STEUBENVILLE, OHIO—Franciscan University of Steubenville will host the Sacred Music Leadership Summit on October 16–17, 2026, for priests, parish staff, music directors, principals, parish council members, and other Catholic leaders seeking to renew sacred music in their parishes and schools.

Through presentations, hands-on workshops, collaborative planning sessions, and discussions, participants will explore practical ways to cultivate music that deepens prayer, enriches the sacred liturgy, and strengthens Catholic communities. The two-day summit will combine the Church’s theological vision for sacred music with practical instruction, helping participants develop clear and achievable plans for their own parishes or schools.

“Sacred music is not merely an ornament added to the liturgy. It is one of the Church’s most powerful means of lifting hearts and minds to God,” said Dr. Vincent E. Rone, associate professor of fine arts and director of Franciscan University’s Sacred Music Program. “Many pastors, principals, and music leaders desire something richer for their communities but need a realistic path forward. This summit will give them both the vision and the practical tools to begin building a sacred music program that is faithful, beautiful, and sustainable.”

The summit will be co-sponsored by the Catholic Institute of Sacred Music (CISM) and led by Dr. Jennifer Donelson-Nowicka, professor and director of Sacred Music at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park, California, and founding director of CISM. An internationally recognized scholar, conductor, and educator, she specializes in Gregorian chant, Church documents and sacred music history, and practical approaches to teaching sacred music. Donelson-Nowicka also serves as vice president and director of Publications for the Church Music Association of America and as a consultant to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship. She regularly presents lectures, workshops, and courses throughout the United States and Europe.

The summit will begin October 16 with Donelson-Nowicka’s presentation, “Thinking With the Mind of the Church About Parish and School Music Programs.” Participants will then evaluate their existing music programs and discuss their findings in small groups.

Her second presentation, “Dreaming Big: Sacred Music as Vital for Christian and Parish Life,” will examine how sacred music can contribute to the spiritual life and renewal of a Catholic community. Participants will conclude the afternoon by brainstorming possibilities for their current or future parish and school programs.

During the evening session on October 16, Donelson-Nowicka will give a presentation to the Franciscan University student body titled “The Musical Language of Prayer” at 7:00 p.m. in Christ the King Chapel.

October 17 workshops will focus on the practical work of training singers, leading rehearsals, planning music programs, and preparing the sacred liturgy. Sessions will include “Techniques for Cultivating Homegrown Talent: How to Help Parish and School Singers Hear and Sing Gregorian Chant” and “Running Great Parish Music Rehearsals.”

Donelson-Nowicka will also present “Strategic Planning for Parish and School Sacred Music Programs.” Participants will then take part in a small-group strategic planning activity designed to help them apply the summit’s principles to their own communities.

The final workshop, “Preparing a Sung Mass,” will lead into the summit’s closing sung Mass at 5:00 p.m. in Christ the King Chapel. An optional dinner and question-and-answer session will follow at 6:15 p.m. in the Gentile Gallery.

The Sacred Music Leadership Summit will begin at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 16, and conclude Saturday evening, October 17. Registration is now open through the Sacred Music Leadership Summit page on Franciscan University’s website.