By Jay Sorgi • Posted February 23, 2026

Most Catholics understand the importance of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, but most can’t accurately say they’ve read it and truly understand it.

St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, located in Lower Gwynedd, is offering adult Catholics a remedy in “Foundations of the Catholic Faith: A Journey Through the Catechism,” This program enrolls student cohorts in the spring and fall of each year.

Dr. Carmina Chapp, the dean of the seminary’s School of Theological Studies, calls the series a chance to take a much deeper dive into the catechism that offers the foundational teachings of the Catholic faith in a way that not only teaches but leads to deeper understanding of its truths for everyday life.

“The series is a way, even if it’s review for people who know their faith and are living it already, to come together with other people, go through it together with others, and learn from really intelligent facilitators to help unpack it a little more deeply than they would on their own, or when they did when they were young and maybe learned it in school,” said Chapp.

“I wouldn’t say that the average laity are poorly catechized or don’t know their faith. I think they’re looking for ways to make it more meaningful and more conscious in their life, and I think that’s what we try to provide.”

She believes that catechesis as a youth can teach information and wisdom from others, but adult education about the catechism can draw life experience into the lessons and make them come alive more fully for the learner.

“When an adult comes to these classes, they’re bringing their whole life. They’re not just bringing some classroom experience they had when they were in high school. They’re bringing everything to it,” Chapp said.

“When they hear from these presenters what the catechism says, and what it means, and what the implications for our lives, they just get so excited. They fall in love with their faith all over again, and they can’t help but want to share it.”

The current student cohort is running through April of this year, and again from September through December.

Chapp says that those who participate will receive the wisdom, differing perspectives, and far-reaching experience from up to 40 different presenters who share the truths of the Catholic faith within the class.

“We have priests, we have religious sisters, we have lay men and women, people who are experts in the field,” said Chapp. “They’ll come and do one session, but they love coming because of the vibe in the room and the people that they meet. It’s just really edifying.”

She and School of Theological Studies Administrative Assistant Michele Pisano, whom Chapp says has played a key role in organizing the presenters, gave a sampling of them including:

• • Father Dennis Gill, rector and pastor of the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul;
  • Father Stephen DeLacy, archdiocesan vicar for Faith Formation with Youth and Young Adults;
  • Dr. Kelly Anderson, the chair and associate professor of the Department of Sacred Scripture at the seminary.

“Whoever is presenting has been vetted by the seminary to make sure that they know what they’re talking about, and they all love coming to present,” Chapp added. “There’s such a variety that students get exposed to so many different people throughout the archdiocese doing all sorts of amazing work.”

Chapp and Pisano both believe the combination of varied presenters and the life experience of the adult participants create opportunities for powerful interpersonal discussion that further catechizes each individual in a humanizing way.

“We ask our presenters in the beginning to start with a discussion question about a personal experience or something personal to everyone, not necessarily based on academic knowledge. That helps with the discussions,” said Pisano.

They both believe the program, and how it fuses the various teachings of the catechism together through human experience, helps form Catholics to become stronger in apologetics and support their beliefs with timeless teaching.

“All these things come together to make us who we are. When we recognize who we are in Christ and we see it all laid out there, (we understand) ‘This is why. This is what I believe. This is what’s in my heart,’” said Chapp. “It helps people defend their faith better, and have more confidence in living it.”

Sessions run every other Tuesday evening from 6:30 to 9:15 p.m. during those months, with a mid-class break during each session.

Participants will receive certification once they complete four seasons of sessions. The cost of a full season is $280, which equals $35 per biweekly session.

Interested individuals who are 18 years old and have a high school diploma or an equivalent can register here.