Skip To Main Content

North American Sports & Arts Chaplaincy Conference

Aerial view of Saint Ignatius High School Campus

Saint Ignatius High School is excited to host the inaugural North American Sports & Arts Chaplaincy Conference, a gathering dedicated to forming disciples—body and soul—through faith-filled accompaniment in athletics and the arts.

The image is a conference poster for the North American Sports & Arts Chaplaincy Conference, featuring the event details and a background of silhouetted figures, suggesting the conference's focus on forming disciples, body, and soul.

About

This first-of-its-kind conference will bring together administrators, educators, coaches, campus ministers, and program leaders from Catholic schools across North America.

Together, we will explore the growing impact of Sports & Arts Chaplaincy, share the model of lay ministry that has shaped student formation here at Saint Ignatius and at other schools in North America, and continue to develop ways to apply that model to various contexts and charisms. 

Attendees will be immersed in the theological and practical dimensions of laity serving as sports and arts chaplains, and will develop game plans to implement chaplaincies at their institutions.

Drew Vilinsky '97, Director of the Sports & Arts Chaplaincy Program at Saint Ignatius High School, invites you to attend the upcoming first-of-its-kind conference, October 14-16, 2026.

 

Keynote Speakers

The keynote speakers hail from three distinguished Catholic universities (the University of Notre Dame, Creighton University, and John Carroll University). The current roster features presenters and panelists from fourteen institutions across ten states spanning the entire United States—from the East Coast to the Midwest, the South and the West Coast. 

Fr. Nate Wills, CSC, Ph.D

Chaplain, University of Notre Dame Football Team

Jay Carney, Ph.D.

Graff Chair in Catholic Theology, Creighton University

Max T. Engel, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Creighton University

Brian Polian

NCAA Coach, Administrator, and Author, John Carroll University

Presenters & Panelists

 

Conference Schedule

 

Registration

Complete the form below to register to attend the conference. 

This form should take approximately 5 minutes to complete. You cannot save and return to the form once you have started, so please be prepared to complete the form and credit card payment in one sitting.

For payment-related questions, please contact the Finance Office at (216) 651-0222 ext. 4327.

Registration Cost: $300

What’s Included: Full access to all keynote sessions, breakout workshops, networking social, and meals—opening night dinner, snacks, breakfast, and lunch each day.

 

Hotel Accommodations and Travel Details

Crowne Plaza Cleveland at Playhouse Square

1260 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115

Book Your Room

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

5300 Riverside Dr, Cleveland, OH 44135
Approximately 12 miles from Saint Ignatius High School

Saint Ignatius High School

1911 W 30th St, Cleveland, OH 44113

 

 

Drew Vilinsky

Drew Vilinsky '97, Sports & Arts Chaplaincy Program Director

Drew Vilinsky created and directs the Sports and Arts Chaplaincy Program at Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, Ohio. He is also implementing a similar program for the Diocese of Cleveland CYO. Drew has spoken nationally about the intersection of faith and sport, has an article on the subject pending publication, and holds a Master of Theological Studies from the University of Notre Dame and a second master's degree in Coaching Education and Athlete Development from Xavier University. A Theology teacher at Saint Ignatius High School for the last 23 years, during his tenure, Drew has coached soccer, baseball, and ice hockey—helping lead both JV and varsity state championship teams.

Questions? Contact dvilinsky@ignatius.edu

AMDG