School of the Heart – Faith Sharing Series
School of the Heart is a seven-week faith sharing series for use in parish, school, or other contexts. Its aims are as follows:
- Offer participants a transformational encounter with one another over a series of weeks
- Familiarize participants with the Conversations in the Spirit synodal methodology
- Deepen participants’ engagement with contemporary church teaching and with the global church
- Through engagement with the text and synodal methodology, surface how the Holy Spirit might be inviting our particular communities into action for mission
Questions about this resource? Contact us.
Background
In the 2025 Easter season, young adults from the Discerning Deacons network hosted “School of the Heart,” a seven-week journey exploring Pope Francis’ final encyclical, Dilexit Nos, on the theme of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The series used the synodal methodology Conversations in the Spirit to break open the text, which simultaneously gave attendees an experience of learning to facilitate the methodology for use in their own local contexts.
We are grateful to the four women members of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops who contributed to the series by offering faith reflections.
Session 1
Session 1 of School of the Heart presents an overview of the series and an introduction to the synodal methodology. For detailed instructions on facilitating this session, see the School of the Heart Facilitator Guide.
Session 2
- Young Adult Emcee: Anna Robertson
- Young Adult Prayer Leader: Julia D’Agostino
- Young Adult Presenter: Kascha Sanor
- Young Adult Faith Reflection: Sarah Pericich-Lopez
- Young Adult Conversation in the Spirit Trainer: Elise Stankus
- Young Adult Emcee: Anna Robertson
- Young Adult Prayer Leader: Julia D’Agostino
- Young Adult Presenter: Kascha Sanor
- Young Adult Faith Reflection: Sarah Pericich-Lopez
- Young Adult Conversation in the Spirit Trainer: Elise Stankus
- Young Adult Emcee: Anna Robertson
- Young Adult Prayer Leader: Julia D’Agostino
- Young Adult Presenter: Kascha Sanor
- Young Adult Faith Reflection: Sarah Pericich-Lopez
- Young Adult Conversation in the Spirit Trainer: Elise Stankus
- Young Adult Emcee: Anna Robertson
- Young Adult Prayer Leader: Julia D’Agostino
- Young Adult Presenter: Kascha Sanor
- Young Adult Faith Reflection: Sarah Pericich-Lopez
- Young Adult Conversation in the Spirit Trainer: Elise Stankus
- Young Adult Emcee: Anna Robertson
- Young Adult Prayer Leader: Julia D’Agostino
- Young Adult Presenter: Kascha Sanor
- Young Adult Faith Reflection: Sarah Pericich-Lopez
- Young Adult Conversation in the Spirit Trainer: Elise Stankus
Session 2
Session 2 of School of the Heart focuses on Chapter 1 of Dilexit Nos, “The Importance of the Heart.” For detailed instructions on facilitating this session, see the School of the Heart Facilitator Guide.
Session 2
- Young Adult Emcee: Julia D’Agostino
- Young Adult Prayer Leader: Casey Murano
- Presenter: Anna Robertson
- Young Adult Emcee: Julia D’Agostino
- Young Adult Prayer Leader: Casey Murano
- Presenter: Anna Robertson
Session 3
Session 3 of School of the Heart focuses on Chapter 2 of Dilexit Nos, “Actions and Words of Love.” For detailed instructions on facilitating this session, see the School of the Heart Facilitator Guide.
Session 3
- Young Adult Emcee: Kascha Sanor
- Young Adult Prayer Leaders: Katie Ward and Anna Bryson
- Synod Member Presenter: Helena Jeppesen-Spuhler (Switzerland)
- Young Adult Emcee: Kascha Sanor
- Young Adult Prayer Leaders: Katie Ward and Anna Bryson
- Synod Member Presenter: Helena Jeppesen-Spuhler (Switzerland)
Session 4
Session 4 of School of the Heart focuses on Chapter 3 of Dilexit Nos, “This Is the Heart that Has Loved So Greatly.” For detailed instructions on facilitating this session, see the School of the Heart Facilitator Guide.
Session 4
- Young Adult Emcee: Katie Ward
- Young Adult Prayer Leader: Kristin Holland
- Synod Member Presenter: Dr. Cynthia Bailey Manns (USA)
- Young Adult Emcee: Katie Ward
- Young Adult Prayer Leader: Kristin Holland
- Synod Member Presenter: Dr. Cynthia Bailey Manns (USA)
Session 5
Session 5 of School of the Heart focuses on Chapter 4 of Dilexit Nos, “A Love That Gives Itself As Drink.” For detailed instructions on facilitating this session, see the School of the Heart Facilitator Guide.
Session 5
- Young Adult Emcee: Elise Stankus
- Young Adult Prayer Leader: Katie Ward
- Synod Member Presenter: Julia Oseka (Poland/USA)
- Young Adult Emcee: Elise Stankus
- Young Adult Prayer Leader: Katie Ward
- Synod Member Presenter: Julia Oseka (Poland/USA)
Session 6
Session 6 of School of the Heart focuses on Chapter 5 of Dilexit Nos, “Love for Love.” For detailed instructions on facilitating this session, see the School of the Heart Facilitator Guide.
Session 6
- Young Adult Emcee: Salena Ibrahim
- Young Adult Prayer Leader: Devon James
- Synod Member Presenter: Sheila Pires (Mozambique)
- Young Adult Emcee: Salena Ibrahim
- Young Adult Prayer Leader: Devon James
- Synod Member Presenter: Sheila Pires (Mozambique)
Session 7
Session 7 of School of the Heart focuses on gathering the fruits of the previous six weeks’ Conversations in the Spirit. For detailed instructions on facilitating this session, see the School of the Heart Facilitator Guide.
Session 7
- Young Adult Emcee: Julia D’Agostino
- Young Adult Prayer Leader: Calista Robledo
- Young Adult Faith Reflections: Aiden Bondurant, Lilly Williams, Gabriela Keator
- Young Adult Emcee: Julia D’Agostino
- Young Adult Prayer Leader: Calista Robledo
- Young Adult Faith Reflections: Aiden Bondurant, Lilly Williams, Gabriela Keator