INSPIRE, a partnership initiative of Loyola University Chicago and the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, serves the communion and mission of Church as expressed in parish life. We exist through the generous support of the Lilly Endowment Sustaining Pastoral Excellence program. The project aims to assist Pastoral Leadership Teams as they develop capacity for collaborative pastoral leadership. Together, leaders envision concrete ways to connect ministries and serve their communities.

With the assistance of professional consultation, each team writes individually tailored personal and team learning plans. Consistent with the terms of the grant provider, financial resources support the learning commitments. As persons learn to serve common mission by aligning diverse gifts and ministerial skills, they achieve new forms of Catholic Pastoral Excellence. Often, these remarkable leaders beget other leaders and foster other forms of parishioner leadership.

Who We Are
Follow this link to learn about the members of the INSPIRE Project team.

SPE Program Spotlight:
INSPIRE Teams Find New Resources in Unexpected Places
Read what the Duke Divinity School's Sustaining Pastoral Excellence program has to say about the INSPIRE Project.


To you, Spirit of Love,
With the Almighty Father and the Only-Begotten
Son, be praise, honor and glory forever and ever.

From Prayer for the Year of the Holy Spirit
Pope John Paul II