Diocese of San Bernardino
Department of Ministry Formation
Our Mission
The Ministry Formation Institute supports the needs of lay ministers serving in diverse ministry settings in the Diocese of San Bernardino by providing quality education and formation for adults seeking personal faith enrichment, ministerial leadership, and those inquiring about the Permanent Diaconate. The Institute aims to prepare all to be true Disciples of Christ and faithful representatives of the Church To that end, it also provides ministry consultation for those serving in areas of catechetical ministry, youth ministry, and young adult ministry.
The Ministry Formation Institute maintains collaborative relationships with Catholic universities and other institutions of higher learning that provide master’s degrees and advanced continuing education certificates.
Institutional Partnerships
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Association for Hispanic Theological Education
Loyola Marymount University
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Subcommittee on Certification for Ecclesial Ministry and Service has approved the certification standards and procedures of Ministry Formation Institute, Diocese of San Bernardino for Ministry Leaders through 2026.
For more information about the USCCB Subcommittee
AETH (Association for Hispanic Theological Education), a network of people and institutions. They promote and certify the quality of Hispanic theological educational programs and contribute to the development of the leadership of women and men who strengthen our communities.
The “Continuing Ministry Formation Program (CMFP) is a Certified Institutional Member of AETH which indicates a commitment to provide high quality Hispanic theological education and to meet the expectations of baccalaureate equivalency as described in the Educational Standards of ATS.”
The Diocese of San Bernardino has partnered with Loyola Marymount University's Center for Religion and Spirituality. Whether you are a minister, social worker, or catechist, the LMU Center for Religion and Spirituality has something for you.
Santa Clara University
For individuals wishing to pursue a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Ministries, Santa Clara University is pleased to offer an online blended program where courses are taught through a combination of face-to-face, video conferencing, and online experiences.
Many of our diocesan employees, parish staff, and parishioners have taken advantage of this wonderful program.
Franciscan University’s Catechetical Institute
Franciscan University’s Catechetical Institute primarily uses a collaborative learning methodology. This approaches formation via a custom-designed online learning management system (LMS) and includes elements uncharacteristic of other online training: a mentoring focus; a priority on the spiritual formation of learners; formation that intentionally builds relationships in a learner’s own community; mature, robust, and engaging assessment methods; and full integration of catechesis with evangelization and liturgical formation.
The Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation
The Virtual Learning Community for Faith Formation (VLCFF) is an Internet distance-learning program to support catechist and adult faith formation in the Church. The VLCFF is sponsored by the Institute for Pastoral Initiatives (IPI) of the University of Dayton - a Catholic Marianist Institution.
University of
Saint Mary of the Lake
Information coming soon