- What Exactly is ENDOW

What Exactly is ENDOW?

Founded in 2003, ENDOW (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women) is a Catholic, non-profit organization that is dedicated to offering classes and developing study materials based on the teachings of the Catholic Church for women to use in small study groups. The ENDOW program is designed for today's "women in the pew', women who are neither theologians nor philosophers, but are faithful wives, mothers and career women.

The ENDOW program follows a specific methodology, which is very effective in helping women learn both about their inherent God-given dignity as women and about the truths found in the Catholic faith. It is recommended that each study group start with ENDOW's Letter to Women and Mulieris Dignitatem (On the Dignity and Vocation of Women) study guides. Like all ENDOW study guides, these two study guides are each eight chapters long, and normally a group will study both of them over the course of a year. Upon completion of both of these, ENDOW offers a "menu of more" which includes a wide selection of topics designed to help women further understand their own dignity and vocation and the depth and beauty found in the Catholic Church. For a list of all of the current ENDOW study guides available, click here.

To accommodate a woman's busy schedule, there is no homework involved in the ENDOW program. All of the material is read aloud and discussed when the group meets. At the end of every chapter of the study guides, there is a list of thought-provoking questions which help stimulate conversation and additional learning among the group members.

Normally the study groups meet every other week for two hours, although this is entirely up to the group itself. Some groups meet every week and some meet once a month. The important thing is to keep the continuity of both the group dynamic and the material being discussed. Study groups meet in churches, in homes, at places of work, etc. Again, this is up to the needs of the individuals in the group. To find the study groups available in your area, please click here.

Each study group is led by an ENDOW-approved facilitator. Because the ENDOW facilitators are not "teachers" per se, no advanced theological or philosophical training is needed to be an ENDOW facilitator. ENDOW offers both on-site training and other materials to help train facilitators. The ENDOW program is dependent upon women who are willing and able to be facilitators. To learn more about the role of the facilitator or to apply to be an ENDOW facilitator, click here.

It is the policy of ENDOW to request permission from the local bishop before offering classes in his diocese. To view the archdiocese and dioceses who have currently approved ENDOW, please click here. If your diocese is not yet listed on the website, please call the ENDOW office at 303-715-3224 to request that a letter seeking approval be sent to your bishop. ENDOW will notify you when permission has been secured, so that study groups may begin. To learn more about how to begin an ENDOW group in your area, please click here.

While the ENDOW office provides excellent study materials, our staff limitations prevent us from being able to personally recruit members for the individual study groups. A wide variety of marketing materials have been developed to help facilitators and other group members recruit additional participants. Facilitators are free to recruit as many women as possible, but ENDOW recommends an average class size of eight to twelve women. For more information about the marketing materials, click here.

All ENDOW participants are asked to register through the ENDOW website. The cost to participate in an ENDOW class in $62.50 (which includes shipping and handling for all materials). Scholarships are available for anyone who is unable to pay. Please call the ENDOW office at 303-715-3224 or click here to learn more about the ENDOW Scholarship policy.

ENDOW's headquarters are located in Denver, Colorado. ENDOW is governed by a Board of Directors with spiritual, administrative and philosophical support from an Advisory Council. The program is administered by full-time staff members. For a list of ENDOW's Board Members and Advisory Committee Members, click here. For a list of ENDOW's staff members, click here.

All of the study guides have received the imprimatur of Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, Archbishop of Denver, Colorado, and are copyrighted. The writers and editors come from all over the world. When pursuing a specific topic, ENDOW secures the most qualified persons available to help write the study guide.

We encourage you to continue to browse the ENDOW website for additional information, and if you have further questions about ENDOW, please feel free to call the ENDOW office at 303-715-3224 or email us.