Our application for Echo's 23rd cohort beginning in Summer 2026 and early admission for Echo's 24th cohort beginning Summer 2027 is AVAILABLE. Please click here for more information about the application.
Forming lay leaders for service in the Church
Echo’s mission is to train the next generation of theologically-educated and pastorally-creative lay leaders to pass on the beauty and truth of the Catholic faith. Echo’s 60 students engage some of the most pressing issues facing the Church today as catechetical leaders in parishes and theology teachers in Catholic schools across 15 partner dioceses. In partnership with Notre Dame’s world-renowned Department of Theology, students earn a tuition-free M.A. in Theology alongside robust formation in Christian discipleship, communal living, and pastoral leadership.
During the program, students:
- serve the Church for two years as parish apprentices, diocesan apprentices, theology teachers at the middle or high school level, and high school campus ministers in Echo partner dioceses throughout the country;
- earn an M.A. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame’s Department of Theology through summer study on campus and online courses during the year;
- live in an intentional faith community with other Echo students;
- engage in integrative human and spiritual formation through regular spiritual direction and numerous required program retreats;
- Receive a competitive stipend, housing, and health insurance benefits (basic medical, no vision or dental)
Echo features
Listen to the Echo staff introduce the goals and mission of the Echo Program.
Who we are
Echo students are a gifted and diverse group of recent college graduates and young adults with a sincere desire to grow in knowledge, faith, and service through personal, communal, and professional formation. While living in community with others and working in their assigned parish or school, students live, learn from, and serve the mission of the Church and develop as leaders in evangelization and catechesis.
Get to know one of our current students Ogheneruona Paul-Mark Eroma and his life serving in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston!
Hear from Professor John C. Cavadini on why theological education is central to Echo's mission and what difference it makes in preparing students to serve the Church.
Where we serve
Echo partners with Catholic dioceses across the nation that are eager to assist in the formation of future lay leaders. Partner dioceses provide the best resources for professional development in catechetical ministry, one-to-one mentorship, human and financial resources, theological reflection, and housing for Echo communities.
Benefits, Costs, and Expectations
Echo students receive many tangible benefits that spring forth from the foundational belief that those who commit themselves to serving the Church deserve the very best support, resources, and compensation. As John Paul II stated clearly in Catechesi Tradendae (15):
[The Church] is bidden to offer catechesis her best resources in people and energy, without sparing effort, toil or material means, in order to organize it better and to train qualified personnel.
Click here to see a complete list of all program benefits and costs
Click here to see a complete list of Echo's opportunities and expectations for students
Hear advice from our current students on discerning Echo:
Our alumni
Echo prepares lay leaders for a wide range of full or part-time roles following graduation. Echo alumni have served in more than 60 dioceses in parish and diocesan youth and young adult ministry, adult faith formation, multicultural ministry, high school teaching, high school and college campus ministry, social work, direct service to the poor, and even law school and doctoral work.
Interested in learning more about Echo?
We're grateful for your interest! Use the links below to connect with the appropriate Echo staff person. We look forward to further conversation with you.
"I'm interested in applying to serve with Echo"
"I know someone who'd make a great applicant for Echo!"
Scott Boyle, M.A.
Director of Recruitment and Outreach
"I'm interested in exploring a diocesan partnership"
Ryan Dainty, M.Div.
Program Director, Echo
Echo is so much more than an internship or graduate degree. It's a formation program that gives you the opportunity, resources, and guidance to grow in faith and professional leadership.
My experience in my Echo community, especially, gave me support in learning how to work in the Church and trained me in living out my daily life with others in a faith context.