By Mary Stadnyk
The Monitor - The newspaper of record for the Diocese of Trenton
Whether they serve in parishes or in diocesan leadership positions, and in many cases, both, the reality is that the role of a priest defined long ago has faded and a new and drastically different definition of a priest’s role today has emerged.
Beyond their responsibilities of celebrating Mass and the Sacraments, and being a pastoral presence to their flocks, priests – especially those serving in parishes – have also found themselves involved in the inner workings of their ministries by having to become administrators, business managers, the human resource person and a host of other titles that they didn’t bank on when they were ordained.
To respond to these challenges facing the presbyterate and better equip priests for ministry in today’s Church, the diocese enlisted the support of the Exton, Pa.-based program called Good Leaders, Good Shepherds.
Sponsored by the Catholic Leadership Institute, Good Leaders, Good Shepherds is a two-year, six-module program that offers priests the equivalent of a graduate-level business management course. Over the two years, the priests attend a number of three-and-a-half day workshops and participate in exercises which focus on different areas of leadership development: Self-Preparation for Leadership; Leading in the Self Context; Leading in the One-to-One Context; Leading in the Team Context; Leading in the Organization Context, and Leading Strategic Relationships between organizations. Participants are given materials to deal with time management, working with individuals and teams, and how to create a vision for the parish or institution and a plan to carry it out.
CLI piloted Good Leaders, Good Shepherds in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 2003, then in 2006, introduced it as a nationwide program. More than 1,200 priests are currently enrolled or have graduated from the program, and the Catholic Leadership Institute’s partnership encompasses 44 dioceses, including the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
Trenton Priests On Board
To date, 42 priests from the Diocese of Trenton have completed Good Leaders, Good Shepherds, having graduated in December, 2008. There are currently 23 priests enrolled in the program and they are expected to graduate in November.
Good Leaders, Good Shepherds fosters a “curriculum that clearly supports a priest’s level of confidence and competence as they minister to their people as well as enhances the sense of fraternity that is developed among the priests,” said Father Bill Dickinson, CLI’s national director of leadership development.
“In priesthood ordination, we have three offices that we’re responsible for: to teach, to sanctify and to govern. Through Good Leaders, Good Shepherds, we’re addressing the governing office of our vocation,” said Father Dickinson. “And that’s something that priests find attractive because they acquire the skills to support the governing office of their priesthood.” Looking at Good Leaders, Good Shepherds from a diocesan perspective, Anthony Mingarino, diocesan chief administrative officer, reflected on why priests of the diocese should attend the program and how they can benefit from it.
“Priests deal with a variety of issues each day and more and more they must rely on the lay staff and volunteers to implement the vision for their parish. In seminary, they receive sound formation in matters of theology and ministry but, until recently, have been left on their own when dealing with the dynamics of parish life,” said Mingarino.
“The Good Leaders, Good Shepherds program takes a priest who is a ‘good shepherd’ and develops his skills to become a ‘good leader.’ They learn concepts to help them to develop their staff, become better planners, and to work in a collaborative environment. There is the added benefit of fraternal support and unity with their brother priests.
“This program will truly benefit even the most seasoned pastor and is a must for any priest who will one day be a pastor,” said Mingarino.
Father Dickinson noted how there are more and more bishops who are expressing interest in bringing the program to their diocese, and that 28 new dioceses have expressed interest in sponsoring the program.
“We think that’s the good news that seems to be getting out about Good Leaders, Good Shepherds and when bishops and priests hear that, the program becomes attractive to them. They come to see the program as being worth the investment of time, energy and resources,” said Father Dickinson.
“Today, more than ever, our Catholic community needs holy men of God who not only revere their own ministry, but also honor the people they serve. Good Leaders, Good Shepherds celebrates the priesthood by engaging participants in a comprehensive curriculum designed to provide the best leadership practices to priests. This ongoing formation revitalizes the spirit and empowers participants to embrace their extraordinary vocation more fully. By developing and exercising leadership skills and practices, priests are seen as being more credible and prophetic.”
Bishop’s Approval
Bishop Smith expressed his own words of support for Good Leaders, Good Shepherds in a letter he wrote to his priests.
“As ministerial responsibilities become even more demanding, I am aware that many of us desire and need additional skill sets that equip us to become even more confident and competent in both our sacramental ministries as well as in our administrative duties,” Bishop Smith stated.
“Pastoring the people of God must always be one of our primary responsibilities and I believe the unique and integrated priestly leadership curriculum will benefit your ministry greatly. I need you and your leadership. The people of God deserve your strengthened ministry as well.”
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