The Church Properties Conference advances reflection on and practice of the stewardship of temporal goods in the life of the Church. The event convenes Church leaders, scholars, and practitioners for authentic encounter and structured discussion around contested questions in church property stewardship. In its fifth edition since 2022, the 2027 Church Properties Conference will take place April 5th to April 7th at the University of Notre Dame.

Under the banner of words from Psalm 104, “You renew the face of the earth,” the conference will examine the Church as an agent of renewal for communities and environments, with particular attention to contexts of urban disinvestment and the threat of ecological degradation.

Explore the 2027 theme and call for session proposals.

Preliminary Schedule

Conference programming will run from 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 6th, through 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 7th. Attendees arriving on Monday, April 5th, are warmly invited to an informal welcome reception from 6 to 8 p.m.

Times subject to change.

Monday, April 5th

2 pm	Registration Opens
3:30 - 4:45 pm	Lightning Talks & Networking Roundtables
5:15 pm	Mass at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart
6 - 8 pm	Welcome Reception

Tuesday, April 6th

8 - 9 am	Breakfast
9 - Noon	Opening Sessions
Noon - 2 pm	Lunch
2 - 5 pm	Conference Sessions
5:15 - 5:45	Mass
Evening	Cocktail Hour and Keynote Banquet

Wednesday, April 7th

8 - 9 am	Breakfast
9 - 11:15	Conference Sessions
11:30 - 1 pm	Closing Lunch

Logistics

Please note: While Chicago is in the Central Time Zone, Notre Dame is in the Eastern Time Zone

 

Registration: Registration will open in late fall 2026.

Lodging: A room block at the Morris Inn (on-campus) and the Fairfield Inn & Suites (near campus) will be available when registration opens.

Additional lodging options that are within walking distance of the University will include Ivy Court, Embassy Suites on Eddy Street, and Airbnb/VRBO rentals in the Harter Heights neighborhood south of campus. 

Dining: Meals will be provided as part of the conference program, with additional dining options available on and near campus.

Transportation: South Bend International Airport (SBN) is five miles from Notre Dame's campus, and receives flights from several major carriers including United, Delta, American Airlines, and Allegiant. South Bend is also just a two-hour drive east from Chicago's O'Hare and Midway Airports (ORD and MDW). South Bend is also served by commuter rail to-and-from Chicago via the South Shore Line and Amtrak..

Parking: Information regarding on-campus parking is available here. Parking may be included with a room reservation at the Morris Inn.