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 $600*, which covers on-campus private dorm lodging, meals, and all conference materials and resources. It also includes year-long support through a dedicated CCMA mentor and 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 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.
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
4:00 pm Opening Mass celebrated by Fr. Ceslaus Mary Kowalkowski, O.P.
Chaplain for Undergraduate Formation at The Catholic University of America
5:00 pm Dinner7:00 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
Night prayer -
Breakfast
Theological Foundations: Empowered by the Spirit with Tony Krzmarzick, Director of Campus Ministry at Seton Hill University
Historical Foundations: The Legacy of Campus Ministry in the United States with Barbara McCrabb, Assistant Director Secretariat of Catholic Education at The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Mass, personal prayer, lunch
Forming Student Leaders through Discipleship with Josh Dart, Evangelical Catholic
Break
Supporting Mental Health for the minister, ministry and students with Valeria DeCelle, Counselor at Veritas Counseling and Coaching, LLC and Campus Minister at George Mason University
Small groupsDinner and break
Evening Happy Hour and Panel - Synodality in Action: Building Bridges on Campus. Open to local campus ministry professionals in the DC metro area, as well as our LAUNCH participants.
Come enjoy a relaxed and meaningful evening of networking with fellow ministry leaders and LAUNCH participants.
Mingle, connect, and share ideas with peers from across the region.
The evening will feature a short panel, followed by table discussions exploring how a synodal approach can help us engage students from all corners of campus - cultural groups, athletics, Greek life, non-practicing Catholics and more! -
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
Do the Things that Transform: Essentialism for Campus Ministry with Lisa Lytwyn, CCMA and University of Maryland
Mass and Lunch
Smart Strategies: Boundaries, Planning & Productivity with Jule Coppa, Campus Minister at UPenn
The Church and Higher Education
Catholic University Breakout with Julie Cilano, Associate Director of Campus Ministry at The Catholic University of America
Secular University Breakout with Ali Mumbach, Campus Minister at Howard University
Dinner
Eucharistic Adoration and Confession with Fr. Conrad Murphy, Chaplain at University of Maryland Catholic Student Center
(Optional) Drinks at Brookland Pint
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How to Thrive as a Campus Ministry Professional with Rosie Chinea Shawver, CCMA Executive Director
Sharing of Graces
11 am Commissioning Mass with Fr. Frank Donio, Professor at Catholic University and Director of the Catholic Apostolate Center
12 pm Departure
Testimonials
“LAUNCH was an awesome opportunity to meet other ministers, collaborate with and appreciate other ministries while also learning how to improve things on my own campus. Great people, great organization! 😃”
LAUNCH was an incredible week of building community among new campus ministry leaders and being equipped with practical tools for implementation back on campus.”
“LAUNCH was a transformation part of how I see myself as a campus minister.”
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.