Project in Ministry

You are invited to participate in a ministry project led by David Palmieri and approved by The Catholic University of America in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Ministry degree. Your participation in this project is voluntary and you do not have to participate. This page contains important information about this project and what to expect if you decide to enroll. Please consider the information carefully and ask if you have any questions. To participate in this project, you must be 18 years old or older.

There is a gap in ministry and professional practice to support the physical health, mental health, and spiritual well-being of students who identify as Sexual and Gender Minorities (SGM) in Catholic high schools. Few efforts exist nationally in public and private education to support the physical, psychological, and spiritual wellness of SGM students. Two significant challenges deepen this gap. First, SGM adolescents face significant physical, psychological, and spiritual risks, which increase anxiety, depression, victimization, and self-harming behaviors. Second, the church has not yet reached consensus on how to minister to the needs of this community.

This project seeks to apply components of an evidence-based, faith-affirming model to expand the capacity of Catholic high schools to decrease risk and increase well-being for SGM students. Catholic school personnel will learn how to support SGM adolescents using a framework that honors their inviolable dignity, respects their parents and caregivers, upholds the integrity of Catholic intellectual and social traditions, and provides for their physical, emotional, and spiritual health and wellness. This curriculum aims to inform the attitudes and practices of school personnel while respecting Catholic religious beliefs and values.

The target audience for this project is an adult group of Catholic high school community members, including:

• Leadership & Governance Members (Administrators, Directors, Board Members)
• Academic & Instructional Staff (Teachers, Learning Specialists, Coaches)
• Spiritual & Mission Leaders (Chaplains, Clergy/Religious, Campus Ministers)
• Mental Health & Wellness Professionals (Counselors, Psychologists, Social Workers, Nurses)
• Supportive Adults (Staff Members, Engaged Parents/Caregivers, Mentors, Volunteers)

Your participation in this project is voluntary. You do not have to participate in this project if you choose not to enroll. If you agree to take part in this project, you will be asked to commit to attend five two-hour training sessions and complete seven anonymous online surveys. The surveys should each take 5-10 minutes to complete over the course of the project. Your participation in these components is completely voluntary and you can withdraw at any time without penalty. Similarly, you do not have to answer any questions that make you uncomfortable.

The training will be offered virtually on Zoom to enable participants to join the group from different time zones. The five sessions will run weekly, with each session lasting two hours. These sessions will not be recorded in order to create an environment of trust and confidentiality among participants.

• Session 1: The Word Made Flesh
  

Introduces the statistical and lived realities of SGM students and presents a multidimensional, family-based support framework rooted in the Incarnation and human dignity to reduce risk and foster well-being within Catholic schools.

• Session 2: Sowing Seeds of the Kingdom

Explores the mission of Catholic schools to teach and to form as a foundation for building inclusive partnerships among home, school, and church to support SGM students and increase their connectedness.

• Session 3: The Shadow of the Cross

Examines how the theology of suffering and Christ-centered principles like accompaniment and hospitality can guide Catholic school personnel in rejecting harmful behaviors and cultivating mentorship and belonging for SGM students.

Equips participants to respond to SGM student maltreatment with strategies grounded in the Resurrection and Catholic social teaching, highlighting the importance of adult support, professional development, and advocacy for all students within Catholic schools.

Tuesday, August 12, 2025, 7:00 - 9:00 PM Eastern Time

Prepares Catholic school personnel to foster hopeful futures for SGM students by promoting the common good, expanding the family support model beyond the school setting, and embodying missionary discipleship in service to student belonging.

There is minimal risk in participating in this project. There are minor potential psychological risks, as you will be exposed to negative experiences of SGM students and asked questions pertaining to your life and experiences in Catholic education. You are not required to answer any questions you feel uncomfortable answering. You can end your participation at any time.

While you may not experience any direct benefits as a result of your participation, the potential benefit will be learning knowledge and skills to improve support for SGM students in Catholic high schools. This holistic program offers hope in caring for the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of SGM students, so it also has the potential to improve or save lives.

Your identity will not be shared if you participate in this project. The anonymous surveys will not collect any personally identifiable information, such as names, email addresses, or IP addresses. To ensure that this research activity is being conducted properly, The Catholic University of America's Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects has the right to review your data but confidentiality will be maintained as allowed by law.

Space is limited in this project. Registration does not guarantee acceptance into the learning cohort. Priority will be given to those who match the audience criteria and provide diversity in role and geography. The screening asks for NAME, LOCATION, EMAIL ADDRESS, SCHOOL/ORG, and POSITION.

David Palmieri is a husband, father, and Catholic educator who has worked as a high school theology teacher and three-season coach for more than 25 years. He is the founder of Without Exception, an international network of educators dedicated to the art of accompaniment for sexual and gender minority students in Catholic schools. He works with schools, parishes, and dioceses to provide guidance and training on pastoral care to young persons and their families. He has a BA in Religious Studies from Colby College (Waterville, ME), a Master of Theological Studies degree from Harvard Divinity School, an MEd in Religious Education from Boston College, and he is currently a Doctor of Ministry candidate at The Catholic University of America. In 2022, David received the Lead. Learn. Proclaim award from the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) for his excellence and distinguished service in Catholic school education. His work appears in the International Journal of Evangelization and Catechetics (CUA Press) and in A Brighter Future for Catholic Schools: Innovation and Opportunity (NCEA).