LAUNCH
2026
Catholic University of America | Aug 3-6
Your Foundation
for Campus Ministry
Join us August 3 - 6, 2026 at The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. for the beginning of your professional career as a Catholic campus minister. LAUNCH provides you with the foundation you need to thrive in ministry. LAUNCH participants will be able to:
Articulate a vision of Catholic campus ministry
Identify the Church’s role in higher education
Build a plan for ministry growth
Grasp the importance of personal prayer and devotional life
Study the recent trends and data about college students today
Understand the dynamics of student mental health
Location
LAUNCH will be hosted at The Catholic University of America, located in the heart of Washington D.C. We will be steps away from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the largest Catholic Church in North America and a short metro ride from the Washington Monuments and museums.
The nearest airport is Reagan Washington (DCA) Airport which is 6.1 miles away and directly accessible to campus by the metro. Other nearby airports include Washington Dulles (IAD) (24.3 miles), Baltimore (BWI) (24.7 miles).
Cost
The cost to attend LAUNCH is $700 for non-members and $650 for members*
This covers:
-On-campus private dorm lodging, meals, and all conference materials and resources.
-Year-long support through a dedicated CCMA mentor
- Participation in a small-group cohort, led by Evangelical Catholic or CCMA, for ongoing professional development.
-Travel expenses are not included.
*LAUNCH costs CCMA $900 per attendee. Thanks to our generous donors, we can offer every attendee a scholarship that reduces the cost as seen above.
Contact Lisa Lytwyn, lytwyn@ccmanetwork.org, for a promo code to save $25 per registration, for registering two or more participants from your team or diocese.
Audience
LAUNCH is designed for 1st-5th year campus ministers, chaplains and any campus ministry staff who primarily works with students. As the only program of its kind in the nation, LAUNCH is ideal for those who want to start their career with intention. Want to reach more students for Christ? LAUNCH is ideally suited for you.
Schedule
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2:00 - 3:30 pm Check in
4:15 pm Opening Mass celebrated by Fr. Aquinas Guilbeau University Chaplain and Vice President for Ministry and Mission at The Catholic University of America
5:00 - 6:30 pm Dinner6:45 pm First Session
Welcome and Introductions
Rooted in Christ: Cultivating the Spiritual Life by Dr. Susan Timoney, Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at The Catholic University of America
Small groups
Adoration
-
8:30 am
Living as Missionary Disciples on Campus with Fr. Frank Donio, Founding Director of the Catholic Apostolate Center, Provincial Rector of the Pallottines of the Immaculate Conception Province and Executive Director of the Conference of Major Superiors of Men of the United States
Theological Foundations: Empowered by the Spirit with Tony Krzmarzick, Director of Campus Ministry at Seton Hill University
11:30 am - 2 pm Mass, personal prayer, lunch
2:00 pm
Do the Things that Transform: Essentialism for Campus Ministry with Lisa Lytwyn, CCMA LAUNCH Coordinator
Breakouts:
Supporting Mental Health for the minister, ministry and students with Valeria DeCelle, Counselor and Campus Minister at George Mason University
Funding the Mission: 5 Tools to Get Started with Orlando Barros, Chief Development Officer of CCMA
5:00 - 7:00 pm Dinner and break
7:00 - 9:00 pm Evening Happy Hour (Open to local campus ministry professionals in the DC metro area, as well as our LAUNCH participants. Exact location TBA)
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8:30 am
Starting Strong Out on Campus: The First Two Weeks and Beyond with Br Ken Apuzzo, Former Catholic Campus Ministry Director at Rutgers University and University of Minnesota
Ministry with Clarity: Setting and Keeping Boundaries with Jule Coppa, Campus Minister at UPenn
11:30 am - 2:00 pm Mass, personal prayer, lunch
2:00 pm
Forming Student Leaders through Discipleship with Josh Dart, Evangelical Catholic
Breakouts
5 Administrative Lifelines for Busy Campus Ministers with Julie Cilano, Associate Director of Campus Ministry at The Catholic University of America
5 Strategies for Transformative Social Justice with Guilherme Lopes, Director of Campus Ministry at Neumann University
5:00 - 7:00 pm Dinner and break
7:00 pm Eucharistic Adoration and Confession
(Optional) Drinks at Brookland Pint
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8:30 am
How to Thrive as a Campus Ministry Professional with Rosie Chinea Shawver, CCMA Executive Director
Sharing of Graces
11 am
Commissioning Mass with Fr. Bernard Knapke, O.P., Associate University Chaplain, Liturgy Coordinator at The Catholic University of America
12 pm Departure
Testimonials
“LAUNCH helped me to see the importance of relationships, creating disciples, and facilitating encounters with Christ… The mission of campus ministry is to steward students, faculty, and staff to become missionary disciples by walking alongside them.”
- LAUNCH25 participant
LAUNCH was everything I didn't know that I needed as a new campus minister. Both the content, fellowship and insight from other new campus ministers equipped me to better serve the students at my campus.
- Ali Mumbach, Campus Minister at Howard University
LAUNCH equipped me with the tools that I needed to confidently start my new ministry as a Priest Chaplain.
- Fr. Brian Norris, Chaplain at Penn State Altoona
FAQ
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Have questions? We would love to connect with you. Contact Lisa Lytwyn, LAUNCH Coordinator, lytwyn@ccmanetwork.org.
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Each participant will have a private dorm room with a sink. Linens and towels will be provided. The rooms have air conditioning. There is one bathroom shared between two rooms.
If you need an additional night’s stay on campus due to travel plans, please let Lisa Lytwyn know as soon as possible - lytwyn@ccmanetwork.org. The cost for an additional stay is $65 per night. -
You can receive a full refund until July 1, 2026.
*Price increases to $650 after May 1, 2026. Registration closes on July 1, 2026. -
LAUNCH costs CCMA $900 per attendee. Thanks to our generous donors, we can offer every attendee a scholarship of $250 that reduces the cost as seen above.
Contact Lisa Lytwyn, lytwyn@ccmanetwork.org, for a promo code to save $25 per registration, for registering two or more participants from your team or diocese. -
Edit this letter to share with your supervisors and key decisions makers, to share the value and impact of your attendance at LAUNCH.