ANNOUNCEMENTS

Apr 09 2026

Institute for Homiletics Participates in Compelling Preaching Initiative Gathering

The Institute for Homiletics team recently had the privilege of attending the Compelling Preaching Initiative Annual Gathering in Indianapolis. This gathering brought together leaders from across the country who share a common mission. Each of these leaders is working to renew the art of preaching so that the Gospel may be proclaimed in more engaging and effective ways.

Supported by the Lilly Endowment’s Compelling Preaching Initiative, this annual gathering offers a unique space for collaboration, prayer, and learning. Participants represent a wide range of Christian traditions.

The days were rich with opportunity. Plenary sessions blended ecumenical worship with thoughtful presentations and lively discussion. We reflected together on how God is at work through this initiative and shared the challenges and graces that come with forming preachers for today’s diverse communities. Interactive elements, including live polling, fostered a spirit of active engagement.

Breakout sessions and panel discussions offered further insight into the research and emerging practices in preaching. These moments were not only informative but deeply encouraging as we recognized our shared commitment to reach the hearts of God’s people.

For the Institute for Homiletics team, the gathering was also a time of meaningful connection with fellow Catholic grantees. Celebrating Mass together on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord gave us a powerful reminder of our shared call to proclaim Christ with humility and courage.

Dr. Karla Bellinger was invited to contribute to a plenary panel (shown above), “Learning Reimagined: Pedagogies of Preaching for a Changing World.” She shared insights into the Institute’s distinctive approach to forming preachers with a deep spiritual attentiveness and a commitment to encounter.

We return from this gathering filled with gratitude and renewed hope. It is a blessing to witness the many ways the Holy Spirit is moving through this initiative, and to celebrate the fruits already emerging from this work. We remain committed to our mission of renewing liturgical preaching, especially in ways that speak to and inspire young Catholics, trusting that God will continue to guide and sustain this important work.

Mar 03 2026

Board Chair Jim Moroney III Receives Honor of a Lifetime

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.

Jim was recognized for the many, many ways he has served the community in Dallas alongside a variety of Catholic and other organizations. His recent work to enhance homiletics, reminding us that Jesus inspired our faith through preaching, was featured during this memorable annual event.

KBP 1080 Moroney Kelly — 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. They teamed up beautifully to build an endowment when Bishop Kelly was in Dallas to be able to sustain the Institute for Homiletics for years to come.
*Photos by Kristina Bowman, courtesy of The Catholic Foundation.*

In recent years as he entered retirement from his influential and innovative work in media, 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.

“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 Institute for Homiletics team at the University of Dallas congratulate Jim wholeheartedly! We are grateful for all he does to impact the ways our faith can remain strong and growing when we truly encounter God.

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.

See more photos here.

Mar 03 2026

Congratulations to 43 Graduates of Preaching for Encounter Program!

Congratulations to our 2024 Preaching for Encounter program graduates! In February 2026, these priests and deacons completed 20 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.

Here are a few comments from their final evaluations, to give you more context about what they begin to learn from Preaching for Encounter.

“This program gave me much more than I expected! I now have a lot of tools to continue to improve my preparation of homilies. The experience with my coaches was especially meaningful to my growth. I feel like I now have the resources and relationships to help me keep learning and growing in my preaching for years to come.” – Fr. Miguel

“I understand the importance of the liturgical homily a lot more now. It matters for the life of the Church and our ongoing clergy formation. It has helped me to approach my delivery with ease and confidence. My parishioners readily share the progress they see, and they appreciate it.” – Fr. Leo

“I am more aware of what works, how to avoid what does not help, and how I can still improve. I’m eager to continue improving and helping us all have better connections with God.” – Dcn. Norm

Mar 03 2026

Newsletter Archive Now Available

Want to look back at something in one of our newsletters? We are just beginning to share results from our Preaching for Encounter, resources for more effective homilies, our research findings – especially concerning teens and young adult perspectives. To make it easy to return to an article we have featured, simply visit our Newsletter Archive! https://instituteforhomiletics.org/newsletter-archive/

Feb 18 2026

Get to know Fr. Jude Siciliano, O.P.

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.

In addition to his many ministries, Fr. Jude 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. The team at the Institute for Homiletics will continue to bring you more resources and opportunities for growth in the art of preaching.