New: Recruiting One Online Group

The Institute for Homiletics is excited to announce a new opportunity – the Preaching for Encounter Program is recruiting one online peer learning group for the 2024 cohort. Each cohort consists of six peer learning groups, five of which are geographically located within (arch)dioceses.

This opportunity for ongoing formation is for priests whose diocese is not currently participating in the program, as well as for those dioceses that are so rural that meeting together in person once per month would be a challenge. The priests will participate fully in all aspects of the Preaching for Encounter program through the retreats, personal coaching, and lay support groups. The only difference will be that the monthly peer-learning group will meet virtually rather than in-person.

The Preaching for Encounter Program is a two-year commitment to homiletics growth. Here is a brief summary and timeline of what this ongoing formation program entails: 

• The Online peer-learning group is at the heart of the process. The group of six to ten
  priests will meet once a month to discuss preaching materials, to evaluate each other’s
  homilies, to pray together, and to grow in community.
• A personal preaching coach will work with each preacher monthly. The coach will work
  with him to set goals, evaluate his homilies, and/or work on an upcoming homily.
• Whole cohort gatherings consist of two summer retreats and two winter retreats. The
  first gathering of the 2024 cohort will be a two-day introductory session at Mundelein
  seminary in Chicago on June 25-27, 2024. The first winter retreat will be at Marywood
  Retreat and Conference Center in St. Johns, FL on January 26-31, 2025.
• A lay support group will pray for and support each preacher. This group will meet
  independently in the first year and together with their preacher in the second year. The
  preacher’s responsibility is to select a lay coordinator for this group.

For the 2024 cohort, we have already recruited five diocesan peer learning groups. We are currently accepting applications for the one online peer learning group with a maximum of ten priests. We have begun a waiting list for dioceses, but have opened this option to individuals who would like to participate.

If you are a preacher who is eager to learn and grow and passionately wants your homilies to bring your people into an encounter with the living God, we encourage you to contact us.