ESTEEM
ESTEEM (Engaging Students to Enliven the Ecclesial Mission) is a program of the Center for Catholic Studies at Sacred Heart University that supports, encourages, and affirms the leadership of young adults in the Catholic Church.
Mission & Vision
ESTEEM trains, encourages, and supports young adults at colleges and universities across the United States in their baptismal call to use their gifts and talents in service to the church.
The ESTEEM program is designed to assist young adult participants to:
- reflect on their call to leadership
- participate in a community of similarly talented, dedicated young adults
- understand their baptismal responsibilities and vocations
- discover ways to exercise leadership in the church
ESTEEM holds up a vision of faithful, ecclesiastically engaged young adults serving on parish and diocesan pastoral and finance councils and boards of trustees of Catholic organizations across the country.
ESTEEM is not religious education or catechesis, nor does it offer training in youth or young adult ministry. Rather, it is an experience aimed at young adult Catholics already knowledgeable and committed to Catholicism who command notice for their intellectual acumen, their innate leadership qualities, their passion for excellence, and desire to serve the church.
ESTEEM aims to identify those young adults, cultivate their desire for service to the church, provide a formation experience that encourages their leadership—especially in the temporal affairs of the Church—and offer opportunities for such service, gradually developing a network of talented, actively engaged young adult leaders serving the church.
Current Partner Schools
ESTEEM can be found in campus ministries across the country, ranging from large state universities to small private colleges, from Newman Centers to university parishes,
longtime partners to brand-new collaborations, and everything in between!
2026-2027 Partner Schools
| School | Ministry Link |
|---|---|
| Albertus Magnus College | Dominican Ministries |
| Dominican University | Office of Mission and Ministry |
| Drexel University | Drexel Catholic Newman Center |
| Immaculata University | Campus Ministry |
| Midland College | West Texas Campus Ministry |
| Neumann University | Mission and Ministry |
| Purdue University | Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Center |
| Sacred Heart University | SHU Campus Ministry |
| Saint Thomas University | STU Campus Ministry |
| University of Pennsylvania | Penn Catholic Newman Center |
| University of Tennessee | Saint John XXIII University Parish |
| University of Texas (Permian Basin) | West Texas Campus Ministry |
| Xavier University | Dorothy Day Center for Faith & Justice |
| Yale University | Saint Thomas More Catholic Chapel & Center |
Who We Are
Michelle Loris
Nicole M. Perone
Kelsey Meczywor
What We Do
Our program is built around three interconnected experiences that help participants grow spiritually, develop leadership skills, and prepare to serve the church long after graduation.
Formation Sessions
Through interactive sessions, participants explore Catholic leadership, faith, vocation, and service while developing the knowledge and skills to lead within the church and their communities.
Mentorship
Each participant is paired with a Catholic professional mentor who provides guidance, encouragement, and real-world perspective as students discern their vocation and integrate faith into their future careers.
Capstone Conference
The national Capstone Conference brings together ESTEEM participants from across the country for inspiring speakers, peer networking, and practical preparation for lifelong leadership in parish and professional life.