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.

Fr. Nate Wills, CSC, Ph.D

Chaplain, University of Notre Dame Football Team

Fr. Nate Wills, CSC, Ph.D

More about Fr. Nate Wills, CSC, Ph.D

Jay Carney, Ph.D.

Graff Chair in Catholic Theology, Creighton University

Jay Carney, Ph.D.

More about Jay Carney, Ph.D.

Max T. Engel, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Creighton University

Max T. Engel, Ph.D.

More about Max T. Engel, Ph.D.

Brian Polian

NCAA Coach, Administrator, and Author

Brian Polian

More about Brian Polian

Conference Schedule

Day 1: Wednesday, October 14

5:00 – 6:00 p.m.	Mass
6:00 – 6:35 p.m.	Check-in & Drinks
6:35 – 7:35 p.m.	Dinner
7:35 p.m.	Invocation
7:45 – 8:45 p.m.	"Pray Like a Champion Today: Sacred Stories from the Chaplain of Notre Dame Football" Fr. Nate Wills, CSC, Ph.D. (University of Notre Dame)

Day 2: Thursday, October 15

7:45 – 8:30 a.m.	Breakfast
8:30 – 9:15 a.m.	"On the Eighth Day: A Catholic Theology of Sport and Rationale for Chaplaincy" Max T. Engel, Ph.D. (Creighton University) & Jay Carney, Ph.D. (Creighton University)
9:30 – 10:20 a.m.	Breakout Session 1 "Building Sustainable and Thriving Chaplaincy Programs" Paul Reisselman (St. Xavier H.S.), Arissa Troy (Boston College H.S.), John Krambuhl, Ed.D. (Georgetown Prep), Nick Rennpage (University of Detroit H.S.), run by Fr. Jon Polce, S.J. (Dallas Jesuit) "On the Sidelines, In the Wings, and On the Bench: The Chaplain Experience" Fr. Bob Tillman S.J. (Creighton Prep), Caitlin Lynch-Huggins (Saint Ignatius H.S.), Joseph Nava (Dallas Jesuit) run by Dr. Dobie Moser (Mustard Seed Consultants) "In Their Own Words: Student Athletes and Performing Artists on Chaplaincy's Effect" run by Jim Brennan (Saint Ignatius H.S.)
10:30 – 11:20 a.m.	Breakout Session 2 "On the Sidelines, In the Wings, and On the Bench: The Chaplain Experience" Fr. Bob Tillman S.J. (Creighton Prep), Caitlin Lynch-Huggins (Saint Ignatius H.S.), Joseph Nava (Dallas Jesuit) run by Dr. Dobie Moser (Mustard Seed Consultants) "Who is the Chaplain & What Skills Does He/She Need" Jimmy Menkhaus, Ph.D. (St. Xavier H.S.) "Planning the Possible – Creating Chaplain Curricula for Faith Formation, Injuries, and Cuts" Drew Vilinsky (Saint Ignatius H.S.)
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.	Lunch
12:30 – 1:30 p.m.	"A Second Voice in the Room: How Coaches and Directors Are Supported by Chaplains" Mike McLaughlin (Saint Ignatius H.S.), Paul Carty (Boston College H.S.), Amanda Martin-Bensken (Saint Ignatius H.S.) run by Drew Vilinsky (Saint Ignatius H.S.)
1:45 – 2:35 p.m.	Breakout Session 3 "Building Sustainable and Thriving Chaplaincy Programs" Paul Reisselman (St. Xavier H.S.), Arissa Troy (Boston College H.S.), John Krambuhl, Ed.D. (Georgetown Prep), Nick Rennpage (University of Detroit H.S.), run by Fr. Jon Polce, S.J. (Dallas Jesuit) "Formational Blueprints – Designing Intentional Spiritual Experiences for Teams and Troupes" Ray McKenna, J.D. (Catholic Athletes for Christ), Dave Sabol (Saint Ignatius H.S.), Donnie Green (Santa Margarita H.S.), Julianna Burrows (Saint Ignatius H.S.), run by Dr. Dobie Moser (Mustard Seed Consultants) "In Their Own Words: Student Athletes and Performing Artists on Chaplaincy's Effect" run by Jim Brennan (Saint Ignatius H.S.)
2:45 – 3:35 p.m.	Breakout Session 4 "Formational Blueprints – Designing Intentional Spiritual Experiences for Teams and Troupes" Ray McKenna, J.D. (Catholic Athletes for Christ), Dave Sabol (Saint Ignatius H.S.), Donnie Green (Santa Margarita H.S.), Julianna Burrows (Saint Ignatius H.S.) run by Dr. Dobie Moser (Mustard Seed Consultants) "Who is the Chaplain & What Skills Does He/She Need" Jimmy Menkhaus, Ph.D. (St. Xavier H.S.) "Planning the Possible – Creating Chaplain Curricula for Faith Formation, Injuries, and Cuts" Drew Vilinsky (Saint Ignatius H.S.)
3:45 – 4:45 p.m.	Tour of Campus
5:00 p.m.	Dinner (on your own in Cleveland)

Day 3: Friday, October 16

7:45 – 8:45 a.m.	Breakfast
8:50 – 9:00 a.m.	"My Faith Via Sport: an Example of a Student Chapel Talk" (TBD)
9:00 – 9:45 a.m.	"Connecting with Generation Z" Brian Polian (John Carroll University)
9:50 – 10:45 a.m.	"What Now? – Conference Cohorts, Challenge, and Takeaways" run by Drew Vilinsky (Saint Ignatius H.S.)
11:00 – 11:30 a.m.	Eucharistic Adoration and Missioning Ceremony

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In This Section

North American Sports & Arts Chaplaincy Conference

About

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

Conference Schedule

Day 1: Wednesday, October 14

Day 2: Thursday, October 15

Day 3: Friday, October 16

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