Registrations for Vocare, the archdiocese’s new online certification process for catechists, have surpassed 2,200 in less than 90 days after the program’s rollout.

“Vocare has exceeded our forecasts,” said a report from the archdiocesan Office of Evangelization and Discipleship (OED), which oversees the program. Vocare’s 2,258 registrants compares to only 1,500 for the previous Educators Database Center system. 

Vocare (pronounced vo-CAHR-ay, Latin for “to be called”) was launched on June 26, thanks to funding from benefactors to One Faith, One Hope, One Love. The OED, responding to the direction of Archbishop Schnurr, developed Vocare over 18 months of study and close consultation with catechists, Catholic school administrators and teachers.

Registrants so far include 1,155 parish religious education catechists and 1,103 Catholic school principals and teachers.

Furthermore, “217 parishes and schools have heeded Archbishop Schnurr’s call for pastors/principals to designate Vocare Administrators,” the report said.

Early results have been especially encouraging for the OED’s plans to expand Vocare’s benefits to others who aren’t seeking certification. For example, Vocare would have applications for parish leadership teams, parents, adult faith formation, and sacramental preparation.

Before Vocare, religion teachers had to attend classes at various sites around the archdiocese, a requirement that negatively affected registrations and completions. As a uniform online program that can be accessed any time, Vocare was designed to improve consistency, flexibility, and affordability of catechetical instruction.

Initial assessments indicate success. “The feedback and reception from the Vocare launch have been very positive,” the OED report said.

Vocare’s funding from One Faith, One Hope, One Love, approved by the Catholic Education Foundation for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, is just one portion of the capital campaign’s commitment to education and evangelization.

To see a video of Archbishop Schnurr and OED director Father Thomas Wray outlining Vocare, head here.