The Center for Pastoral Leadership in Wickliffe, conceived as a hub for diocesan ministry 30 years ago by the late Bishop Anthony Pilla, met that challenge this week as the Academy of the Good Shepherd launched its first session.
People representing a variety of ministries including youth ministers, music ministers, catechetical leaders, parish business managers, parish secretaries, lay ecclesial ministers, deacons, pastors and more participated in programs to provide training and to help them improve their ministry to the faithful.
Michelle Nowak, the new director of the diocesan lay ecclesial ministry program, helped coordinate the weeklong program.
(See the photo gallery above with images from some of the sessions.)
“This started before me,” she said, explaining the idea grew from a concept developed by Father Damian Ference, vicar for evangelization and head of the diocesan Parish Life and Special Ministries Office, and Lynette Saenz, assistant director of Parish Life and Special Ministries.
“There was a desire to evangelize and to improve communication, which is an important part of parish ministry,” she said.
A number of others assisted with the fledgling program including Father Tom Dragga, director of continuing education and formation of ministers and pastor of Resurrection of Our Lord Parish in Solon; Greg Coogan, director of the Office of Catechetical Formation; and Father Mark Latcovich, former president/rector of Borromeo and Saint Mary seminaries who last month became pastor of St. Ladislas Parish in Westlake, Nowak said. She said they developed the concept and helped connect a number of planned programs into an intensive formal program. “There will be additional ongoing formation throughout the academic year,” she added.
“The goal of the academy is to establish new pastoral leadership and to strengthen the skills of pastoral leaders,” Nowak said. She noted that Cleveland might be the first diocese to undertake a formal program like this. It helped connect some ongoing programs in an effort to focus on various aspects of ministry. It began on the first night of the current session of Nine Nights of Night Prayer – Aug. 7 -- for which the CPL is a host site.
Launching the weeklong academy was the Pastor’s Desktop program that helps newer pastors learn the ropes of managing a parish – or as is often the case, multiple parishes. Helping pastors with budgets, dealing with what can be sensitive financial issues and other topics were discussed by experts in the sessions.
Parish secretaries attended the first Bridge Builders session on Aug. 9 to learn about how they – as the first contact at their parishes – can build a bridge to discipleship. Christy Cabaness, director of the diocesan Office for Missionary Discipleship, guided the 40 attendees through the morning sessions on radical hospitality, sacred listening, evangelizing encounters and serving like Jesus. Lynette Tait, a canon lawyer and judge in the diocesan tribunal, led the afternoon session on the importance of sacramental record-keeping
Coogan, who oversees catechetical leader formation, Nowak who oversees lay ecclesial ministry formation, and Francine Costantini who oversees the youth ministry program, also planned sessions for their groups.
Several youth ministers participated in the nearly weeklong second annual Blessed Carlo Acutis Institute. They spent four days – Aug. 8-11 -- at the CPL living in the residence hall, eating communal meals, having time for prayer, Mass, adoration and fellowship, attending development sessions and taking excursions in the area. Their daylong sessions featured speakers who addressed topics of interest and concern to youth ministers such as responding to teens in crisis, Scripture, patristics, Christian spirituality and more.
The new St. Cecilia Institute for music ministers was the brainchild of Agnieszka Bieniek, a seminary professor and pastoral musician. She invited music ministers from across the diocese to gather on Aug. 8 to brainstorm about how they can better serve their parishes and provide more meaningful music.
The lay ecclesial ministers gathered the evening of Aug. 9 for a retreat and permanent deacons were invited to attend a St. Lawrence program on Aug. 11.
Bishop Edward Malesic spoke to the Blessed Carlo and St. Cecilia institute attendees on Aug. 8, congratulating all for their dedication and commitment to their ministries.
“The Academy of the Good Shepherd is off to a great start,” he said. Reflecting on The FEST, a daylong festival of faith, family and fun that took place Aug. 6 at the CPL, he noted how flexibility is important in ministry. The bishop explained a downpour forced what is usually the highlight of the event – an outdoor Mass attended by more than 1,000 people – inside the field house.
“If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans,” the bishop quipped. “God has tugged at your hearts and here you are.”
He told the group the Church is old, but it also is forever young. “Every generation has to accept the word of God and to begin life in the Church. It’s a cycle of birth and rebirth,” he said, noting every time the sacraments are celebrated, the Church becomes new again.
He also noted the importance of young people in the Church, saying they are the Church at its best. “They are on fire with hope,” he said regarding a contingent of priests and young people from the diocese who traveled to Portugal for World Youth Day this month.
“They have to share that fire. You have a gift and must share it. Be a blessing, a gift to others,” he said. “The Academy of the Good Shepherd embodies that. We bring Jesus to people in need.”
The bishop also said it’s important to be witnesses to the presence of the Lord in the Eucharist. “We must work together in a world torn by strife to shine forth as a prophetic sign,” he said, emphasizing the need to “play together in the same ministry of prayer.”
“Give what you receive – the good news of Jesus himself,” the bishop reminded the group. “This diocese isn’t great because I’m here. It’s great because you are here.”