Cross-National Encounter

An Experience for Emerging System Leaders in Catholic Education

Ever Ancient, Ever New: Leading Catholic Education in an Era of Change

A cross-national encounter in Rome for emerging system leaders in Catholic education

Program Elements

A ten-day global program to form the next generation of Catholic education system leaders through a cross-national encounter and an experience of the global Church in Rome.

This encounter experience is aimed at informing and transforming the
minds and hearts of emerging system leaders in Catholic education cross-nationally to enliven the leaders of leaders for the future of Catholic education.

The experience aims to foster:

  • cross-national community and comparative learning,
  • creativity, innovation, and zeal for the universal mission of Catholic education,
  • a deeper relationship to the ever ancient and ever new work of the Church, and
  • systemic leadership for the future of today's Catholic schools.

“To educate is an act of love… The educator in Catholic schools must be, first and foremost, competent and qualified but, at the same time, someone who is rich in humanity and capable of being with young people in a style of pedagogy that helps promote human and spiritual growth.”

Address to the Congregation for Catholic Education, 13 February 2014

The program content will focus on learning across borders and leading for a renewed, hope-filled future for Catholic
education. Program content will include:

  • Innovative approaches for the formation of lay leaders
  • Learning about and from new governances structures
  • Considering new educational models and approaches, classical, hybrids, small schools, etc.
  • Learning about the spirituality of different religious communities and their role in Church renewal
  • Encountering the other, responding to diversity and changing cultural milieus
  • Identity as basis of dialogue, fostering a vibrant Catholic school culture

Rome will be our classroom. These days will draw upon experts from various Vatican departments and other Church agencies, along with visits to religious sites in Rome, including:

  • A meeting with officials at the Dicastary for Culture and Education
  • Opening up Amoris Laetitia – The Joy of Love with experts at the Pontifical Academy for Life
  • Wednesday Papal Audience and Mass in St Peter’s Basilica
  • Meetings at other Vatican dicastaries that inform our work in Catholic education
  • Encounters with leaders of Catholic religious communities, old and new
  • Visits to various religious sites

Dates: June 5- 15, 2023

Location: Rome, Italy

Availability: Approximately 20 participants

Costs: Estimated costs around U.S. $6,500 dollars, does not include airfare

Program Leaders: The University of Notre Dame TeamUND

Dr. TJ D'Agostino

Director of the International Education Research Initiative, which conducts research and programs supporting Catholic schools globally.

Expertise in comparative education, school culture, faith-based schools, and systems change

Dr. Kevin Baxter

Director of ACE's Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program, the largest Catholic school leadership graduate program in the U.S..

A Catholic educational leader at the school, Archdiocesan, and national level, with expertise in leadership and governance

Program Leaders: The Australian Catholic UniversityACU Team

Prof. Br David Hall FMS

Dean of the La Salle Academy, which prepares teachers and leaders in Catholic schools in Religious Education, Faith Formation and Educational Leadership

Expertise in Catholic school identity, mission and governance