12.21.06 - Catholic Leadership Institute is excited to announce that more than 100 priests from three more dioceses will begin Good Leaders, Good Shepherds early this year. This brings the total number of active dioceses to eight, hitting CLI’s target for this fiscal year.
Thirty priests from the Archdiocese of Detroit, twenty-four priests from the Diocese of Springfield, IL, and fifty-five priests (two cohorts) from Trenton, NJ, will begin in January and February of 2007.
Msgr. Michael LeFevre, Director of the Clergy Life and Ministry Office for the Archdiocese of Detroit, connected participation in Good Leaders, Good Shepherds with the archdiocese’s long-term strategic plan. “We recently completed a five-year study in Detroit and the number one recommendation for and from our priests was leadership training,” shared LeFevre. “I am excited about the potential for the presbyterate of Detroit to experience this curriculum.”
In the Diocese of Springfield, IL, the continuing formation of clergy is also a top priority. “I look forward with a great deal of hope to the participation of approximately 25% of our priests in Good Leaders, Good Shepherds,” said Bishop George Lucas. “This will be an important part of efforts for the ongoing formation of priests that we have intensified during the past two years. Rather than burdening priests with another program, I believe Good Leaders, Good Shepherds will provide priests with the means to meet current responsibilities in a way that is life giving for them and for their people.”
According to CLI President & CEO, Matthew Manion, the three new contracts not only put Catholic Leadership Institute ahead of schedule relative to the three-year strategic plan, it also reaffirms the great need for leadership development support of clergy nationwide. “Since the Board of Directors approved CLI’s rapid national expansion of services in May, the response has been tremendous.” says Manion. “We look forward to supporting over 100 priests in making them more effective pastoral leaders and we are incredibly grateful to the bishops, vicars and presbyterates that have a vision for their diocese and see CLI and Good Leaders, Good Shepherds as a way to support that vision.”
Manion and Rev. Bill Dickinson, CLI’s Director of Clergy Leadership Development, are continuing to meet with dioceses throughout the country about bringing Good Leaders, Good Shepherds to their presbyterate.
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