Disciples of the Word
Proclaiming the Gospel is the primary duty of all clergy. As with most “professions,” preaching is perfected through practice, feedback and sharing best practices. Disciples of the Word is a mentoring and coaching experience for priests and permanent deacons seeking to improve their craft.
The first edition of this program (Jan-Nov 2025) supported ten cohorts through a coaching process designed to form compelling preachers. Each cohort consisted of a preaching fellow, a clergy mentor, and two-four lay advisors who met monthly to review each fellow’s homilies, provide constructive feedback, and suggest helpful recommendations for improvement. Use the links below to access more information about each of the participant’s roles.
Follow this link to read the 2025 Program Report.
A second edition of this program will take place during the 2026-2027 academic year. Cohorts will be formed in June-July … anyone interested in participating is asked to contact us at preaching@scs.edu.
Beginning in 2025, the Catholic Preaching Institute will guide twelve cohorts through a year-long coaching process designed to form compelling preachers.
Each cohort will consist of a preaching fellow, a clergy mentor, and three lay coaches who will meet monthly to review each fellow’s homilies, provide constructive feedback, and suggest helpful recommendations for improvement.
Contact us now if you are interested in participating in this process of forming preachers as “Disciples of the Word.”
Proclaiming the Gospel is the primary duty of all clergy. As with most “professions,” preaching is perfected through practice, feedback and sharing best practices. Disciples of the Word is a mentoring and coaching experience for priests and permanent deacons seeking to improve their craft.
The first edition of this program (Jan-Nov 2025) supported ten cohorts through a coaching process designed to form compelling preachers. Each cohort consisted of a preaching fellow, a clergy mentor, and two-four lay advisors who met monthly to review each fellow’s homilies, provide constructive feedback, and suggest helpful recommendations for improvement. Use the links below to access more information about each of the participant’s roles.
Follow this link to read the 2025 Program Report.
A second edition of this program will take place during the 2026-2027 academic year. Cohorts will be formed in June-July … anyone interested in participating is asked to contact us at preaching@scs.edu.
Preaching Fellows
Disciples of the Word is a mentoring experience facilitated by coaching cohorts.
Fellows are clergy seeking to improve their homilies, and not just what they preach, but also how. These priests and permanent deacons actively seek better ways to connect the faithful to the weekly Gospel readings. Recently ordained or seasoned homilists, fellows seek tailored feedback to incorporate into their homiletic preparation and delivery.
In each cohort, Fellows will join together with a Clergy Mentor (1) and Lay Advisors (2-4). Cohorts meet in-person on a monthly basis to review video recordings of the Fellow’s homilies and provide constructive feedback from the dual perspective of pulpit and pew.
Details:
Fellows must commit to the full 9-month program and attend all monthly meetings, as scheduled at the convenience of the cohort.
Fellows are required to attend three in-person events at the seminary:
- the launch meeting on September 19, 2026
- a mid-year review on January 16, 2027
- the concluding meeting on May 22, 2027.
Fellows receive a stipend upon completion of all aspects of the program, as well as reimbursement of travel and meeting expenses.
If you would like to be considered for a Fellowship in this program, email preaching@scs.edu.
Link to a list of the 2025 PREACHING FELLOWS
Clergy Mentors
Disciples of the Word is a mentoring experience facilitated by coaching cohorts.
Mentors are expert homilists actively engaged in supporting their brother priests and deacons in the art of preaching. By sharing best practices, spiritual insights and theological acumen, Mentors share a wealth of experience and knowledge particularly unique to those whose tasked with connecting God’s people with the Word through scripture.
Mentors in each cohort will join together with a Preaching Fellow (1) and Lay Advisors (2-4). Cohorts meet in-person on a monthly basis to review video recordings of the Fellow’s homilies and provide constructive feedback from the dual perspective of pulpit and pew.
Details:
Mentors must commit to the full 9-month program and are expected to be present for all monthly meetings.
Mentors are responsible for scheduling the monthly meetings at the convenience of the cohort, directing the proceedings, and providing a report on the discussions.
Mentors are required to attend three in-person events at the seminary:
- the launch meeting on September 19, 2026
- a mid-year review on January 16, 2027
- the concluding meeting on May 22, 2027.
Mentors receive a stipend upon completion of all aspects of the program, as well as reimbursement of travel and meeting expenses.
If you would like to be considered for a Mentorship in this program, email preaching@scs.edu.
Link to a list of the 2025 CLERGY MENTORS
Lay Advisors
Disciples of the Word is a mentoring experience facilitated by twelve coaching cohorts.
Advisors are lay men and women who offer insights from their listening to preachers. Because communication happens not through what is said but in what is heard, Advisors offer important insights into the effectiveness of preaching in terms of both content and delivery.
Advisors in each cohort will join together with a Preaching Fellow (1) and a Clergy Mentor (1). Cohorts meet in-person on a monthly basis to review video recordings of the Fellow’s homilies and provide constructive feedback from the dual perspective of pulpit and pew.
Details:
Advisors must commit to the full 9-month program and are expected to participate in all monthly meetings, as scheduled at the convenience of the cohort.
Advisors are required to attend two in-person events at the seminary:
- the launch meeting on September 19, 2026
- the concluding meeting on May 22, 2027.
Advisors receive a stipend upon completion of all aspects of the program, as well as reimbursement of travel expenses.
If you would like to be considered for a position as an Advisor in this program, email preaching@scs.edu or complete and submite the form below.
Link to a list of the 2025 Mentoring COHORTS with Lay Advisors
Preaching Fellows
Disciples of the Word is a mentoring experience facilitated by coaching cohorts.
Fellows are clergy seeking to improve their homilies, and not just what they preach, but also how. These priests and permanent deacons actively seek better ways to connect the faithful to the weekly Gospel readings. Recently ordained or seasoned homilists, fellows seek tailored feedback to incorporate into their homiletic preparation and delivery.
In each cohort, Fellows will join together with a Clergy Mentor (1) and Lay Advisors (2-4). Cohorts meet in-person on a monthly basis to review video recordings of the Fellow’s homilies and provide constructive feedback from the dual perspective of pulpit and pew.
Details:
Fellows must commit to the full 9-month program and attend all monthly meetings, as scheduled at the convenience of the cohort.
Fellows are required to attend three in-person events at the seminary:
- the launch meeting on September 19, 2026;
- a mid-year review on January 16, 2027
- the concluding meeting on May 22, 2027.
Fellows receive a stipend upon completion of all aspects of the program, as well as reimbursement of travel and meeting expenses.
If you would like to be considered for a Fellowship in this program, email preaching@scs.edu.
Link to a list of the 2025 PREACHING FELLOWS
Clergy Mentors
Disciples of the Word is a mentoring experience facilitated by twelve coaching cohorts.
Advisors are lay men and women who offer insights from their listening to preachers. Because communication happens not through what is said but in what is heard, Advisors offer important insights into the effectiveness of preaching in terms of both content and delivery.
Advisors in each cohort will join together with a Preaching Fellow (1) and a Clergy Mentor (1). Cohorts meet in-person on a monthly basis to review video recordings of the Fellow’s homilies and provide constructive feedback from the dual perspective of pulpit and pew.
Details:
Advisors must commit to the full 9-month program and are expected to participate in all monthly meetings, as scheduled at the convenience of the cohort.
Advisors are required to attend two in-person events at the seminary:
- the launch meeting on September 19, 2026;
- the concluding meeting on May 22, 2027.
Advisors receive a stipend upon completion of all aspects of the program, as well as reimbursement of travel expenses.
If you would like to be considered for a position as an Advisor in this program, email preaching@scs.edu or complete and submite the form below.
Link to a list of the 2025 Mentoring COHORTS with Lay Advisors
Lay Advisors
Disciples of the Word is a mentoring experience facilitated by twelve coaching cohorts. Each cohort is comprised of a preaching fellow, a clergy mentor and three lay advisors. Cohorts meet monthly.
Advisors are lay men and women who offer a perspective from the pew. Along with the clergy mentors, Advisors review a fellow’s videotaped homilies, providing constructive feedback on a homily’s clarity, instruction and emotional resonance.
Details:
- Advisors are required to attend two in-person events at the seminary:
- January 25, 2025 – program launch
- November 22, 2025 – conclusion
- Advisors are paired with a fellow (learner) and a mentor (clergy) to form cohorts.
- Advisors will review a fellow’s videotaped homilies, providing monthly feedback.
- Advisors must commit to the full 10 month program; monthly meetings are set at the convenience of the cohort.
- Advisors receive a stipend, as well as reimbursement for travel expenses for meetings at parishes and the seminary.
Cohorts are now forming! If you are interested in becoming an Advisor, please complete the email form below. Participants will be notified by November 25, 2024.
Link to the 2025 Mentoring COHORTS with Lay Advisors
Preaching Fellows
Disciples of the Word is a mentoring experience facilitated by coaching cohorts.
Fellows are clergy seeking to improve their homilies, and not just what they preach, but also how. These priests and permanent deacons actively seek better ways to connect the faithful to the weekly Gospel readings. Recently ordained or seasoned homilists, fellows seek tailored feedback to incorporate into their homiletic preparation and delivery.
In each cohort, Fellows will join together with a Clergy Mentor (1) and Lay Advisors (2-4). Cohorts meet in-person on a monthly basis to review video recordings of the Fellow’s homilies and provide constructive feedback from the dual perspective of pulpit and pew.
Details:
Fellows must commit to the full 9-month program and attend all monthly meetings, as scheduled at the convenience of the cohort.
Fellows are required to attend three in-person events at the seminary:
- the launch meeting on September 19, 2026;
- a mid-year review on January 16, 2027
- the concluding meeting on May 22, 2027.
Fellows receive a stipend upon completion of all aspects of the program, as well as reimbursement of travel and meeting expenses.
If you would like to be considered for a Fellowship in this program, email preaching@scs.edu.
Link to a list of the 2025 PREACHING FELLOWS
Clergy Mentors
Disciples of the Word is a mentoring experience facilitated by twelve coaching cohorts.
Advisors are lay men and women who offer insights from their listening to preachers. Because communication happens not through what is said but in what is heard, Advisors offer important insights into the effectiveness of preaching in terms of both content and delivery.
Advisors in each cohort will join together with a Preaching Fellow (1) and a Clergy Mentor (1). Cohorts meet in-person on a monthly basis to review video recordings of the Fellow’s homilies and provide constructive feedback from the dual perspective of pulpit and pew.
Details:
Advisors must commit to the full 9-month program and are expected to participate in all monthly meetings, as scheduled at the convenience of the cohort.
Advisors are required to attend two in-person events at the seminary:
- the launch meeting on September 19, 2026;
- the concluding meeting on May 22, 2027.
Advisors receive a stipend upon completion of all aspects of the program, as well as reimbursement of travel expenses.
If you would like to be considered for a position as an Advisor in this program, email preaching@scs.edu or complete and submite the form below.
Link to a list of the 2025 Mentoring COHORTS with Lay Advisors
Lay Advisors
Disciples of the Word is a mentoring experience facilitated by twelve coaching cohorts. Each cohort is comprised of a preaching fellow, a clergy mentor and three lay advisors. Cohorts meet monthly.
Advisors are lay men and women who offer a perspective from the pew. Along with the clergy mentors, Advisors review a fellow’s videotaped homilies, providing constructive feedback on a homily’s clarity, instruction and emotional resonance.
Details:
- Advisors are required to attend two in-person events at the seminary:
- January 25, 2025 – program launch
- November 22, 2025 – conclusion
- Advisors are paired with a fellow (learner) and a mentor (clergy) to form cohorts.
- Advisors will review a fellow’s videotaped homilies, providing monthly feedback.
- Advisors must commit to the full 10 month program; monthly meetings are set at the convenience of the cohort.
- Advisors receive a stipend, as well as reimbursement for travel expenses for meetings at parishes and the seminary.
Cohorts are now forming! If you are interested in becoming an Advisor, please complete the email form below. Participants will be notified by November 25, 2024.
Link to the 2025 Mentoring COHORTS with Lay Advisors