St. Cyril of Jerusalem Catechetical Institute

Welcome to the St. Cyril of Jerusalem Catechetical Institute homepage! The SCJCI is the flagship program of the Office of Catechesis for the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, offering in-depth adult faith formation for catechists, teachers, DREs, and all interested Catholics who want to deepen their knowledge of the Faith and their walk with Christ. Please see below for our full curriculum, as well as our current course offerings. We offer courses on both the Fort Wayne and South Bend sides of the Diocese.

Summer 2025 – Fort Wayne

THEO 104 – Life in Christ

Tuesdays, May 13 – July 1
6 – 8 p.m.
University of Saint Francis – Achatz Hall

In this elective, the student will continue being immersed in the Sacramental Worldview by diving into the moral life and how Catholics see the moral aspects of existence in light of Salvation History. This elective will be taught by Dr. Robert Koerpel, a professor of Theology at the University of Saint Francis.
 
Cost: $60 (eight classes)

Fall 2025 – South Bend

AFF 202 – Salvation History

Mondays, September 15 – December 1
6 – 8 p.m.
St. Pius X Catholic Church – Granger, IN

What is a biblical worldview? How are the Old Testament and New Testament deeply connected? How do we understand our own spiritual journey within the story of salvation? The second of the three Core courses of the St. Cyril Institute, this class is a deep dive in the narrative structure of the Scriptures and the Christian Worldview. Monsignor Michael Heintz, pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Granger, IN, will teach this 10 week course.
 
Cost: $75 (ten classes)

Fall 2025 – Fort Wayne

AFF 201 – Faith and Reason

Wednesdays, September 24 – December 3
6 – 8 p.m.
University of Saint Francis – Achatz Hall

What is the Catholic Worldview? How do we know it – or anything – is true? How can we understand and share our Faith in a powerful and persuasive way? The first of the three Core courses of the St. Cyril Institute, this course is designed as the entry point for the adult faith formation program of the Institute, and covers foundational concepts of the Catholic Worldview such as God, the transcendental structure of reality (Truth, Goodness, Beauty), and the basis of Christian Revelation.
 
Cost: $75 (ten classes)

Fall 2025 – Fort Wayne

AFF 203 – Christian Anthropology

Tuesdays, September 23 – December 2
6 – 8 p.m.
University of Saint Francis – Achatz Hall

What does it mean to be human? What is the soul? How does the Church teach us to understand the fundamental dignity of human beings as male and female? The final of the three Core courses of the St. Cyril Institute, this course will deepen the student’s understanding of their humanity, God’s design for humans in Creation, and how to answer challenges to the Christian understanding of human existence in the current milieu.
 
Cost: $75 (ten classes)

Our Vision

Prompted by the Holy Spirit, lay Catholics in our diocese are desiring deeper catechesis and formation in our Catholic faith. This desire comes from the seed of faith that is planted in baptism: “Adults in the Church, that is, all Christians, men and women, lay people, priests and religious are people who have a right and an obligation to be catechized…It springs…directly from the ‘seed’ of faith planted within and which hopes to mature as the adult grows in age and responsibility.” As lay adult faithful grow into their baptismal calling to be priests, prophets, and kings, they have a greater desire to “bear Christ to others” by handing on the faith within their families, parishes, and communities.   
 
The St. Cyril Catechetical Institute is being formed as a response to this need and desire to advance in catechesis as adults.  The over-arching goal of the Institute is not just to help adult Catholics explore answers to theological questions but to inspire them to integrate their lived experience of faith into the story of salvation and the Good News of Jesus Christ. The St. Cyril Institute seeks to include those who simply desire enrichment in this understanding of Catholic faith as well as those who want to pursue a certificate of adult catechesis and develop the catechetical foundations and tools for various teaching ministries within the Church. This flexibility will allow lay adult faithful to grow into their formation and contribute to the work of evangelization throughout the diocese and the world.

Contact Us

Dr. Alex Giltner
Director, Office of Catechesis
Email: [email protected]