Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative Funds Creation of Canadian Centre for Catholic Pastoral Leadership at the University of St. Michael’s College
Contact: Greg Rupik (greg.rupik@utoronto.ca)
October 14, 2025
The University of Toronto has received a grant of $991,000 USD from Lilly Endowment Inc. to establish the Canadian Centre for Catholic Pastoral Leadership (CCCPL) at the University of St. Michael’s College (USMC). The CCCPL’s programming will be directed and developed by the Regis St. Michael’s Faculty of Theology (RSM), the collaborative creation of USMC and Regis College, members of the Toronto School of Theology.
The CCCPL is being funded through Lilly Endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative, which is intended to help theological schools across the United States and Canada strengthen their educational and financial capacities to prepare and support pastoral leaders for Christian congregations both now and into the future.
When launched in 2026, the CCCPL will be an innovative hub providing continuing education for pastoral leaders in ongoing formation, leadership, synodality and community-building using delivery methods that are accessible to a wide constituency of leaders, lay, religious, or ordained. Administered by USMC’s Division of Continuing Education, the Centre will offer a catalogue of topical and evergreen non-degree seminars, workshops, and courses designed to support ministers engaged with parish work in Canada’s diverse cultural contexts, while also supporting communities of practice.
“We are extremely excited to see the Canadian Centre for Catholic Pastoral Leadership take root and grow,” said St. Michael’s President David Sylvester. “The Centre is backed by world-class faculty and built upon the unique vision of RSM’s founding religious communities. A National Advisory Committee will help deepen and formalize our relationships with dioceses across the country, and RSM will learn and grow from those enhanced connections. We are pleased to serve the Church and the broader community with new lifelong learning and formation opportunities.”
St. Michael’s is one of 163 theological schools that have developed projects since 2021 funded through Lilly Endowment’s Pathways initiative. Together, the schools serve a broad spectrum of Christian traditions in the U.S. and Canada. They are affiliated with evangelical, mainline Protestant, nondenominational, Pentecostal, Orthodox, Catholic, Black church, Latino, Asian American, Indigenous and historic peace church traditions.
“Theological schools have long played a central role for most denominations and church networks in preparing and supporting pastoral leaders who guide congregations,” said Christopher L. Coble, Lilly Endowment’s vice president for religion. “These schools are paying close attention to the challenges churches are facing today and will face in the foreseeable future. The grants will help these schools engage in wide-ranging, innovative efforts to adapt their educational programs and build their financial capacities so they can better prepare pastors and lay ministers to effectively lead the congregations they will serve in the future.”
About Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is a private foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly Sr. and his sons Eli and J.K. Jr. through gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical business, Eli Lilly and Company. While those gifts remain the financial bedrock of the Endowment, it is a separate entity from the company, with a distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. A principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking out and supporting efforts that enhance the vitality of congregations and strengthen the pastoral and lay leadership of Christian communities. The Endowment also seeks to improve public understanding of religion and lift up in fair, accurate and balanced ways the roles that people of all faiths and various religious communities play in the United State and around the globe.