I’ve Been Asked This Question More Than Ever…

Fired Up Two by Two

This Sunday, we celebrate Pentecost, the birthday of our Church!

Pentecost marks the moment when Jesus sent his Apostles out on a special mission, two by two, to spread His message. Our Church was born.

The heart of Catholic Leadership Institute’s ministry is walking alongside Church leaders. Three decades ago, the Holy Spirit lit a fire within our Founder Tim Flanagan – that flame has spread to reach thousands of Catholics as we accompany parishes, dioceses, bishops, clergy, and lay leaders.

Today, we are faced with a similar moment as the Apostles. We must ignite the message of our faith. Shine a light on the Good News. Spark more conversations. Kindle more collaboration. Blaze forward two by two together again.

Our ministry celebrates our own 30^th birthday, because so many of you choose to walk alongside Catholic Leadership Institute with your philanthropy, participation, and prayers.

Let’s keep walking together and meet the moment like the Apostles did, on fire with love for our Church and Her leaders!

The Answer to that Question…

The message of Pentecost called this to mind: recently, more people than ever before have asked “How can I share the good news of CLI with others?” If you know someone who may want to walk with us or learn more, here are three great ways:

1. Forward our 2021 Impact Report– we have found that this is a great way to fire up a conversation. (CLICK HERE for Impact Report)
2. Share these four powerful videos (each about three minutes long) – they certainly ignite my emotion and energy to serve our Church and keep on walking. (CLICK HERE for videos)
3. Introduce them to any member of our team – we love to share our story and stoke the flames of someone’s interest in helping our Church!

Linda has been a dynamic partner, igniting parishes across the entire Diocese of Pittsburgh alongside Catholic Leadership Institute. Igniting the parish means focusing on evangelization and discipleship. Equipping parents with the tools they need to pass the faith on to their children and grandchildren. It means fostering vibrant faith communities of leaders of all ages and demographics who come together on Sunday —and transform the world in God’s name the rest of the week. It means more Catholics – of all ages – fill the pews each Christmas.

Your generous support inspires more ignited parishes and more leaders like Linda!

Linda’s Story

“A parish where I worked for 12 years had a very dynamic priest—one of the best evangelists I’ve ever met. He was so good, he set the whole town on fire with the Gospel. And people loved it. We had so many people—young and old and everyone in between—flocking to our doors.

So far, so good, right? But the day came when that priest was reassigned…

What happened? The parish slowly went on life support, because it was centered on just one priest. Not on the mission and ministry of Christ.

But what if there was a structure, set up in such a way that if one priest—however charismatic—were to leave, there would be a system in place to make sure the parish doesn’t fall apart?

Right now, most parishes don’t have that. But I believe CLI is in a position to do something about it…

Greater potential can also be achieved among lay leaders, by helping them realize that a parish is not just a place to which we go but, more importantly, a place from which we go.
For the parish is not a destination. It is a way station, from which the lay person can fulfill the work of the laity to make the world holy. Again, this is something I believe CLI can play a key role in encouraging.

We hear it, see it, and feel it. And what the Church is tasked to do in all this is offer spiritual sustenance to those starving for message and meaning in their lives. This requires special insight and creative ways of thinking - ways as many and varied as the parishes themselves.

So, we have to go out. We have to start reaching people and inviting the Church into their lives. We can’t count on them coming to us. We have to go to them. And that’s way bigger than any individual. We have to involve the Body of Christ to reach the Body of Christ.

CLI looks at the big picture to help parishes chart the future. Its highly skilled leaders know how to assess and encourage qualities of leadership and discipleship in many others, no matter what the setting - urban or rural, rich or poor, promising or challenging. Empowering clergy and laity alike to figure things out. Igniting their parishes to engage future generations.”

This Christmas, I hope you reflect upon Linda’s words: we must go out. We must invite and walk with people, following the light of the Christmas star that always leads to Jesus Christ and always ignites our parishes.