Current Status of Advanced Certification
For the present, advanced courses will continue to be offered and approved in an ad hoc fashion as appropriate speakers and other opportunities, including self-study, present themselves. The Seat of Wisdom Diocesan Institute will also offer live courses on a variety of subjects and will be available to design other courses on additional topics upon request. Additional resources and opportunities will be identified and developed on an ongoing basis as the Advanced Certification Program undergoes further revision and expansion. The courses and resources listed below, however, are all currently approved for Advanced Certification purposes.
Advanced Catholic Foundations Courses
The course track for this certificate currently consists of successfully completing a prescribed number of approved course hours in each of three categories. A selection of courses designated with an “*” are required for certification. Though all Christians may benefit from these courses, they should be particularly profitable for parish catechetical directors / coordinators, youth ministers, those who teach religion in Catholic schools, principals of Catholic schools, and others who serve in a leadership capacity in religious education. Those who successfully complete an adequate number of these courses, in addition to those of the Catholic Foundations track, are awarded a certificate in Advanced Catholic Foundations.
Approved courses available from the Seat of Wisdom Diocesan Institute which fulfill these requirements are listed below.
Sacred Scripture (25 Hours)
Approved and available courses currently include the following:
DVD Series (offered by a local coordinator):
The Bible Timeline (24 Part Series) Ascension Press
Question Booklet is $10 from the Curriculum Library
Adventures in Matthew (24 Part Series) Ascension Press
Adventures in Acts (20 Part Series) Ascension Press
Adventures in Revelation (10 Part Series) Ascension Press
Adventures in Exodus (10 Part Series) Ascension Press (5)
Adventures in 1 Corinthians (10 Part Series) Ascension Press (5)
Thy Kingdom Come, The Book of Matthew by Mark Hart.
Question Booklet is $10 from the Curriculum Library
Doctrine(25 Hours)
Approved and available courses currently include the following:
DVD Series (offered by a local coordinator):
*The Theology of the Body: Created and Redeemed. Eight talk series with
questions (12 hours).
Taking a Stand: Helping Our Kids Win the Battle for Sexual Purity, by Tom Curran and Mary Beth Bonacci, with discussion questions (10 hours).
*Creed: Ecclesiology: The Splendor of the Church and the Bible and the Church –
videos by Scott Hahn with discussion questions (4 hours).
Live Courses Currently Available for scheduling:
Heresies
The Natural Law and the Church's teaching on Social Justice (8 Hours)
Foundations of Natural Law (1 Hour)
Definition of Law and Types of Law (1 Hour)
Natural Law in Particular (2 Hours)
Issues and Applications of Natural Law (4 Hours)
Catholic Apologetics (May be presented as a series, or individually, 1 hour each)
Faith, Reason, and the Existence of Truth
Proofs for the Existence of God
Proofs for the Existence of the Human Soul
The Quadrilemma of Christ: Liar, Lunatic, Legend, or Lord?
Scripture and Tradition
The Papacy and Infallibility
The Most Holy Eucharist
The Blessed Virgin Mary
Humanae Vitae and the Contemporary World
An Introduction to Modern Catholic Social Teaching
Other topics available upon request.
Self-Study:
Creed: Christology: Read Deus Caritas Est “God is Love,” by Pope Benedict XVI
and answer questions (4 hrs.). Booklet and questions available for $4.75.
*Life in Christ: Read The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality by the
Pontifical Council for the Family and answer prepared questions (4 hours). Booklet available for $2.60.
Christian Spirituality (25 Hours)
Approved and available courses currently include the following:
DVD / Video Series (offered by a local coordinator):
*Feast of Faith: The Transforming Power of the Eucharist, Marcellino
D’Ambrosio, Ph.D. Four sessions with discussion questions (4 hrs).
The Seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church, videos by Dr. Scott Hahn with
discussion questions (8 hrs).
Live Courses Currently Available for Scheduling:
Foundations of Catholic Spirituality (8 Hours)
Spiritual Theology I - Doctrinal Foundations (1 Hour):
Nature and scope of spiritual theology, the goal of our striving, life in Christ and Mary, the supernatural organism, and Christian Perfection
Spiritual Theology II - Growth in Holiness (3 Hours)
Conversion from sin, progressive purgation, principal means of spiritual growth, sin and virtue, and secondary aids to spiritual growth
Prayer/Discernment/Pitfalls (2 Hours)
Definition of prayer, some aspects of prayer, grades of prayer, discernment of spirits, a simple discernment method, detachment, extraordinary mystical phenomena and private revelations, and pitfalls to holiness including the demonic and heresies
The Last Things – Judgment, Purgatory, Heaven, Hell (2 Hours)
Foundational concepts include immortality of the human soul, original justice, original sin, and redemption. Then the section covers death, particular judgment, heaven, hell, purgatory, end of the world, and miscellaneous concepts including limbo, predestination, and indulgences.
Self Study Options:
Read On The Eucharist by John Paul II. Answer prepared questions (4 Hours)
Read Deus Caritas Est “God is Love,” by Pope Benedict XVI and answer
questions (4 hours). Booklet and questions available for $4.75.
Advanced Catechetical Methods
These courses are designed to help those in catechetical leadership roles become more effective in their work. They are intended primarily for parish catechetical directors/coordinators, youth ministers, those who teach religion in Catholic schools, principals of Catholic schools, and others who serve in leadership roles in religious education. Those who successfully complete the Basic Catechetical Certification, the Advanced Foundations course requirements described above, and a sufficient set of courses in Advanced Catechetical Methods (25 Hours) are awarded an Advanced Catechetical Certification.
Methods (25 Hours)
Approved and available courses currently include the following:
DVD / Video Series (offered by a local coordinator):
Applying Our Faith to Our Families, videos by Dr. Scott Hahn with discussion
questions (9 hours).
Live Courses:
*Evangelization Basic Course (6 hours)
*Catechetics Basic Course (6 hours)
Self-Study Options:
*Read On Catechesis in our Time by John Paul II and answer questions (4
hours). Booklet available for $6.00
Read and answer questions to Guide for Catechists by Congregation for the
Evangelization of Peoples (4 hours). Booklet available for $4.
*Read Commentary on the General Directory for Catechesis, by Archbishop
Raymond L. Burke and answer questions (10 hours). Booklet: $3.50.