Preaching for Encounter Program – Preachers’ Progress Report 2024 Cohort
Executive Summary:
Catholic preaching can improve. At the Institute for Homiletics, we have witnessed homiletic growth anecdotally and we have measured it statistically.
The 2024 cohort of the Preaching for Encounter Program worked with us on their preaching from the orientation sessions in April 2024 through the capstone retreat in February 2026. Forty-three priests and deacons came from these (arch) dioceses: Chicago, IL; Joliet, IL; Dallas, TX; San Antonio, TX; Joliet, IL; Gary, IN; and Los Angeles, CA (see group photo on page 27).
We have solid statistical evidence of growth from three sources of data: 1) coaches’ pre- and post-evaluations; 2) preachers’ pre- and post-self-evaluations; and 3) parish pre- and post-surveys. See the survey instruments in the Appendix, beginning on page 28.
This report reveals that the quality of Catholic preaching can improve. How to do that is not based on guesswork. Preaching quality is not simply that some are “talented” and some are not. There are standards to effectiveness. The response to preaching complaints must not be to throw up our hands and feel like “there is nothing that we can do.” How to connect the gospel with the lives of our people can be learned. It takes time, financial investment, energy and a commitment from church leadership. But it can be done. This report is evidence for that hope.