Free Courses for Individuals or Parish Leadership Teams

The Diocese of St. Petersburg has entered into a collaborative initiative that provides free learning and training tools that can be utilized in a number of ways for the formation of individuals, ministry leaders, the whole congregation and for particular programs within the parishes ministries.

Digital Courses Included in the Free Diocesan Membership: Any parishioner in the Diocese of St. Petersburg has free access to these courses and may complete them on their own Initiative for their own personal growth and development.

Sign up for a free account and the whole list of current courses on the Diocese of St. Petersburg Landing Page HERE.

Although far from exhaustive, here are a few suggested topical groupings, and suggestions for parish discernment & implementation planning.

Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship Themes: Foundational Content

Courses with foundational evangelization and missionary discipleship content. Click on the course titles below for more information.

Evangelization with Chris Stefanick:

Let Chris guide your entire parish team to a clear, actionable, and truly inspiring understanding of what it takes to recommit a parish’s efforts to this core mission of evangelization. Start your class by clicking HERE.

You may wish to use this course in one of the following ways:

For Parish Staff Development: In line with Courageously Living the Gospel, and the call to the New Evangelization, the parish staff could view the video segments together, individually or even facilitated using online tools such as Zoom.

For Parish Evangelization & Missionary Discipleship Team Formation: In furtherance of your Missionary Discipleship Goals from the parish plan submitted to Bishop Parkes, your team may benefit from this course as a foundation to mutual understanding of the mission of evangelization. It can be a springboard for further refinement of plans and goals. Pastors and parish team members could view the video segments together, individually or even facilitated using online tools such as Zoom.

For Congregation Wide Implementation to Equip all Parishioners to be Missionary Disciples: This foundational course may be used in small groups, existing small Christian Communities, independently with the Pastor/Parish Clergy preaching on the themes of the course, in segments as the course is progressively completed or at the end of the course. Ministry groups could explore this topic together in gathered and non-gathered session.

Discipleship with Julianne Stanz

Let Julianne be your guide to creating a culture of missionary discipleship in your parish community. She will help you see that your role as a parish leader is to walk with and encourage others on the path to accepting Jesus’ invitation to follow him. Particularly useful in transitioning the foundational understanding that Chris Stefanick presented in his presentations into practice and application in the lives of individuals and the entire parish community. Start your Class with Julianne HERE.

You may wish to use this course in one of the following ways:

For Parish Staff Development: In line with Courageously Living the Gospel, and the call to live as Missionary Disciples dedicated to our Sacred Purposes of Proclaiming: Knowing and sharing the Gospel of Jesus. Inviting: Welcoming and accompanying others as Jesus did. Encountering: Growing in relationship to Jesus and one another, parish staff members can develop strategies to even more effectively lead the faithful into the the Vision of Courageously Living the Gospel. The Pastor and parish staff could view the video segments together, individually or even in facilitated discussion groups using online tools such as Zoom.

For Parish Evangelization & Missionary Discipleship Team Formation: In furtherance of your Missionary Discipleship Goals from the parish plan submitted to Bishop Parkes, the parish team may benefit from this course as a foundation to mutual understanding of effective ways to empower fellow parishioners for Courageously Living the Gospel . Julie’s presentations can be a springboard for further refinement of plans and goals. Pastors and parish team members could view the video segments together, individually or even facilitated using online tools such as Zoom.

For Congregation Wide Implementation to Equip all Parishioners to be Missionary Disciples: This course may be used in small groups, existing small Christian Communities or for independent study with the Pastor/Parish Clergy preaching on the themes of the course, in segments as the course is progressively completed or at the end of the course. Ministry groups could explore this topic together in gathered and non-gathered session.


Themes related to Evangelization and Missionary Discipleship

You may want to explore other topics that will help you to be a Missionary Disciple or to help others become confident Missionary Disciples.

You may wish to use these in a manner that is similar to the suggestions above for yourself individually, as a parish staff development opportunity, for Missionary Discipleship team formation, or as a congregation wide growth and formation opportunity.

Click on the course titles below for more information.

Advancing Your Parish Through a Time of Crisis with Cande de Leon

As our parishes begin to reopen and we begin to welcome back our parishioners, we must be ready to lead our parish communities in the new normal.

Just in time learning for dealing with the Corona Virus Pandemic and looking toward a return to fully open and operating parishes. Start your class HERE.

Ministry in Culturally Diverse Parishes with Luis Soto

This course aims to help you overcome the challenges that arise when trying to serve two different communities within one parish that may not share the same customs, language, or culture by providing a historical framework and a series of practical steps for integrating multiple cultures in one community.  Start your class with Luis HERE.

The Generational Divide: Who’s in the Pews by Katie Prejean McGrady

Let Katie help you become an expert on Millennials and Generation Z through a deep-dive into stats and practical ministry applications – perfect for parishes looking to reach (and keep) younger generations of Catholics truly engaged in their faith.

Every generation approaches the task of discipleship with differing ideas and ways of connecting with others. Youth and Senior parishioners may be the bridge to many of their peers, including the ways that millennials communicate and related utilizing technology. One size does not fit all. Start your class HERE.

This ministry is supported through gifts to the Catholic Ministry Appeal.
This ministry is supported through gifts to the Catholic Ministry Appeal.