The University of Dayton is joining a network of 16 Catholic colleges and universities, funded by a $10 million grant, to strengthen "synodality" in the U.S. Catholic Church, or the way the Church engages in listening, dialogue and decision-making.
The Lilly Endowment made the $10 million grant to Loyola University Chicago through its Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative, which is designed to help theological schools respond to the most pressing challenges in preparing pastoral leaders for Christian congregations now and into the future.
"Over the last four years, faculty and students from Catholic colleges and universities across the country have been discerning together how we can respond to Pope Francis’ call for a Church renewed through listening, dialogue and shared discernment," said Peter Jones, interim dean of Loyola’s Institute of Pastoral Studies; who will lead the Catholic Education Network to Enact and Resource Synodality (CENTERS) with Michale Canaris, an associate professor in the institute. "This grant from Lilly Endowment enables CENTERS to deepen and broaden that work. Together, our institutions will strengthen ministry leadership formation, develop new models of synodal practice, and help animate a more participatory and mission‑focused Church in the United States."
CENTERS will support this work by funding projects at participating institutions, conducting retreats and trainings, convening national assemblies, and endowing a ministry leadership formation program for ministry students.
UD will be involved in each aspect of the network's work, but especially engaging the UD community and Catholic communities in the region in ministry and leadership education and formation.
"We look forward to engaging ministry students on our campus and others in our region. Working closely with Xavier University and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, we will provide educational and faith-formation opportunities that help develop the skills of the next generation of Church leaders in local parishes," said Kelly Adamson, senior director of UD Campus Ministry.
Adamson will lead UD's participation in CENTERS with Jana Bennett, chair of UD's religious studies program.
In addition to Loyola University Chicago, UD and Xavier, CENTERS will be governed collaboratively by Catholic Theological Union, Gonzaga University, Loyola Marymount University, Loyola University New Orleans, Mexican American Catholic College, Xavier University of Louisiana, Saint John’s University, Saint Joseph’s University, Santa Clara University, Southeast Pastoral Institute, University of Dallas, University of San Francisco and Villanova University.
Anyone interested in learning more about UD's participation in CENTERS can email Adamson at kadamson1@udayton.edu or Bennett at jbennett2@udayton.edu.
For interviews, contact Shawn Robinson, UD associate director for news and communications, at srobinson1@udayton.edu.