The Diocese of Lake Charles wants to support all adults in growing in relationship with the Lord. The first and primary way that this occurs is through active participation in the Sacraments of the Church. Christ sanctifies us and brings us into relationship with Himself through the gifts of the Sacraments. In order to fully enter into the great gifts that the Lord desires for us to have we all need to grow in knowledge of Him and His mysteries. In order to work toward this goal in the Diocese of Lake Charles, we are encouraging Parishes to offer types of courses to correspond with the different ways that the Lord is already stirring their hearts.
The Diocese of Lake Charles has created a systematic approach to adult catechesis. Any adult can take a recommended course listed here. Coursework can be pursued through “tiers” of study in the order described here, or else taken randomly as you so desire—it’s up to you. The DOLC recommends as a starting point:
Foundational (F) Unlocking the Mysteries of the Bible is offered in parishes throughout the year. It can be located on the Events page of our website. It can be completed in one day or through several sessions, depending on the needs of individual parishes.
Catholic Identity Level
The next level is the Catholic Identity (CI) Level.
This level focuses on four areas of content that form the basis of our Catholic beliefs and practices. The four topics are Theology of the Body, A Biblical Walk through the Mass, Oremus: Study of Catholic Prayer, and Catholicism or Symbolon, which are both studies of the Creed. These courses are also being offered at Parishes throughout the Diocese and can be located on the Events page of our website.
Apostolate Level
The next level is the Apostolate (A) level. As we become more conformed to Christ, we naturally want deeper learning and also want to understand how to live out Jesus’ message in our own lives. The Apostolate tier suggests courses that take us deeper into spirituality and service, into learning that also equips us for sharing the Catholic faith with others. Key courses in deeper theology, prayer, evangelization and leadership can also be found at this level. Some suggestions for courses to be offered and taken on this level are the following:
- The Mystery of God (6 sessions) with Fr Robert Barron Word on Fire. This series is great for those who want to be able to speak about the Spiritual Life, defend our faith and evangelize others!
- Mary: A Biblical Walk with the Blessed Mother (6 sessions) with Dr. Edward Sri Ascension Press. This is a great series for those who want to speak about Catholic Spirituality and be led more deeply into prayer.
- Seven Deadly Sins, Seven Lively Virtues (7 sessions) with Fr Robert Barron Word on Fire. This is a great series for those who want to learn how to live the Christian life more faithfully and help those around them to do the same!
- Called & Gifted Spiritual Gifts Inventory, part 1(5 sessions) from St Catherine of Siena Institute.
- Walking Toward Eternity, Daring to Walk the Walk (7 sessions) with Jeff Cavins Ascension Press This is a great series for those who want to learn how to live the Christian life more faithfully and help those around them to do the same!
- The Bible Timeline (24 sessions) with Jeff Cavins Ascension Press. This is a great series for those who want to accompany others on their Spiritual Journey, come to know Christ better in Scripture and defend our faith more readily.
- Matthew: The King and His Kingdom (22 sessions) with Jeff Cavins Ascension Press.
The Center for Catholic Studies
The Center for Catholic Studies (CCS) is another tier of adult faith formation. The Center for Catholic Studies partners with Holy Cross College to provide college-level theology course-work. Classes are taught by Masters or Doctoral level instructors, and can be taken for credit or audit. Information on classes taught in the spring can be found on our website under forms. In spring 2016, Christology and The Catholic Novel are being offered. In summer 2016, Sacred Scripture will be offered. In the fall 2016, Catholic Sexual Ethics, Patristics and Spiritual Theology will be offered. These courses are great for everyone wanting to learn more about one of these topics, not only for those needing college credit. It is also a great beginning point for someone who may eventually be considering the possibility of obtaining a Master’s in Theology.
Want to get involved in adult education?Would you like more of these courses to be offered in your Parish? Contact Sister Mary Elisha Glady, RSM at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. about setting up adult education options in your parish!