The focus for priests is on Good Shepherds
By Mary Stadnyk
The Monitor - The newspaper of record for the Diocese of Trenton
There are many challenges and dilemmas confronting priests. Whether they serve in parishes or in diocesan leadership positions, and in many cases, both, the stark reality is that the role of a priest defined from long ago has faded and a new definition of a priest’s role today and has emerged and is drastically changed.
Above and beyond their sacramental responsibilities of celebrating Mass and Sacraments and being a pastoral presence to their flocks, priests, especially those serving in parishes, have also wound up getting 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. So, what’s a priest to do? What can be done to help him?
Perhaps, they might consider participating in Good Leaders, Good Shepherds, a program sponsored by the Catholic Leadership Institute, Exton, Pa., that has as its goals of increasing a priest’s level of personal confidence and ministerial competence, and helping him grow in their priestly identity, ministry and fraternity so as to better, more faithfully and capably, serve and love the people of God.
With the encouragement of Bishop John M. Smith, many of the priests of the Diocese of Trenton have participated in the program. Good Leaders, Good Shepherds is a two-year clergy leadership development process with a six-module curriculum that trains priests in the context of leadership in which clergy lead. The program provides participants with critical skill sets that will help priests maximize the potential of those they serve. The six modules are: 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; Leading Strategic Relationships Between Organizations.
Heading up Good Leaders, Good Shepherds is Father Bill Dickinson, who is the Catholic Leadership Institute’s national director of leadership development. A priest of the Diocese of Cleveland, Father Dickinson was ordained 18 years ago, 17 of which he has spent in a parish setting either as a parochial vicar or a pastor.
“Priests are encouraged to attend Good Leaders, Good Shepherds because they understand the complexity of ministry today and the demands of day to day administration as well as pastoral care,” he said. “By developing and exercising leadership skills and practices, priests are seen and valued as more credible and prophetic.” Furthermore, added Father Dickinson, the program strengthens their relationships with their brother priests because they journey and learn together as a class for two years. In serving as director of Good Leaders, Good Shepherds, Father Dickinson said that he has come to realize how the “Church in America is blessed with holy, hopeful men who work very hard to love and lead God’s people, that priests want to learn and care for themselves, they want to be a good leader and a good shepherd and they want their people to experience deeply the love of Christ and are growing to appreciate all the more that this is a shared effort in discipleship and leadership.”
======
Willingness to grow key to Good Shepherd program
By Mary Stadnyk
The Monitor - The newspaper of record for the Diocese of Trenton
With the support and encouragement of Bishop Smith, around 60 priests from the diocese have been participating in the Good Leaders, Good Shepherds program. The cross-section of priests range from the recently ordained, such as Father Joseph Jakub, parochial vicar of St. Aloysius, Jackson, (2005), and his brother, Father John Jakub, parochial vicar of St. Dominic, Brick, (2003), to those who have been ordained well more than 20 years: Father Stanley Lukaszewski, pastor of St. Denis, Manasquan (1979), Msgr. Edward Arnister, pastor of Divine Mercy, Trenton, (1979), Father Phillip Pfleger, pastor of St. Isaac Jogues, Marlton, Msgr. John K. Dermond, rector of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption, Trenton (1968); Father Anthony Carotenuto, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua, Red Bank (1968); Father Daniel Cahill, pastor of St. Ann, Keansburg (1973). Msgr. Walter Nolan, pastor of St. Paul, Princeton, Father Ronald Bacovin, pastor of St. James, Pennington, (1966).
In working with the priests from the Trenton Diocese, Father Dickinson said he has found them to be “fine men who are working hard to better learn and lead.” “Their bishop loves them and wants the best for them. It is a privilege for men and all of us at the Catholic Leadership Institute to serve them,” he said. As for how the priests are finding the program, all have responded favorably. “Being a young priest, I would like to prepare myself to be a good leader and be a good shepherd,” said Father Eugene Savarimuthu, parochial vicar of St. Theresa, Little Egg Harbor. “Good Leaders, Good Shepherds will surely equip, enrich and update my ministry to be faithful to God and to myself.”
A priest for 34 years and pastor of St. Ann, Keansburg, a booming parish with more than 4,000 families, Father Daniel Cahill said he has found Good Leaders, Good Shepherds to be helpful in honing priests skills in administration capacities as well as giving priests the opportunity to look inward and examine their strong points and areas where they might need to improve. What has also helpful, he said, is being able to recognize “how you work with others” in terms of dealing with different personalities that exist in the parish staff, volunteers and parishioners. “Personal growth is key,” said Father Cahill. “I have a better understanding of own strong points and with whom I work.”
As a priest from the Philippines, Father Francis Tam, who has been parochial vicar of St. Agnes Parish, Atlantic Highlands, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Highlands, since December, said he has appreciated how Good Leaders, Good Shepherds has given him another opportunity to get to know other priests in the diocese, many of whom he said he “only recognizes by face.” “Now I am able to put more names with faces,” he said, adding that a strong component of the program has been fostering person to person relationships. Upon hearing about the program, Father Scott Shaffer, pastor of St. Aloysius, Jackson, who was ordained in 1989, said that he was impressed with its format and time schedule which provided priests with a sustaining learning experience over a period of time.
“We’re learning in doses,” he said. “We’re developing working relationships with each other, there is freedom in discussion and an exchange of ideas which can both be affirming and challenging. “Good Leaders, Good Shepherds provides tools to help lead our individual selves as well as our parish staffs and congregations. We’re learning about self-awareness, setting smart goals and tasks and about strategic planning.” “This process is accurate and informative and is offered in the spirit of fraternity and a sincere desire to help every priest be more effective in answering their call to lead others to Christ in the most effective way possible,” said Father Shaffer. “I appreciated the diversity of the presbyterate represented, the open and free atmosphere experienced in our discussions, and the spirit with which the presenters shared.” At age 65, Msgr. Dermond, who is also diocesan judicial vicar said that, “I am seeking to grow further and identify strengths and limitations so that I can improve my ability to pastor in the parish and to lead in the diocesan office entrusted to me.” Also offering words of encouragement about the program to his brother priests, Msgr. Dermond said, “Come with an open mind and a loving heart. Accept the challenges of participating in Good Leaders, Good Shepherds. And you will experience change for the better.”
|
