CFM Courses

Discover the story of salvation and learn how to read the Bible with confidence through the eyes of the Catholic faith. Introduction to Sacred Scripture offers a practical and engaging overview of both the Old and New Testaments, helping students understand the Bible as one unified story of God’s relationship with humanity.

Together, we will explore the major people, events, themes, and literary forms found throughout Scripture, from the creation narratives and covenant stories of the Old Testament to the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. Grounded in Catholic principles of biblical interpretation, this course equips students to read Scripture faithfully, thoughtfully, and prayerfully. Through guided readings and discussion, participants will discover how the Bible speaks to everyday life, discipleship, prayer, and ministry.

Whether you are new to Scripture or seeking a deeper understanding of God’s Word, this course provides a welcoming foundation for lifelong study, spiritual growth, and faithful living. No prior biblical studies experience is required.

Topics

• Unit 1: Introduction – Initial Look at the Old and New Testaments
• Unit 2:  The Books of the Torah
• Unit 3: Old Testament Literature (Prophetic, Wisdom, Apocalyptic, and Didactic)
• Unit 4: The Gospels & Acts
• Unit 5: Letters of St. Paul, Other Epistles & Revelations

Recommended Texts

•  A Catholic Study Bible: The Catholic Study Bible, New American Bible Revised Edition, Second Edition, by Donald Senior, C.P. and John J. Collins, Ph.D., eds., Oxford University Press, 2011. OR Anselm Academic Study Bible: New American Bible by Carolyn Osiek RSCJ (Editor); Anselm Academic, 2013. OR USCCB Online NABRE Bible. 
• Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation): Pope Paul IV, Second Vatican Council, 1965: https://www.vatican.va/archive/index.htm

Cost

$60.00 for Diocese of Dallas participants | $120.00 for non-Diocese of Dallas participants

What do Christians mean when they profess, "I believe"? This course explores the rich history, meaning, and enduring relevance of the Nicene and Apostles' Creeds, the foundational professions of the Catholic faith that all Catholics encounter at each celebration of the Liturgy.

After a brief introduction to the historical events that shaped these creeds, participants will examine each article of the Nicene Creed through the lens of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, gaining a deeper understanding of the Church's teachings and how they illuminate Scripture, worship, and daily Christian life. Special attention will be given to the Creed's teaching on Christ's return and the Last Judgment.

Whether you are seeking to strengthen your knowledge of the faith or deepen your spiritual life, this course offers a compelling journey into the beliefs that have united Christians for centuries.

Topics

• Unit 1: Introduction – Why the Creed Matters
• Unit 2: In the Beginning: Believing in the Father
• Unit 3:  Jesus Christ, Lord and Saviour
• Unit 4: Christ Victorious: The Resurrection, Glory, and Our Hope
• Unit 5: The Spirit & the Life of the Church

Recommended Texts

• Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana; Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2000.
• Hahn, Scott. The Creed: Professing the Faith Through the Ages. Steubenville, OH: Emmaus Road Publishing, 2016.
• Schaeffler, Janet. The Creed: A Catechist's Guide: Understanding and Sharing "What We Believe." New London, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 2009.

Cost

$60.00 for Diocese of Dallas participants | $120.00 for non-Diocese of Dallas participants

 

Explore all the ways God continues to encounter us in everyday life through the study of Catholicism as it proclaims that in Jesus Christ, God became visible, tangible, and present in the human experience. This mystery of God's presence, known as “sacramentality,” continues through the life of the Church and reaches its fullest expression in the seven sacraments.

In this course, participants will discover how the sacraments are not merely sacred rituals but life-giving encounters with Christ that strengthen, heal, nourish, and transform us. Beginning with the biblical and theological foundations of sacramentality, we will explore how Jesus is the sacrament of God's presence, how the Church continues His saving mission, and how each of the seven sacraments communicates God's grace in a unique way.

Whether you are seeking to deepen your understanding of the Church's worship, prepare for ministry, or enrich your own spiritual life, this course offers a compelling invitation to encounter Christ more deeply through the sacraments and to appreciate their enduring role in the Christian journey.

Topics

• Unit 1: Encountering God: The Mystery of Sacramentality
• Unit 2: Born in a New Life: The Sacraments of Initiation
• Unit 3: Source and Summit: The Holy Eucharist
• Unit 4: Healing Grace: Sacrament of Reconciliation & the Anointing of the Sick
• Unit 5: Called to Love and Serve: The Sacraments of Vocation

Recommended Texts

• Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana; Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2000.
• Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy), Second Vatican Council.

Cost

$60.00 for Diocese of Dallas participants | $120.00 for non-Diocese of Dallas participants

 

What does it mean to live a good and holy life? The Catholic moral tradition begins with a profound truth: every human person is created in the image and likeness of God and is called to live in freedom, love, and communion with Him.

This course explores the foundations of the Christian moral life, examining how our choices, character, and relationships are shaped by God's call to holiness. Participants will discover the roles of natural law, conscience, and virtue in forming a life of faithful discipleship, while also exploring the Church's rich tradition of Catholic social teaching. Together, we will consider how the Gospel calls us to promote justice, peace, and the dignity of every person, becoming active participants in God's work of renewing the world.

Topics

• Unit 1: Created for Freedom: The Foundations of a Moral Life
• Unit 2:  Listening to God’s Voice: Conscious and Moral Decision Making
• Unit 3: Growing in Holiness: Virtue and Moral Character
• Unit 4: Faith in Action: The Common Good & Catholic Social Teaching
• Unit 5: Choosing to Do Good: Applying Catholic Moral Principles and Social Teaching

Recommended Texts

• Catholic Church. Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana; Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2000.
• Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2004.
• International Theological Commission. The Dignity and Rights of the Human Person. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1983.
• Kreeft, Peter, ed. Fundamental Principles of Catholic Morality. (Publication details vary by edition; verify publisher and year for final citation.)
• Morality: The Excellence of Virtues. Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2008.
• Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching. Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, n.d.
• Veritatis Splendor. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1993.

Cost

$60.00 for Diocese of Dallas participants | $120.00 for non-Diocese of Dallas participants

 

The Church’s ministry finds its origin in the life and mission of Jesus Christ and unfolds across two millennia of faithful service, adaptation, and renewal.

This course explores the rich theological foundations of ministry within the Catholic tradition, inviting participants to reflect on their own experiences while deepening their understanding of the Church’s living tradition. Attention will be given to the historical development of ministry from its biblical and early Church roots through the major shifts of the Second Vatican Council and into contemporary practice.

Participants will examine how models of ministry have evolved in response to the needs of the Church and the world, moving from earlier historical forms to renewed approaches that emphasize collaboration, discipleship, and mission. By engaging both theological reflection and practical application, this course equips participants to better understand and participate in the Church’s ongoing work of evangelization and service.

Topics

• Unit 1: Called by Name: Discovering the Heart of Ministry
• Unit 2:  Following Jesus: The Ministry of Accompaniment
• Unit 3: A Living Tradition: Ministry Across the Centuries
• Unit 4: Serving Together: Skills for Effective Ministry
• Unit 5: Faithful Journeys: Ministry in the Church Today

Recommended Texts

• Apostolicam Actuositatem (Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity). November 18, 1965. In Vatican Council II: The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents, edited by Austin Flannery. Northport, NY: Costello Publishing, 1996.
• Christifideles Laici (On the Vocation and Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World). Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation. December 30, 1988. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
• Code of Canon Law: Latin-English Edition, New English Translation. Washington, DC: Canon Law Society of America, 1999.
• Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord: A Resource for Guiding the Development of Lay Ecclesial Ministry. Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2005.
• Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World). December 7, 1965. In Vatican Council II: The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents, edited by Austin Flannery. Northport, NY: Costello Publishing, 1996.
• Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church). November 21, 1964. In Vatican Council II: The Conciliar and Post Conciliar Documents, edited by Austin Flannery. Northport, NY: Costello Publishing, 1996.
• Mater et Magistra (Christianity and Social Progress). Encyclical Letter. May 15, 1961. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.

Cost

$60.00 for Diocese of Dallas participants | $120.00 for non-Diocese of Dallas participants