# Gift creates Canadian Centre for Catholic Pastoral Leadership at the University of St. Michael’s College

**Source**: https://defygravitycampaign.utoronto.ca/news-and-stories/gift-creates-canadian-centre-for-catholic-pastoral-leadership-at-the-university-of-st-michaels-college/
**Parent**: https://defygravitycampaign.utoronto.ca/news-and-stories/

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# Gift creates Canadian Centre for Catholic Pastoral Leadership at the University of St. Michael’s College

Mar 9, 2026

*Photo by Diana Tyszko.*

The University of Toronto has received a $1.2-million grant 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 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.

## Continuing education for pastoral leaders

When launched later this year, 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 and 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.”

[Lilly Endowment Inc.](https://lillyendowment.org/) 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.

*[Originally published by University of St. Michael’s College](https://stmikes.utoronto.ca/news/pathways-for-tomorrow-initiative-funds-creation-of-canadian-centre-for-catholic-pastoral-leadership-at-the-university-of-st-michaels-college)*

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