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Prayer Intentions
- God is so good! We praise and thank God for our recent graduates and pray that they will continue to grow in their ability to help others encounter the living Lord.
- We also ask the Holy Spirit to continue to call and inspire priests to join the 2026 cohort of the Preaching for Encounter program, including through our hybrid option.
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In the News
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We welcome Priests to Join a Preaching for Encounter Hybrid group in our 2026 Cohort!
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Preaching for Encounter Program
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43 Graduates!
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Congratulations to our 2024 Preaching for Encounter program graduates! On February 5, 2026, these priests and deacons completed months of highly interactive coaching and study. Now begins a new chapter in their lifelong journey to help people go deeper in their relationship with God.
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One of several peer groups, priests from the Archdiocese of Chicago, with Executive Director Dr. Karla Bellinger.
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Each of them has learned to draw more intentionally from their own prayer life. Pairing their own encounter with the tools and resources they gain in the program, these homilists create an invitation for their listeners to encounter God in this very moment of their lives. Below are a few comments shared on their final self-evaluations about the results participants experience with Preaching for Encounter.
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"I now find joy in working on homilies! This has been a life-changing experience that goes beyond my homily preparation to how I look at the scriptures, look at my audience, look at the world around me, and how I present myself in any setting. The discipline to have only one focus and resist the temptation for many topics is very valuable. Now I get specific comments about a phrase I shared or why the message was so moving to someone. I am grateful." - Fr. Robert Pajor, Archdiocese of Chicago
"This program has inspired me to always begin with my own encounter with the Word, to preach what God has in mind, and to be a megaphone for the Holy Spirit. All this allows me to speak confidently from my heart. It has helped me to build trust with my community members who have been through many changes in recent years." - Fr. Chepe Ortiz, Archdiocese of Los Angeles
“The community went from fidgeting to feeling fed because of what I’ve learned. It has blessed me understand how to make more room for the Holy Spirit and prepare appropriately so I can deliver the message confidently.” - Dcn. Omar Garcia, Archdiocese of San Antonio
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The Institute has formed nearly 100 Catholic priests and deacons and 800 lay people so far. We look forward to sharing more stories and data about how they have grown.
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The Catholic Foundation Honors Jim Moroney,
the Institute for Homiletics, and more!
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James Moroney III (Jim), the Chair of the Board of the Institute for Homiletics, received one of the highest recognitions in the Catholic community when he was honored at the 2026 Catholic Foundation of Dallas Annual Award Dinner.
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Jim began how important it is to care for and protect the most vulnerable in society early in his lifetime. Even as a young adult, Jim would rally people together for whatever was needed to help people and to expand faith possibilities. As Jim's career expanded across multiple media industries, his impact also grew in how he served people through his work with Catholic Charities, Saint Vincent de Paul, the Cistercian Abbey and Preparatory School, Young Catholic Professionals, and many other organizations. What was especially highlighted at the dinner was his recent work to enhance homiletics, reminding us that Jesus inspired our faith through preaching.
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As he entered retirement some years ago, Jim was becoming increasingly aware of how many people were leaving the Church. “It wasn’t hard to see when you paid attention, they were leaving Mass without the hope they came for,” he said, “and I knew, that’s why some just faded away from their faith.” Jim would later learn that many seminarians receive little formation in preaching. And then around 2019, Jim experienced a very memorable moment “when I felt the Holy Spirit grab me by the collar and tell me to do something about it.” Together over the next few years he and his colleague Kris Kramer raised $7.5 million to endow the operations of the Institute for Homiletics, securing its mission and operations for generations to come. In August of 2021, Dr. Karla Bellinger was hired as the founding executive director.
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“If God allows, I would like to live long enough to see a renewal of Catholic preaching in the U.S.,” Jim says. “My desire is that the Institute truly changes the culture of preaching so that through the homily, people in the pew encounter the living God and come to know Jesus Christ more deeply.” All of us on the team congratulate Jim for all he does to impact ways we can bring and keep our faith alive.
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Jim and Barbara, his wife of more than 40 years, and their family enjoy this special moment.
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Photos by Tom Fox, courtesy of the Dallas Morning News.
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Jim Moroney and Bishop Greg Kelly of the Diocese of Tyler who has been an involved supporter and a participant in the 2022 cohort of the Institute for Homiletics.
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Photos by Kristina Bowman, courtesy of The Catholic Foundation.
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Making a tremendous difference for priests and deacons across the U.S. are, left to right, Matt Kramer, President of The Catholic Foundation of Dallas and board member for the Institute for Homiletics, his wife Kris Kramer, who was instrumental in establishing the endowment, Dr. Karla Bellinger, the founding Executive Director and lead preaching educator, and Jim Moroney, the inspiration and driver for sustainable growth.
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Preach Boldly, Connect Deeply + Our Preacher's Wall of Honor
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We continue to honor those you name for our Preaching Wall of Honor and highlight two recent additions who have both participated in our Preaching for Encounter program.
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🔥Fr. Abbot Peter Verhalen - participant of our 2022 Cohort!
"Fr. Peter does an incredible job of connecting scripture and doctrine to our personal lives and journey as Christians. A man who truly radiates with his faith, his preaching makes me tangibly feel Christ's presence, His joy and peace."
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🔥Fr. Robert Pajor - participant of our 2024 Cohort!
"Fr. Robert cares deeply about reaching his flock so they can be inspired to persevere on their journey with an authentically Catholic faith. His Homiles are easy to remember and highlight his pastoral care for everyone he encounters."
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Preaching can make a real difference in the spiritual home we offer our children and their children. Thank you for helping us to honor preachers who keep us connected with God and a life of faith.
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In addition to placing their name on our Preacher’s Wall of Honor, we will inform the person or the organization of this honor.
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to give to "The Institute of Homiletics Saint John Chrysostom Fund" at The Catholic Foundation of Dallas.
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Resources
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Options for added resources and opportunities for growth in the art of preaching.
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- We’re delighted to introduce you to Fr. Jude Siciliano, O.P., who lives just around the corner from our offices at the University of Dallas, at the Dominican Priory. Fr. Jude has dedicated his ministry to preaching and teaching, and he has also served as president of the Catholic Association of Teachers of Homiletics. Father Jude Siciliano, O.P. operates the preaching website preacherexchange.com, where you’ll find valuable reflections and insights to support your own homiletic preparation. We hope you enjoy getting to know Fr. Jude and learning from his wisdom.
- For this upcoming Second Sunday of Lent, on the transfiguration: America Media Preach Podcast, featuring Dr. Karla Bellinger.
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"Finally, brothers and sisters, pray for us,
so that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified everywhere,
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just as it is among you, and that we may be rescued from wicked and evil people; for not all have faith."
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2
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