By Fr. Mark Cyza
for the Register
Lincoln, Nebraska, became the center of a national conversation on Catholic education this summer as more than 500 educators, principals, and administrators gathered for the Institute for Catholic Liberal Education’s (ICLE) National Conference July 15-18.
With representatives from more than 180 schools, 60 dioceses, and even international guests from Colombia, Peru, and Australia, the event marked ICLE’s largest conference to date—and its first time in Nebraska.
The conference focused on renewing Catholic education through a return to its classical and faith-integrated roots. Dr. Ryan Messmore, president of ICLE, explained that Catholic liberal education is best understood as “Catholic liberating education.”
“We’re trying to liberate students from ignorance, from being slaves to their passions and the trends of the day,” he said. “Instead, we’re liberating them to flourish as children of God, as people who were created in His image to think, to create, to make culture, and to enjoy the good, the true, and the beautiful.”
Cultivating the heart
This year’s theme, “Cultivating the Heart,” was inspired by the image of the Sower atop the Nebraska State Capitol. Messmore said the theme came naturally after reflecting on Christ’s parable of the sower.
“If the seeds that are sown are to grow, they need to land in good soil. Jesus explains that the good soil is a heart open to understanding, a heart filled with love,” Messmore said. “That’s what we want for our teachers and our students—education that forms the heart as well as the mind.”
According to Messmore, Catholic education should not be reduced to a simple transfer of information or preparation for tests and careers.
“The true end of education is the formation of the whole human being in the image of God,” he said. “A student isn’t just a brain on a stick or an empty container to be filled with data. Each student is a future saint, and every day, a teacher has the opportunity to point them toward that eternal destiny.”
Bishop Conley’s vision
The decision to hold the conference in Lincoln was significantly influenced by Bishop James Conley’s longstanding support for Catholic education and friendship with ICLE.
“Bishop Conley gets it,” Messmore said. “He understands that liturgy and worship are at the heart of Catholic education, so having St. Mary’s Church across the street from the State Capitol, just blocks from our venue, was a perfect fit.”
Bishop Conley’s commitment to a Christ-centered vision for schools mirrors ICLE’s approach, which emphasizes integrating faith across all academic subjects rather than isolating it in theology classes or devotional practices.
Local schools find inspiration
Schools from the Diocese of Lincoln were well represented at the conference, with leaders like Bridget Doyle, principal of Bishop Neumann Jr./Sr. High School in Wahoo, participating for the first time. Doyle said ICLE training had already begun to reshape the way her faculty approached teaching.
“When we brought ICLE staff in for a two-day in-service last January, the feedback was overwhelming. Teachers said it didn’t feel like professional development—it felt like a retreat,” she recalled. “We were learning new teaching methods, but on such a deep personal level with Christ. It really strengthened us as educators and as disciples.”
Doyle said the conference gave her fresh ideas to bring back to her students. One simple yet powerful takeaway was inviting students to bring sacramentals—such as rosaries or scapulars—to school to be blessed at the start of the school year.
“It’s not just about pencils and notebooks,” Doyle said. “Bring Christ with you into this building. And take Christ home with you at the end of the day.”
Teresa Lewandowski, principal of St. John the Baptist School in Plattsmouth, found the experience both spiritually uplifting and practically useful.
“I expected to learn about education, but I’ve also learned so much about faith,” she said. “One of my favorite sessions was on St. John Bosco’s approach to preventative discipline. I wish I’d known about it when I was a teacher. We’re definitely going to incorporate that into our in-service this year.”
Lewandowski also appreciated the sense of community fostered by the conference. “There’s not a nicer group of people in the whole world than the people who are here right now,” she said. “You just know God is putting people in your path for a reason.”
A growing movement
With 59 speakers and a waitlist of more than 100 educators, the ICLE conference is part of a growing movement to recover the richness of the Catholic intellectual tradition. Messmore believes the momentum comes from a shared desire for deeper meaning and formation.
“We want our students to encounter the wisdom of the ages—the saints, the philosophers, the great texts that have asked the same questions we still ask today,” he said. “A good student should never graduate from high school lonely. They should leave with a room full of friends—people like Augustine, Aquinas, and Dante—who will guide them through life.”
For Nebraska Catholic schools, the conference was both an affirmation and a challenge. As Bridget Doyle reflected, “We have great kids and amazing spiritual development already, but there’s always more. We can always go deeper. And this conference gave me the tools and inspiration to lead our students there.”
Looking ahead
As ICLE continues to expand its reach, Lincoln’s role as host for this record-setting gathering highlights the Diocese of Lincoln’s commitment to Catholic education that is not only academically excellent but also deeply rooted in faith.
“We’re forming the whole person—head, heart, and soul,” Messmore said. “That’s what Catholic liberal education is all about.”
See also:
Photo slideshow: July 16 panel
Photo slideshow: July 17 Mass
Photo slideshow: July 18 Mass
