Welcome to the Preaching with the Sciences homily outline library featuring the first fruits of an extraordinary initiative, made possible by a generous grant from the John Templeton Foundation.
Across the next year, this free online resource will grow to feature more than 100 homily outlines for preaching key Sundays and feast days across the 3-year lectionary cycle. These homily outlines highlight some of the ways sciences and the contemporary search for religious meaning can interface. These homiletic resources will influence thousands of preachers seeking help each week in crafting sermons and helping to shape a scientifically informed religious imagination among future preachers.
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The Preaching with the Sciences initiative is directed by Edward Foley, Capuchin, Duns Scotus Professor Emeritus of Spirituality at CTU and Founding Director of the Ecumenical Doctor of Ministry Program.
Featured Homily Outlines
Find a Homily Outline
Infusing homiletics with insights
from the natural and human sciences
holds great potential for stimulating
spiritual progress in word and action.
Edward Foley, Capuchin
Webinars
Prof. Veerabhadran Ramanathan
November 2020
Dr. Marina Cords
December 2020
Prof. Michael Spezio
January 2021
Dr. Grace Wolf-Chase
February 2021
Kathleen Beavis, MD
March 2021
Submit a Homily Outline
Guidelines for submitting an outline for publication with the Preaching with the Sciences Project
Since preaching is a contextual event that requires homilists to craft materials in ways appropriate to their particular contexts, this project does not present finished homilies. Rather, the goal is to provide an outline that sparks a homilist’s imagination by engaging the sciences and allied STEM fields, juxtaposed by specific readings, liturgical texts, feasts and seasons. This allows local preachers to shape these outlines in ways appropriate for reception by their local communities.
Consequently, contributors to this project should submit bullet point outlines that:
- – are between 750 and 1000 words
- – begin by listing the readings of the day, including the designated Roman Catholic lectionary number, and a hyperlink to them in the USCCB website
- – note possible preaching themes appropriate for the Sunday or feast (at least 2, no more than 4)
- – supply open access scientific sources (at least 3 for each possible preaching theme) which could effectively be juxtaposed with the texts and seasonal context of the Sunday or feast. These resources should appear prominently in the outline.
- – choose one theme and its scientific resources and provide a homiletic outline on that theme and its resources. Outline should comprise at least 50% of the submission.
- – provide 3-5 suggested tags for the submission
- – describe 2-3 suggested visuals to accompany the homily outline.
Contributors should also provide a short bio (maximum of 100 words), or a link to their website or other online presence.
Edward Foley, Capuchin
Duns Scotus Professor Emeritus of Spirituality
Founding Director of the Ecumenical Doctor of Ministry Program
