About the Grant
The Sheen Initiative is a transformative program dedicated to advancing preaching excellence among key voices in the Catholic Church across the United States. Its purpose is to engage a broad spectrum of individuals—including priests, deacons, and lay leaders—who play pivotal roles in preaching and guiding diverse congregations in a variety of settings.
A New Era of Dynamic Preaching
The initiative was made possible through a five-year grant awarded by the Eli Lilly Foundation, in response to their Request for Proposals (RFP) under the theme of “Compelling Preaching.” Catholic University of America’s proposal was selected for its vision to foster a new wave of effective, engaging, and culturally relevant preaching across the country.
At the heart of Catholic preaching is the power to transform parishioners’ experiences of God, helping them embrace and live out Christ’s love in their daily lives. The Sheen Initiative aims to develop curricula, resources, and training for pastors and deacons, both seasoned and in formation, that will equip them to feed the spiritual hunger of their congregations. Our focus is on enhancing the art of preaching, drawing from the rich traditions of the Church, while meeting the contemporary needs of a diverse and evolving Catholic community.
A renewal in Catholic preaching must also address the growing cultural diversity within parishes, the desire for preaching that responds to the pressing questions of today, and the ongoing need for spiritual renewal within the Church. The primary goal of this grant is to respond to the call of men and women to the ministry of preaching, with a deep commitment to drawing from the breadth and depth of Catholic tradition. This includes proclaiming the Word as it is lived out in the sacramental life of the Church and within the broader Catholic imagination.
Core Components
A Research Manual for the Three-Year Lectionary Cycle
This comprehensive resource will support homilists by offering a wide range of tools—metaphors, imagery, key words, books, films, podcasts, and more—aligned with each Sunday’s readings. The manual will serve as a practical guide for preparing homilies that connect Scripture with the lived experiences of the congregation.
A Weeklong Workshop
A Program for Diaconal Formation
A Lay Preaching Program
For parishes without a resident priest to celebrate Sunday Mass, this program will train lay preachers to step into the gap. Participants in both the diaconal formation and lay preaching programs will also have the opportunity to earn a certificate from Catholic University.
Register For Our Weeklong Workshop
We are excited to announce that registration is now open for our weeklong workshop! Stay tuned for more details on our upcoming diaconal formation and lay preaching programs, as well as the release of our research manual.
The central theme for the 2024/2025 cycle of the Sheen Initiative is “Preaching Hope in a Doubt-Filled World.” This focus will guide our efforts to empower preachers to inspire and uplift their congregations, particularly in times of uncertainty, offering messages of hope and renewal in a rapidly changing world.
Meet the Staff
Dr. Susan M. Timoney, STD
Principle Investigator
Fr. Jim Oberle
Temporary Director of the Fulton J. Sheen Initiative
Regina Vehige
Project Support Coordinator
Revered Jacob Gruber
Editor of Preaching Manual