FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the format of each course going to include?
When we gather we’ll begin with common prayer and then an extended time of teaching and discussion.
Why should I commit to this?
You should commit yourself to this catechetical process because you desire to follow Jesus with your life and to be a committed participant in the life of Christ’s church. CCL is our church’s way of pursuing these two ends.
On a very practical level, you may also want to be baptized, to volunteer, to become a member, to be confirmed, or to serve as a leader. This process provides the necessary teaching and practices which will allow you to participate in those deeper ways.
Each course in the CCL process has a set of growth goals which communicate what knowledge and abilities we hope you’ll acquire along the way. With a willing heart and a teachable spirit, this process will help you to grow in your faith and discipleship to Jesus no matter where you are on the journey.
What if I’m already baptized, volunteering, a member, confirmed, or a lay leader?
You won’t be asked to complete courses required for a step of involvement that you’ve already taken. For instance, if you’re already volunteering, you won’t be asked to complete 101 and 201. For lack of a better word, you’ll be “grandfathered” in.
However, you will be asked to complete the required courses for any further steps of involvement that you’ve not yet taken but would like to take. For instance, if you’re already volunteering but would like to become a member of Living Faith, you will be asked to complete 301, 401, and 501.
Finally, let it be said that anyone is invited to participate in the CCL courses, so long as they are completed in sequence (see next question below). Even if you’re already a member, you are more than welcome to participate in the courses and read the books. As long as you’ve read the required readings for the courses that come before, you are also welcome to register for an individual course of interest to you.
Do I have to take the courses in order, or can I take in the order that I choose?
The CCL process is designed in such a way that each course (101-601) builds on the one before it. For that reason, each course must be fully completed before starting the next one. Since the overall course calendar schedules each course 2+ times a year (with the exception of 601) this provides adequate opportunity for a person to complete the sequence within one year.
Can I be exempted from a course if I’ve already done something similar?
Yes, if Fr. Peter believes a person has already satisfied the requirements through previous catechetical formation or education, he may give an exemption on courses 101, 201, 301, and 401. The CCL Intake Questionnaire will help Fr. Peter make this decision. However, no exemptions are made for 501 and 601.
Although a person may be exempted from attending a course, he/she will still be required to complete the “required readings” for that course. These required readings for each course should be completed before attending the next course in the sequence.
Do I have to complete the required reading?
Yes, the readings are required. Each course will rely upon the writings of the various authors. Part of discipleship is lifelong learning, and these books have much to teach us (any of us and all of us).
However, if you have already read one of the required books, you do not need to RE-read it. But, you’ll want to have a copy of the book for reference.
As mentioned above, even if you are granted an exemption from one of the courses, you are still expected to read the books from that course.
Can I listen to the readings on audiobook?
Yes. If you are able to focus on the material, listening by audiobook is a great way to engage the books. However, we want each person to purchase a copy of each book to write in and to refer to during the sessions.
What if I can’t afford the books?
The required readings represent a modest investment in your own spiritual formation. It is good for each person to put “skin in the game” by purchasing these books. However, if you are unable to afford the books, Fr. Peter does have scholarships available.
How quickly can I complete the whole process?
It is technically possible to complete courses 101-501 within 6 months. This also is the minimum amount of time Fr. Peter will require a person to regularly attend Living Faith before becoming a member. Yet, a person work through the CCL process at their own speed.
If a person desires to make efficient use of time while they wait for the next course to be offered, the required reading can be done in advance, which makes it easier to take the courses back to back once they are offered.
Can I miss one (or more) of the sessions in a course?
To complete a course, all the course sessions must be attended. This CCL process has been distilled down from a longer version to a version which only includes what Fr. Peter believes are the bare essentials. As a result, no allowance for absences will be made. Since belonging to the church requires priority of commitment, it is necessary that the CCL process expects full participation as the norm. We want each person to make a good faith commitment to Living Faith just as Living Faith will make a good faith commitment to its parishioners.
The overall course calendar and the advanced scheduling of days/times is meant to give persons the ability to mark their calendars and plan to attend. In addition, each of the 301-501 course sessions are offered twice a week to help meet the needs of different persons’ varied schedules.
Am I required to attend in-person or is there an online option?
Each course is offered only in-person at Living Faith (with the exception of the 101 recordings). There is no Zoom or recorded option for courses 201-601. This can be a challenge for some folks, but we are choosing to prioritize incarnational time together in the catechetical process (over convenience).
If a person is physically unable to attend in person due to an infirmity or disability, he/she can speak with Fr. Peter about an alternative way to complete a course.
Is there childcare offered for the courses?
Unfortunately, no childcare is offered for any of the courses. For 101, no childcare is necessary. For 201, if a child is being baptized, parents should bring the child with them. For 301-601, if parents of young children require childcare in order to attend a course, they are asked to provide their own childcare or to attend the courses separately as individuals.
