2026 Newman Guide Leaders Summit

Leaders of faithful Newman Guide Recommended schools, colleges, graduate programs, and curriculum providers will gather in June for a very special Newman Guide Leaders Summit, with the theme In Order to Form a More Perfect Union. We will be celebrating The Newman Guide’s 20th year and America’s 250th anniversary.

For the first time, we will bring to our nation’s capital leaders across the Catholic education continuum for a Summit focused on unity, collaboration, and the renewal of faithful Catholic education. Two cohorts will strategize independently—K-12 education leaders on June 16-17, and higher education leaders on June 17-19—and come together for one united, celebratory afternoon and evening on Wednesday, June 17, including a series of exciting keynote addresses and special awards.

Only leaders from Newman Guide Recommended institutions may attend (except by special invitation), from a variety of functional areas including administration, academics, admissions, athletics, campus ministry, career services, communications, development, financial, legal, marketing, operations, residence life, student life, and more.

Agenda at a Glance

Tuesday, June 16 

Noon Opening Mass 

12:45 pm Welcome Lunch & Networking 

1:30 pm Welcome & Summit Overview 

2:30 pm Speakers & Breakouts 

5:30 pm Dinner & Reception 

 

Wednesday, June 17 

8:30 am Breakfast 

9:00 am Speakers & Breakouts 

Noon Lunch 

12:30 pm Speaker 

1:30 pm Mass of Thanksgiving for St. John Henry Newman, Patron of Catholic 

Education and Doctor of the Church 

3:00 pm Joint Session with Higher Ed: Keynote Speakers 

5:00 pm Cocktail Reception 

6:00 pm Dinner Banquet 

6:30 pm Banquet Address: “A Time for Catholic Patriots” 

Major General Patrick H. Brady, USA Ret. 

7:30 pm Pope Benedict XVI Awards for Faithful Catholic Education 

Wednesday, June 17 

1:30 pm Mass of Thanksgiving for St. John Henry Newman, Patron of Catholic 

Education and Doctor of the Church 

3:00 pm Joint Session with Higher Ed: Keynote Speakers 

5:00 pm Cocktail Reception 

6:00 pm Dinner Banquet 

6:30 pm Banquet Address: “A Time for Catholic Patriots” 

Major General Patrick H. Brady, USA Ret. 

7:30 pm Pope Benedict XVI Awards for Faithful Catholic Education 

 

Thursday, June 18 

8:00 am Breakfast 

8:30 am Speakers & Breakouts 

12:10 pm Mass 

12:45 pm Speakers & Breakouts 

5:00 pm Reception 

6:00 pm Dinner 

 

Friday, June 19 

8:00 am Breakfast 

8:30 am Speakers & Breakouts 

11:45 am Concluding remarks 

12:10 pm Closing Mass 

Summit Speakers

Major General Patrick H. Brady, United States Army (Ret.) 
Brady is a retired U.S. Army Major General and helicopter pilot, one of only two men to receive both the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Cross during the Vietnam War. Brady flew more than 2,000 combat missions and evacuated more than 5,000 wounded. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and Medal of Honor Foundation and is a former chairman of the American Flag Alliance. In 2025, the Great Hall at the new National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Tex., was named in Brady’s honor.

Patrick Reilly, President and Founder, The Cardinal Newman Society 
Founded in 1993, The Cardinal Newman Society promotes and defends faithful Catholic education through The Newman Guide, the hallmark of truth and fidelity in Catholic education. The Society’s experts and resources help educators achieve Newman Guide standards and collaborate through the Newman Guide Network. Reilly also serves as Adjunct Professor of English at Holy Apostles College and Seminary (Cromwell, Conn.) and a teacher and developer of logic, rhetoric, and philosophy courses at Aquinas Learning (Manassas, Va.). 

Summit Sponsors

Coming Soon

Hotel Information

The Catholic University of America has a limited number of on-campus rooms available for Summit participants. Details to come soon. 

The Cardinal Newman Society has also reserved a limited block of rooms at The Line Hotel (1770 Euclid St. N.W., Washington, D.C.), a boutique hotel in the heart of the exciting Adams Morgan neighborhood for just $169/night. A shuttle bus will be available to Summit participants prior to the beginning of each cohort event, each morning and evening of the event, and following the event’s conclusion.