In today's academic landscape, where hierarchical models and technocratic approaches often prevail, the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart has chosen a different path. The new 2026-2028 Strategic Plan is not simply presented as a document of intentions, but as the fruit of a deeply communal process. What stands out are not only the outlined objectives, but the method through which they were conceived: a journey of widespread listening that involved the entire academic community.
This approach recalls the biblical principle expressed in Proverbs 15:22: "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed" (NIV). The Catholic University has embraced this teaching, transforming strategic planning into a true laboratory of shared discernment. Faculty, students, administrative staff, and community representatives were invited to contribute actively, overcoming traditional hierarchical barriers.
The result is a plan born from the ground up, rooted in the experiences and aspirations of those who live the university reality daily. This approach represents significant innovation in the academic world, where future planning rarely involves all community components so extensively. Rector Elena Beccalli emphasized how this participatory method is not merely a statement of principle, but a practice concretely realized through months of collective work.
The Numbers of Participation: A Community That Speaks
To understand the scope of this process, it's helpful to consider the data that characterizes it. Nine months of intensive work included 34 thematic workshops, involving 665 active participants. Through targeted surveys, over 1,700 contributions were collected, while a specific call for ideas generated 54 concrete project proposals.
These numbers tell a story of real, not symbolic, engagement. Every voice found space in this extensive listening exercise, creating that "community laboratory" mentioned by the initiative's promoters. Monsignor Angelo Vincenzo Zani, who spoke at the presentation, highlighted how this methodology represents a significant step forward in the conception of academic governance.
The approach recalls Paul's invitation: "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2, NIV). In this case, the "burden" of planning the university's future was shared among all community members, creating a sense of shared responsibility that goes beyond mere formal adherence to top-down decisions.
Synodality and Academic Life: A Fruitful Dialogue
Although not formally defined as "synodal," the method adopted by the Catholic University presents clear points of contact with the synodal practice characterizing contemporary Church life. Widespread listening, communal discernment, shared search for solutions: all elements we find both in the Church's synodal journey and in this academic process.
This resonance is not accidental. In an institution that defines itself as Catholic, seeking operational methods that reflect Gospel values represents fundamental coherence. The Synod on Synodality, promoted by Pope Francis and continued by Pope León XIV, has highlighted precisely the importance of decision-making processes involving the entire People of God.
The Book of Acts offers a significant example: "The apostles and elders met to consider this question" (Acts 15:6, NIV). Even in the early Church, important decisions emerged from moments of community confrontation and dialogue, showing how collective wisdom can illuminate the paths forward.
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