So I Send You
So I Send You is a five-year pilot program (2026-2030) led by the Boston College Clough School of Theology and Ministry (CSTM) in partnership with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston (RCAB). It aims to form 160 pastoral leaders across RCAB parishes/collaboratives. Grounded in the synodal vision of the Church outlined in the 2024 Final Document of the Synod on Synodality, the initiative blends theological formation, spiritual renewal, and practical leadership development at the service of parishes and collaboratives within RCAB.
Catholic communities today live in a time of rapid, disruptive change, while also facing demographic, financial, pastoral, and cultural challenges. Through a robust partnership, this project seeks to animate an effective response to the following questions:听
- How can our parishes/collaboratives bring the synodal Church to life for current and future generations?听
- What kind of pastoral leadership will support and sustain our hope for continuously vibrant and missionary churches in RCAB?听
- How do we form pastoral leaders who can help our parishes/collaboratives listen, discern, and respond to the signs and challenges of the times?听
So I Send You provides educational and formative spaces where pastoral leaders come together to boldly and courageously discuss concrete pathways for creating flourishing parishes where:
- People come together, forming One Body, One Spirit in Christ;
- The Gospel is proclaimed with renewed enthusiasm;听
- Differences across cultures, languages, and generations enrich one another;听
- Pastoral leadership is shared, collaborative, and Spirit鈥憀ed;
- Parishioners feel valued, and included in discernment processes;听
- Missionary witness flows outward from parishes into neighborhoods, families, and the margins of our society, within and beyond the Archdiocese of Boston.
Participating parishes will engage in a year-long formative program, which will include:
- Multilingual, well-researched, and practical materials to foster synodal leadership;
- Eight sessions, including workshops, retreats, and online courses, blending theology, pastoral skills, spiritual renewal, and practical leadership tools and insights;
- Support from CSTM faculty and graduate student interns;
- Opportunities for graduate theological studies;听听
- A network of pastoral leaders and a supportive learning community of peers across the Archdiocese.
Any RCAB parish/collaborative that is committed to exploring synodal leadership in order to foster the missionary church.听Each parish/collaborative can nominate up to 10 pastoral leaders representing diverse backgrounds :
- Ordained and lay ministers;
- Cultural communities;
- Ministries: Music, Youth Ministry, OCIA Adult Ed, Social Justice, devotional groups, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers, etc.
This application is submitted by the pastor, who also coordinates the selection of participants.A cohort of 40 pastoral leaders will be formed.Guidelines and support for selection of candidates will be provided to pastors.
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Application Timeline
Application deadline: June 30, 2026.听
Learn More
To Learn more, please contact:
- Program Director, So I Send You: Father Gandaf Walle, SJ; soisendyou@bc.edu; 857-498-9904; 2-8447
- Assistant Program Director, So I Send You: Julianne J. Shanklin;听soisendyou@bc.edu; 2-6520
- RCAB liaison:
- Wendy Rodriguez Mejia; Wendy_Mejia@rcab.org; 617-746-5791
- Sr. Patricia (Pat) Boyle, CSJ; SisterPat_Boyle@rcab.org; 617-716-5869
Together, let us empower pastoral leaders who help their communities imagine and foster a vibrant, missionary Church deeply rooted in Christ鈥檚 commission: 鈥淎s the Father has sent me, so I send you."
Application Process
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Pastors of RCAB parishes or collaboratives committed to synodal leadership are invited to apply.
CSTM and the RCAB invites parishes and collaboratives committed to synodal leadership to apply for this initiative. Pastors are responsible for submitting applications and coordinating the selection of up to 10 pastoral leaders per community, ensuring a diverse representation of ordained and lay ministers, cultural groups, and various ministry areas. From these applicants, a final cohort of 40 pastoral leaders will be formed. The application deadline is Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
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General Information
If you have any questions or recommendations,听please do not hesitate to contact us.
- Program Director, So I Send You: Father Gandaf Walle, SJ; soisendyou@bc.edu; 857-498-9904; 2-8447
- Assistant Program Director, So I Send You: Julianne J. Shanklin;听soisendyou@bc.edu; 2-6520
- RCAB liaison:
- Wendy Rodriguez Mejia; Wendy_Mejia@rcab.org; 617-746-5791
- Sr. Patricia (Pat) Boyle, CSJ; SisterPat_Boyle@rcab.org; 617-716-5869