From June 21 to 27, 2026, the Faith and Life Institute held a new edition of the National Catholic Leadership Program, building on more than three decades of training missionary disciples and pastoral leaders committed to serving the Hispanic/Latino Church in the United States and beyond its borders.
Held at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois (United States), the week-long program brought together nearly 200 participants from dioceses across the country, along with leaders from Germany, Colombia, Honduras, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, forming a vibrant international community of faith, learning, and missionary leadership.
“For more than thirty years, our mission has remained unchanged: to form leaders who accompany young people, proclaim the Gospel with hope, and build vibrant communities of faith,” said Juan Escarfuller, executive director of the Instituto Fe y Vida. “As the Church continues to evolve, we remain committed to forming missionary disciples who lead with compassion, creativity, and a deep love for Christ.”
Formation and Pastoral Resources
The National Leadership Program has impacted the lives of thousands of pastoral leaders, many of whom now serve in dioceses, parishes, schools, and Catholic organizations throughout the United States and in various countries. The Institute is also widely recognized for its publications, including the Catholic Bible for Youth, published in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian, as well as for numerous pastoral resources that have strengthened youth ministry for decades.
This year’s program offered five formation experiences designed to address the Church’s current needs. Together, these seminars provided participants with practical pastoral tools, solid theological formation, and opportunities to deepen their spiritual lives, while also strengthening a network of collaboration and friendship among leaders from different dioceses and countries.
Looking to the future, the Institute for Faith and Life continues to expand its mission through innovative initiatives in communication, digital evangelization, storytelling, and the arts, while promoting the revitalization of parishes and the formation of a new generation of missionary disciples.
As it begins its fourth decade of service, the Institute for Faith and Life renews its commitment to continue forming leaders who proclaim the Gospel to today’s world with faith, creativity, and hope.
Founded in 1994, the Institute for Faith and Life has established itself as one of the nation’s leading Catholic ministries dedicated to the formation and accompaniment of young people, families, and pastoral leaders. Rooted in the Lasallian educational tradition and inspired by the rich experience of the Hispanic/Latino Catholic Church in the United States, the Institute prepares leaders capable of responding with creativity, fidelity, and hope to the pastoral challenges of today’s Church.
* Article written by Elisabeth Román, Instituto Fe y Vida.
