Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd Institute helps prepare lay leaders, expand knowledge of faith

The new school year is underway and so is the next session of Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd Institute. MMGSI, as many refer to the program, is an initiative of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland to develop, promote and enhance the intellectual formation of adults throughout Northeast Ohio.

Matt Jordan, MMGSI director and vice president of academic affairs for Borromeo and Saint Mary seminaries, said the program consists of courses, seminars, lectures and more. “It goes beyond what parishes can offer,” he said, and also has a summer internship program.

This year, 18 young adults spent 10 weeks as interns working 24 hours a week at nine parishes in the diocese assisting with various tasks including planning and leading youth ministry events and summer programs, assisting with planning weddings, funeral preparation, supporting faith formation for all ages, learning how a parish runs, shadowing parish leaders and discovering where their gifts meet the Church’s needs. They spent one day each week at the Center for Pastoral Leadership in Wickliffe hearing from speakers such as Auxiliary Bishop Michael Woost. The interns also participated in team/community building events like attending a Guardians baseball game and visiting churches in the diocese. Each received a $6,000 stipend funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc.

Father Andy Turner, president/rector of Borromeo and Saint Mary seminaries, said the seminaries received the nearly $9 million matching grant last year to expand pastoral leadership formation for clergy and laity through new classes and programs.

He said thanks to the grant, the seminary is renewing and expanding its spiritual and intellectual programs for clergy, lay women and men and youth and young adults, especially from underrepresented communities within the diocese. These programs operate under MMGSI.

This fall, MMGSI is offering courses, seminars and lectures at various locations in the diocese.

Jordan said Father Turner is hoping MMGSI will help expand the reach of ministry, much like when Jesus sent his disciples out in twos to preach and evangelize.

“Our hope is that we can bring in 72 people per year to take the three-year curriculum and prepare for ministry within the diocese,” Jordan said. By completing this program, students will essentially earn a degree in Catholic studies, he explained. Jordan said MMGSI is working with the diocesan lay ecclesial ministry formation program to prepare ministers for service.

“We’ve demonstrated we’re faithful stewards (of the funds) and Lilly is confident in giving such a large gift to help us do some pretty novel and exciting things,” Jordan added. He would like to add a program for high school students, potentially targeting young people from underserved areas of the diocese. It would help them improve intellectual/academic skills, logic, writing, leadership development and to develop a greater understanding and appreciation of the Cleveland area and the diocese.

Click here to learn more about MMGSI or fill out an online contact form here.