We Offer Catechist Certification and Faith Formation Online and All Catholic Dioceses Are Welcome!

Learn More About Our Programs

   
seeking
    
benefits
        
  • Flexibility: Online training is flexible and easy to manage, even for those with demanding family and work schedules.
  • Convenience: Individuals can enroll and complete their online training from home. This is especially helpful when distance prohibits easy access to certification training sessions.
  • Availability: Students of all ages can log on and access their courses after work or school, after social activities, during a lunch break, on the weekends, or at night when the kids are in bed. The online tutorials are available 24/7.
  • Consistency: Online training provides a consistent message across the board and eliminates gaps in catechist training and faith formation.
  • Year-round Enrollment: New recruits can enroll and begin their online training at any time of the catechetical year -- at the beginning, middle, end, or during the summer.
  • Less Hassle: By using the Searchlight® Virtual School for catechist training, parish catechetical leaders are freed up from lengthy training sessions.
  • More Options: Online training can also provide an optional venue for those unable to attend catechist certification classes.
  • Cost Effective: The Searchlight® Virtual School is an inexpensive and economical way for dioceses and parishes to provide online catechist certification and faith formation without having to develop it themselves.
  • Minimal Student Fees: Individual enrollees pay only an average of $10 per course, and everything a student needs is available online.
  • Active Learning: Our interactive programs use audio and on-screen visual learning techniques which actively engage students of all ages in the learning process.
  • User Friendly: Our electronic course materials are easy to download and ready to use.
  • Service: The Searchlight® Virtual School does all the work. We assess the course work and send you the results. Quick and easy!
  • Support: Our staff is available to assist participants in a timely manner by e-mail or phone.
       

Student Comments

The very hard work you and your team have done with respect to these courses is totally awesome. The work is both fascinating and challenging. It takes very special people to bring those two attributes together. -- Phil

I can't tell you how nice it is to do this online---it is convenient for me to learn at the boys' practices and late at night.  Now I can get my Advanced Catechist Certificate. -- Karen

Madison really enjoyed this course. She is very eager to work on her Searchlight work. This has been a wonderful addition to our homeschool.  Thank you so much! -- Tracey (Madison’s mother and adult facilitator)

Well, I finally finished the course! Wow what a good one! I am so happy with the program. Our YM asked me to give a study of the Gospels, so I used bits and pieces of what I learned from the tutorials and the book to come up with a "Crash Course" on the Gospel writters! Thank you so much.  I will be ordering the next course shortly. God bless and keep you in your ministry! -- Amy

 
 
Independent Participation Plan
$450.00 per year		 Affiliate Participation Plan
$600.00 per year
Allowances: Both plans permit individuals of a participating diocese to make use of all of the Searchlight® Virtual School's web-based instructional programs.  Upon enrollment, students can be certain that the investment of their time and effort will be formally recognized by their own Diocese.

Note: Individual enrollees from a participating diocese are subject to the school's fees, policies, and practices as outlined on the Searchlight® Virtual School's web site.
Record Keeping: The participating diocese maintains records of course completion and certification through its appropriate diocesan office.

A records coordinator is designated and receives documentation for course completion and certification directly from the Searchlight® Virtual School.
Record Keeping: The Diocese of Palm Beach maintains all records of course completion and certification.
Certificates: The participating diocese issues all certificates for course completion and certification.
Certificates: The Diocese of Palm Beach issues all certificates of course completion and certification electronically. These are sent directly to the enrollee by attachment to an e-mail. The participating diocese agrees to officially recognize all levels of Catechist Certification issued through the Diocese of Palm Beach.
Yearly Fee: Both Participation Plans are renewable once a year on the date of initial enrollment in the plan.
Promotion: It is the responsibility of the participating diocese to inform its parish catechetical leaders and others about the Searchlight® Virtual School and the online options that diocesan participation makes possible.

Note: Dioceses and parishes are welcome to access and use the electronic promotional materials available on the Searchlight®  Virtual School's web site. These materials are downloadable and “copyready" and may be accessed to the right of this table.

Payment Methods:

  • Electronic Recurring Payments through PayPal® in which everythng is handled online.
  • Electronic Invoice: Print the invoice and pay by check.
 
 

Contact Information

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Searchlight® Virtual School Director or the Director of the Office of Catechetical Leadership and Youth Ministry Development, Diocese of Palm Beach prior to submitting an application. We welcome your questions and concerns.

Searchlight® Virtual School Contact:

Michelle Willis, Director
Phone: 772-563-9457
E-mail: Michelle@SearchlightVS.com
Hours: Mon through Fri 10 am - 7 pm Saturday 10 am - 4 pm

Diocese of Palm Beach Contact:
Anthony C. Marchica, Director
Phone: (561) 775-9548
E-mail: amarchica@diocesepb.org
Office Hours: Standard Business Hours
 
 
Downloadable Promotional Materials
     
 
 
         

To Initiate an Independent or Affiliate Diocesan Participation Plan:

  • Download the Diocesan Participation Plan Enrollment Application by clicking on the “Diocesan Enrollment Application” button.
  • An electronic form will open. Save this PDF document to a local computer using the “File > Save As” feature, not the “Save as a copy” feature.
  • Access the saved form and fill it out electronically. The form may also be printed and filled out by hand.
  • Be certain that all the requested diocesan contact information is complete before submitting.
  • To submit the Enrollment Form electronically: Use the auto-submit button on the form, or attach the saved and completed form to an e-mail.
  • Send to: info@SearchlightVS.com.
  • To submit the Enrollment Form by mail: Print the form, fill it out, and mail it to Searchlight® Virtual School, P.O. Box 690295, Vero Beach, FL 32969.
  • When the enrollment form is received, the Searchlight Virtual School Director will contact by phone the person designated on the Enrollment Form as the “Diocesan Contact.”
  • Details of the Diocesan Participation Plan as it applies to a particular diocese will be discussed and finalized at this time, including payment options and methods.
         
                 
       
To pay for a Diocesan Participation Plan using Electronic Recurring Payments, choose the appropriate button below:
 
To pay for a Diocesan Participation Plan by electronic invoice and check, follow these steps:
       
Independent Participation Plan
$450.00 per year
Provide Name of (Arch)Diocese
 Affiliate Participation Plan
$600.00 per year
Provide Name of (Arch)Diocese
Unsubscribe


 Unsubscribe

Once the terms of the participation plan have been agreed upon, an electronic invoice will be sent to the e-mail address of the "Diocesan Contact."
  • Print the invoice.
  • Submit it to your finance department.
  • Send a check for the appropriate amount to:

    Searchlight Virtual School
    P.O. Box 690295
    Vero Beach, FL 32969
       
       
   

The Searchlight® Virtual School
Engaging Catholics in the study of their faith and preparing them for today's challenges ... ONLINE!

The Searchlight® Virtual School is a division of Ocean East Publishing.
The Searchlight® Software programs presented on this web site are the property of Ocean East Publishing.

© 2009 Ocean East Publishing
All rights reserved.
http://www.oepub.com

Webmaster: Michelle Willis
772-563-9457
E-mail the webmaster