The Catholic Church cannot grow without meaningful preaching. Yet even most homilists admit, preachers often leave us wanting more. Many priests and deacons receive very little training in homiletics, Homily preparation can get lost amid the many demands of parish life. That reality moved Jim Moroney to act. In 2021, partnering with the University of Dallas and The Catholic Foundation and then hiring Dr. Karla Bellinger as executive director, Moroney was instrumental in launching the Institute for Homiletics. With the help of Kris Kramer, fundraising efforts have created a $7.5M endowment fund to provide operational support for years to come.
Moroney is known for taking action, especially where it can create a better future for young people and for those who live on the margins of our society. Like his father Jim Moroney II and Abbot Denis Farkasfalvy, O. Cist. who was Moroney’s Cistercian Catholic School form master and mentor in his life for decades, he will be recognized as an outstanding member of the Dallas Catholic Community for his distinguished service and support. If you are in the Dallas area, we hope you can attend the annual Catholic Foundation Dinner on Feb. 7, 2026, to celebrate Moroney and his outstanding efforts that include the inspiration to launch the Institute for Homiletics.
Jim recently appeared on the local Good News Show sharing his journey. You can listen to the full interview here: Podcast