The diocesan Office of Communications recently launched a free digital learning platform intended to help the everyday Catholic embrace the call to be a disciple of Jesus.
“Porta Fidei” (Latin for “door of faith”) is a fruit of the diocesan Strategic Plan to better engage the Arlington faithful with relatable and accessible digital faith formation.
While anyone with a smartphone or laptop can access thousands of hours of digital Catholic content at any time, Porta Fidei is intended to be a platform produced by the Arlington diocese for its members. Viewers will recognize the instructors as their fellow parishioners, religious and clergy. In the listening sessions that informed development of the Strategic Plan, many lay persons said they appreciate and consume Catholic media on national platforms, but they also wanted content produced locally with familiar faces.
The launch course, titled “Finding Jesus in the Gospels,” features Father John Riley, spiritual director for the diocesan San Damiano Retreat Center in White Post. In approximately 45 minutes, Father Riley guides the viewer through the origin of the Gospels as well as keys to understanding their meaning by examining the lives of the authors: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Father Riley also instructs viewers how to bring this knowledge into deeper prayer with God.
Bishop Michael F. Burbidge discussed the platform’s launch during a recent episode of the “Walk Humbly Podcast” Sept. 26.
“I am so excited about this initiative,” he said. “And what a first professor to get to launch this. Father Riley is just such a great teacher. I think you’re really going to be impressed with this initiative.”
New courses are expected every four-to-six weeks and range 45-90 minutes in length. Future instructors include Mary Stanford, adjunct theology professor at Christendom College in Front Royal, teaching about prayer, and Father Paul Scalia, pastor of St. James Church in Falls Church and episcopal vicar for clergy, teaching about the human person.
Watch the courses
Go to portafidei.com to sign up, access Father Riley’s course on the Gospels, and request notifications for when future courses are available.
