ANNOUNCEMENTS

The cry goes up, “Better homilies!” But what does “better” mean? “Parishioners know what moves them and what they do not like in homilies, but to evaluate a homily in a constructive manner is often difficult,” says Bishop Gary Janak of San Antonio. Preachers need more than vague opinion as they are taught to get “better.” In the Preaching for Encounter program, we have clear and measurable standards for effectiveness and thus we are seeing statistically significant improvements. “What stands out for me [in this report] is the clarity and effectiveness of the evaluation forms, as well as the enthusiasm of the participants and the difference they believe the [Preaching for Encounter] program is having on their preaching.”

For more on the standards of effective preaching and how Catholic preachers have grown, see The Preachers’ Progress Report

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Augustine with Pope Leo XIV and all of the Catholic world. The conversion of Augustine is one of the most remarkable stories in all of Christendom. His mother St. Monica wept and prayed for him for many years. What better day to reflect on the relationship of conversion, evangelization, and preaching? See the full article here

“Put out into the deep…” was more than just a scriptural invitation. It was the guiding theme of the Institute for Homiletics’ 2025 summer retreat, held at Mundelein Seminary near Chicago. The retreat marked the midpoint for the current cohort of 46 priests and deacons participating in the Institute’s 20-month Preaching for Encounter program.

Clergy from across the country — including the archdioceses of Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Antonio, and the dioceses of Dallas, Gary, and Joliet — gathered for a few days of spiritual renewal, learning, and peer engagement. Their shared goal: to create more meaningful, engaging, and evangelizing homilies that resonate with the faithful, particularly young Catholics and those on the margins.

Fr. Jason Cargo, pastor of St. Mark the Evangelist in Plano, Texas, and the convener of the Dallas priests’ peer group, says, “This work is essential,” he said. “Making real connections with people during the homily is one of the most important things we can do. We have a captive audience of hundreds — and we can talk with them about Jesus in a way that truly speaks to their lives.”

Dr. Karla Bellinger, Executive Director of the Institute for Homiletics at the University of Dallas, focused the retreat on going deeper in both message and method. “Homilies matter,” Dr. Bellinger emphasized. “For five out of six Catholics who attend Mass weekly, the homily may be the only encounter with faith they receive all week.”

The cohort’s summer retreat launches the second year of their Preaching for Encounter program. Year one emphasized the spirituality of the preacher and foundational skills in homiletics. Year two shifts to the relationship between preaching and evangelization, with a strong focus on connecting with younger generations.

Insights from the Institute’s National Survey of Catholic Young Adults (funded by the Lilly Endowment) provided critical context for the retreat. Among the findings:

• Two thousand Catholic young adults report that most homilies neither inspire nor deepen their faith or parish connection.
• Poor and weak homilies contribute to their decisions to leave the Church.
• Well-rated homilies correlate with stronger Mass attendance, increased prayer, more parish involvement, and higher giving, in a statistically significant way.

“One may conclude from this research that poorly or neutrally rated homilies — often described as ‘meh’ by youth — are a threat to the health of the Church,” said Dr. Bellinger. “But preaching that nourishes can build vibrant, healthy congregations.” In addition, parish survey data demonstrates that young people want to hear from their priests and deacons. Dr. Bellinger added. “When a preacher shares his own faith story as a pastoral gift, it feels personal, heartfelt, and unique.”

Alongside coursework and spiritual reflection, the preachers also prepared to begin their next phase of the program: engaging with the lay parishioners of their Saint Joseph’s Preachers group, who have been training for the last year to offer them constructive homily feedback.

Founded in 2021, the Institute for Homiletics is a collaboration between the University of Dallas and The Catholic Foundation (of Dallas). It exists to support the renewal and flourishing of Catholic preachers. “When our clergy thrive in their preaching, the people of God thrive,” said Dr. Bellinger. “That’s why we’re here.”

Celebrating the Graduation of our Coordinator of Lay Programming from the Aquinas Institute of Theology.

We are honored to announce that Emily Lugo, our Coordinator of Lay Programming, has graduated from the prestigious Aquinas Institute of Theology—a significant achievement that reflects both academic excellence and spiritual dedication.

Congratulations, Emily! Your journey inspires and uplifts us all.

“Good Homilies Matter” is the title for the Beatidudes podcast for Friday, March 7, 2025. Bishop Greg Kelly of Tyler, TX speaks with Jeff Schiefelbein, Paul Kolker, and Nick Bezner about what he learned from his participation in the Preaching for Encounter program at the Institute for Homiletics.

Find the link to the 17-minute program here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTJCxiu20gw