Foundational Principles of Markey Center Programs

Attentive to these principles, the tradition of the Church, and the sensus fidelium, Markey Center Programs aim to:

Foster Dialogue

Building Critical Thinking Skills:
- How do we ask good questions and listen well to responses?
- Can we find areas of convergence instead of falling into conflict?
- How can an informed conscience help us discover solutions to challenging problems and navigate the complex relationship between media and faith?
Promoting Constructive Conversations:
- How do Scripture and Tradition shape faith-based responses to contemporary issues in the Church and society?
- How can we speak competently and confidently in the face of these issues, working on behalf of the future of the Church?

Teaching Interreligious and Intercultural Competencies:
- How do we embrace and celebrate diversity in our communities?
- How can understanding cultural and racial differences, as well as other forms of diversity (age, gender, sexuality, ability, etc.) promote love and justice for all creation?
- How can the sharing of stories foster authentic encounters that transform the Church and world?

Forming the Faithful for Servant Leadership:
- United by our baptismal vocation and the universal call to holiness, how can we practice ethical, collaborative leadership among lay people and clergy?
- How might the radical practice of biblical hospitality break down barriers and build authentic communities?
- How can we lift up the voices and contributions of women in ministry and open new horizons for women to serve the Church?
- Through practices of accompaniment, how can we support each other—including by mentoring future leaders and practicing self-care—so that all may flourish in the Church and the world?
Exploring Prayer and Spirituality
- How can understanding practices of prayer and spiritual traditions enrich our lives of faith and guide us as we discern God’s call for each of us and for our world?
- How do art, music, film, and other media shape our sense of what it means to be Christian and challenge preconceived notions about our faith and its history?
- What opportunities do we have—through retreats, contemplative practices, and other forms of prayer—for deepening our relationship with God, ourselves, other humans, and creation as a whole?

Cultivating Advocacy Skills
- How can we learn to recognize goodness and justice when they appear and model these values in the contemporary world?
- What resources are available (e.g., toolboxes, workshops, etc.) for understanding injustices of all forms—social, economic, ecological, and political—and working on behalf of those who are marginalized?
Fostering Historical Understanding
- How can understanding historical injustices (e.g., colonization and violence against Indigenous peoples; structural and institutional racism; the stigmatization of mental health struggles, etc..) help us reflect on and build a more just, sustainable future for the Church and the broader world?