overall goal of every parish should be to work toward creating a community where Adult Faith Formation is central, and where lifelong formation is encouraged.”
”It was my first exposure to my mission and that may sound strange coming from a Catholic,” said Monica Principato, one of the fab five women. “I did not know that I had a mission. It was a transforming experience for me.”
As it came to an end, I was sad that I could not stay longer. It was difficult to leave as I felt I had such little time getting to know this wonderful team in person. We hugged and said our goodbyes. It all happened so fast, I wish I could have made it last longer.
Moving forward, this group of five women plan to transform others, by mentoring the next co-hort of learners in the VLCFF program. As a member of the University of Dayton community, this makes me proud. Proud I can do it all over again, and (proUD ) of our effort to help others serve their community.
The Institute for Pastoral Initiatives oversees many university and global projects, including the VLCFF (Find us on Facebook too) 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.
