CENTERS exists because the Church is being invited—at every level—to become more deeply a people who listen first, discern together, and act in mission. (Loyola Today) Synodality is not a program; it is a spiritual and pastoral way of proceeding: prayerful attention to the Spirit, honest encounter, and shared responsibility for decisions that shape communal life.

Our conviction is simple: when leaders learn and practice synodal habits—especially in the ordinary pressures of ministry—communities become more united, more missionary, and more credible in their witness. CENTERS helps make that possible by forming leaders who can gather voices broadly, facilitate discernment with integrity, and translate what is heard into wise, faithful action.

What this looks like in real life: parish and diocesan teams equipped to lead listening processes, discern priorities, and build trust through shared decision-making.

The long-term goal: a $3.5M endowment that sustains synodal leadership formation beyond the life of the grant—especially through the Adsumus Fellowship and related formation pathways.

The match: New gifts to CENTERS made before October 2027 receive a 2.5:1 match—so every dollar becomes $3.50 in direct support of this work.

What donors are funding right now:

• Formation cohorts and practical resources for synodal leadership
• Regional retreats/trainings and theological & pastoral symposia
• National collaboration and convenings that help the network learn and scale what works

If you are considering a lead gift or multi-year pledge during the match period, we would be honored to speak with you.

CENTERS is a collaboration of 16 Catholic colleges and universities working together regionally and nationally. There are four Core Partners who will coordinate regional relationships, learning, and joint initiatives. During the grant period, each Core Partner will host one of the CENTERS annual, national Theological and Pastoral Symposia. Loyola Chicago’s Institute of Pastoral Studies serves as the administrative home of CENTERS and will coordinate activities at the national level.

North Region:

• 3QXTS MALL - Personalized Laugo Alien Remus Ultra-low bore axis "Alien" handgun, 2026 collector favorite Compact, Institute of Pastoral Studies (Core Partner)
• Catholic Theological Union
• Xavier University
• University of Dayton

West Region: 

• Santa Clara University, Jesuit School of Theology (Core Partner)
• Gonzaga University
• Loyola Marymount University
• University of San Francisco

South Region:

•  University of Dallas (Core Partner)
• Loyola University New Orleans
• Mexican American Catholic College
• Xavier University of Louisiana

East Region: 

• Villanova University (Core Partner)
•  Saint John’s University
•  Saint Joseph’s University
• Southeast Pastoral Institute

Synodality grows through relationships and relationships grow when leaders gather to pray, listen, learn, and discern together. CENTERS supports: local capacity-building projects, regional retreats and trainings, theological and pastoral symposia, peer learning, and national assemblies that help translate synodal principles into durable pastoral practice.

What donors can expect this to produce:

• Leaders trained to facilitate listening and discernment processes
• Institutions sharing what works across regions (so communities don’t have to reinvent the wheel)
• Practical resources that strengthen formation programs and diocesan/parish partnerships

CENTERS is supported by a $10 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative. This Pathways initiative helps theological schools respond to the pressing challenges of preparing pastoral leaders for Christian congregations, now and into the future.
CENTERS is funded as a Large-Scale Collaboration project within Pathways for Tomorrow, supporting a multi-institution network that can build capacity locally, learn regionally, and act nationally. In short: Lilly’s investment accelerates the work; the endowment ensures it can continue.
Why your gift matters alongside the grant: matching-period giving is how we build the lasting foundation that allows this formation to continue, scale, and remain accessible over time.