The Diocese of Allentown is currently partnered with Catholic Leadership Institute for the Next Generation Diocese initiative. Earlier this year, the Disciple Maker Index survey was administered with 13,272 responses. Now, parishes are building pastoral priority plans and working together to identify and implement change going forward. Priests are receiving 1:1 leadership coaching – and young people are finding themselves represented in a whole new way. The interview below is with Maggie Riggins, Executive Director of Evangelization and Formation.
Q. Maggie, can you tell us about your role and involvement in the diocese and in the Next Generation Diocese work?
A. I serve as the Executive Director of Evangelization and Formation. Anything with “ministry” in the title—bereavement, pro-life, prison, hospital ministry—falls under my umbrella. I also support our parishes in their evangelization efforts. That’s why I was named to the Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI) core team, which included just me, the bishop, and two other priests. We are a small team, but that helped us stay focused and streamlined in guiding the diocese forward.
Last year, our parishes completed the Disciple Maker Index (DM)I survey and received their data. They’ve been working on their pastoral plans, and I’ve been invited to several parishes to offer feedback and encouragement. It’s inspiring to see people motivated by what they’re discovering in their communities and eager to create positive change. The DMI is such a gift because it allows people to have difficult conversations they know they need to have—but it’s grounded in emotionless data. For example, we might think our music ministry is great, but if only 12% of parishioners say it helps lead them to prayer, that’s something we need to look at.
Sometimes I remind myself that being a diocesan official carries weight. To me, I’m just Maggie. But to others, it’s “Maggie from the diocese came and said we’re on the right track!” That affirmation means a lot to parishes. They need to know their efforts are seen and valued.
My goal since I started working for the diocese five years ago has been to make sure parishes see us as a supportive resource. When the Evangelization and Formation team shows up, I want people to think, “Oh good, they’re here to help us—and we’re going to have a great time.”
Q. You reached out to us recently, asking for bulk copies of our whitepaper on Reaching, Engaging, and Inspiring the Next Generation. Can you tell us about this?
A. I hosted a gathering for those involved with the DMI and pastoral planning. It was a chance to connect, share experiences, and reflect on the process. The conversation moved from initial feelings of fear and uncertainty to hope, creativity, and prayerful discernment. It became a moment of real ownership—people asking, “Where do we want our parish to go?”
At the event, I also handed out copies of the whitepaper on Reaching, Engaging, and Inspiring the Next Generation – which was also distributed to every parish in the diocese. The whitepaper is informative, practical, and includes a helpful assessment checklist. It’s everything you want in a parish resource. It doesn’t leave you wondering where to start. Instead, it outlines the generations we’re trying to reach and offers ideas to engage, reach, and inspire. And the checklist helps us ask: Are we truly ministering to people’s needs?
This whitepaper has been a great launch point for shaping my ministerial focus. It’s helping us think about how to welcome families — those registering, baptizing their children, or grieving a loss. Ministry isn’t a one-and-done effort. It’s about ongoing cultivation. Just because you offer confession at 7:30 p.m. doesn’t mean the work is finished. We have to keep building.
Q. There’s no doubt your accompaniment to parishes is bearing fruit. How has this process, in turn, influenced your work?
A. The CLI work has really shaped the direction of my office. It’s no longer about guessing what parishes need - we now have the data to know what they need. When I think about my own pastoral plan for 2025–2026, I want to build on what CLI has provided us. If every parish wants to reach young families, this office can offer resources, webinars, best practices, and workshops—so no one feels like they’re doing it alone. This work is a two-way street between the diocese and parishes.
Q. What is your take on the experience with Catholic Leadership Institute thus far and how are you approaching the days to come?
A. I love working with CLI. I’d encourage CLI to keep creating resources that help parishes meet their goals. With hundreds or thousands of churches completing the DMI, we’re starting to see trends. If CLI can continue identifying those trends and creating resources to help parishes respond, that’s going to be incredibly valuable.
Our journey with CLI is still in its early stages, but we’re embracing it wholeheartedly. It’s been a very positive experience so far—energizing, inspiring, and full of potential. Right now, it feels like the spark has just been lit, and we’re excited to see where the fire will lead. So, in many ways, our story is still unfolding. Stay tuned—there’s so much more to come.
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