FLORISSANT, MO — The Augustine Institute campus recently served as the epicenter for a movement to reclaim the spiritual and intellectual heart of Catholic education by supporting the spiritual fatherhood of priests with formation, resources and community. From January 20-22, a capacity crowd of clergy gathered for the 2026 Symposium for Priests on the Renewal of Catholic Education, an initiative hosted by the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education (ICLE). 28 priests from 14 different dioceses participated with three ICLE faculty leading the formative presentations.
The three-day event moved beyond school or parish management, focusing instead on the priest’s identity as an alter Christus —”another Christ” — within the halls of his parish school. One participant reflected on the spiritual depth of the gathering, noting, “It was an experience of communion and authentic human delight. It was therefore a preparation for worship!” shared Fr. John Sims Baker.
RECLAIMING THE ROLE OF CHAMPION
The symposium opened with a vision for leadership from Danny Flynn, ICLE’s Vice President of Diocesan and School Relations. He noted that while pastors are often assigned to schools to serve as figureheads, the Church’s true vision requires them to be champions and spiritual fathers.
“Seeing the priest as the living embodiment of the Church’s theological treasure is the only way forward,” Flynn told the cohort. This introduction set a tone of high-level intellectual and pastoral engagement rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition.
“Too often the foundational presence of Catholic priests in our schools has been relegated to that of figurehead,” Flynn said. “This is most unfortunate, and it is contrary to Mother Church’s vision for her priests’ presence in Catholic schools as an alter Christus, another Christ — a true father and friend to students.”
This message resonated with attendees, one of whom remarked, “I feel empowered to continue to experience spiritual fatherhood with my school. I also feel more and more the necessity of doing so to better form the whole person in each of my students.”
“Too often the foundational presence of Catholic priests in our schools has been relegated to that of figurehead or bureaucrat, and not as champion. This is most unfortunate, and it is contrary to Mother Church’s vision for her priests’ presence in Catholic schools as an alter Christus, another Christ, a true father and friend to students. Just as St. John Henry Cardinal Newman argued for theology as the queen and cornerstone of the sciences, upon which hangs the whole pursuit of faith and reason, so also seeing the priest as the living embodiment of the Church’s theological treasure is the only way forward in renewing Catholic Schools.” – Danny Flynn, ICLE’s Vice President of Diocesan and School Relations.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AND THE PEDAGOGY OF WONDER
The event also featured a warm welcome from Dr. John Sehorn, Academic Dean of the Augustine Institute Graduate School of Theology. Dr. Sehorn’s presence underscored the vital partnership between theological formation and the renewal of K-12 classrooms.
His insights helped frame the symposium’s mission to integrate deep theological truth with practical school leadership, reinforcing the unity of faith and reason that defines Catholic liberal education.
Throughout the week, participants experienced the Catholic liberal education tradition firsthand. For instance, Dr. Ryan Messmore, ICLE’s President, led a “picture study” of Rublev’s Holy Trinity and a seminar on the philosophy of Robert Spaemann. These sessions modeled how to spark wonder and sharpen inquiry — skills the priests are now invited to bring back to their own faculty and classrooms to foster the habit of rigorous thinking.
Elisabeth Sullivan, ICLE Vice President for Mission Advancement, delivered a session on “Freedom in Christ,” dispelling myths that often hamper the recovery of the Church’s intellectual tradition. She joined Flynn to present a “Pedagogy for Wonder,” focusing on mimetic instruction that aligns with how children naturally learn and grow in virtue.
The emphasis on deep thinking and beauty left a lasting impression on the cohort. “It was a good reminder of the core of Classical education as a logocentric wonder of creation and reality,” observed one priest. “I appreciated the focus on pedagogy and how that has a huge impact on the Catholic identity.”
WISDOM FROM THE TRENCHES
A highlight for many attendees was the “Brother Among Brothers” panel. Moderated by Flynn, the panel featured:
- Fr. John Sims Baker (Holy Rosary Academy, Nashville, TN)
- Fr. Matthew Fish (St. Jerome Academy, Hyattsville, MD)
- Fr. Brian O’Brien (Holy Family Cathedral, Tulsa, OK)
- Fr. John Szatkowski (St. Paul the Apostle, Richardson, TX)
These pastors shared practical lessons learned from their experiences, discussing how they have navigated the challenges of transitioning their schools toward a Christ-centered, liberal arts model that serves the eternal good of the whole human person.
Fr. Brian O’Brien of Holy Family Cathedral in Tulsa, OK, reflected on the value of the panel. “I got to share the ups and downs of life at Holy Family Classical School and learn from other priests too,” He noted, following his presentation on his school’s positive experience with Catholic liberal arts education. “Our best days are ahead, and I was honored to share that with the group.”
For attendees like Fr. Jeff Kegley, pastor of Saint Mary, Mother of God Church in Middletown, NJ, the whole experience was transformative. “Thank you, Dr. Ryan Messmore, Elisabeth Sullivan, and Danny Flynn for a truly informative and blessed Symposium for Priests on the Renewal of Catholic Education,” Fr. Kegley remarked. “God bless you abundantly in your mission of renewing Catholic education. Veni, Sancte Spiritus!”
Fr. Andrew Linn, pastor of St. Kilian in Hartford, WI, noted that the communal aspect was just as vital as the lectures. “Thanks to this workshop I feel much more equipped to create a vision for Catholic education for my parish and school. Additionally, the conversations with other priests have given me concrete ideas to implement,” he said.
A GROWING MOVEMENT
The 2026 symposium was fully funded by a gift from the Ortner Family Foundation, which covered all registration and lodging costs. This support allowed priests to focus entirely on their formation as intellectual leaders who can help teachers understand that forming saints is the ultimate priority.
Due to the overwhelming demand and the at-capacity attendance for this January session, planning is already underway for another Symposium for Priests in October 2026. Clergy interested in future cohorts or seeking to earn Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) can find more resources and upcoming dates on the Symposium for Priests event page.