The article below was published in the October 30th edition of Catholic News, the official paper of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain: Tinidad and Tobago
The Archdiocese of Port of Spain has embarked on a bold plan to help equip and empower its priests—young and older—with practical and pastoral leadership skills and training to strengthen their competence and confidence in parish life and ministry.
Beginning Tuesday, November 3, 37 priests will participate in a leadership training and formation ministry entitled: Good Leaders, Good Shepherds. This fraternal and pastoral skill-building initiative requires from each priest a two-year commitment to learn and apply leadership within parish life and in support of quality implementation of the post-Synod Plan.
Fr Bill Dickinson, a priest of the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio, and the National Director for Leadership Development, Catholic Leadership Institute, Exton, Pennsylvania, and Sr Ellen Doyle OSU will direct the first pastoral leadership training module, from November 3-6, at the Regional Seminary, Mount St Benedict.
Specifically, the Good Leaders, Good Shepherds training programme focusses on vitality and vibrancy, and the five contexts of leadership in which clergy must develop and excel, namely leadership: (a) of self (b) in a one-to-one context (c) of teams (d) of organisations and (e) of relationships
It is expected that the programme, which will be conducted outside of the United States for the first time, will be guided by the Mission of the local Church and the pastoral priorities: New Evangelisation, Revitalising Catholic Culture and Identity and Regenerating the Moral and Spiritual Values of the Society.
The Archdiocese expresses its mission as “building a civilisation of love”, which requires “reconciliation with God, neighbour, creation and self.” In a statement from the Institute, Fr Dickinson writes: “How do we, as God’s people, achieve such a civilisation? ...Well, in truth, it is through the continued good work of the people of God in Port of Spain. But, it is also through some particular training and support that will enable the priests of this Archdiocese to better lead and love in the construction and renewal of this civilisation.
“As many of your priests begin this leadership skill-building journey please pray for them and support them. Be open to new ideas and possibilities that come with their recommitment to pastoral governance and leadership. Many of them will be away, learning leadership, mid-week. They will need your cooperation and patience as they develop themselves in service to you both short-term and long term.”
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