Rev. Robert W. Oliver, B.H. is a Professor of Canon Law & Systematic Theology at St. John’s Seminary in the Archdiocese of Boston.  Fr. Oliver completed Good Leaders, Good Shepherds in April 2009.

As the old proverb says:  “It is much better to teach a man to fish then to give him one.”  What’s been given to me through Good Leaders, Good Shepherds, is the tremendous gift of sound leadership and the confidence to serve others more fully in the gifts I have been given as a priest.

I wanted to first express my gratitude for all the people that have helped me and my fellow priests participants along the way.  I want to first thank the Lord for gathering us (the priests of the Archdiocese of Boston) together; I really do feel we have been gathered together as brothers.  I also want to thank my brother priests (fellow participants), for opening your hearts and candidly sharing your trials and triumphs.  Good Leaders, Good Shepherds, has truly been a wonderful fraternal experience.  For someone who has come from special ministries and having not been born in the diocese, I feel that I have been welcomed by my fellow priest participants and we’ve become much more deeply brothers.  I also want to thank the benefactors and Cardinal Seán O’Malley for making this program possible in the Archdiocese of Boston.

I feel what has been planted in me is a seed.  I really feel changed in my own heart.  What I’ve learned during this two-year journey, is how to empower others through my leadership, how to awaken in them the desire to serve in the way the Lord has gifted them.  And in turn, be able to empower them with all the skills I have obtained through this program.