Earlier this month, the priests of the Diocese of Camden gathered at Church of the Holy Family in Sewell for a day of fraternity, formation and fellowship. The intent was to provide support and resources so that they can continue to grow their own unique leadership capabilities.
The current state of the Church – declining participation and a bleak sacramental forecast for the next 25 years – will require how priests lead and shepherd, both now and into the future, ensuring each parish is truly missional. Bishop Dennis Sullivan has consistently delivered the clarion call of missionary discipleship to both priests and laity throughout his episcopate.
According to national statistics, only 7% of Catholic Church parishioners are highly engaged, 10% attend Mass weekly and a staggering 60% to 70% no longer practice their faith. By age 21, 85% of Catholic children stop practicing their faith. In this context, our parishes must continue efforts of thriving disciple-making.
In a diocesan-wide initiative, in collaboration with the Catholic Leadership Institute over the summer, every parish across South Jersey participated in the Disciple Maker Index, an engagement tool to identify key disciple-making practices. Looking into our own DMI results, we find hope and opportunity at the parish level.
With each parish now having its results, priests and leadership teams are discerning steps to create plans to ensure the parishes exhibit the four leading indicators of a vibrant parish. These are: Missionary Impulse (serving those in need); Spiritual Maturity (continued growth in the spiritual life); the Sunday Experience (music, preaching and connection to everyday lives); and Shared Leadership (recommending the parish and parish staff, finding parish information easily).
During the Nov. 7 gathering, CLI leadership members Jeff Pattison and Mike School compared diocesan and national DMI results. The diocesan response to Missional Impulse (agree or strongly agree) is 83% versus the nation at 81%. In Spiritual Maturity, the Diocese reports 32% versus the nation’s 36%. These are only two examples; the DMI goes much further to reveal opportunities for transformation and areas requiring attention.
In addition to presenting results, the day of fraternity included clergy sharing ways in which they can be the leaders God has called them to be. It is important they possess a deep understanding of their own unique leadership gifts and styles. The Diocese has been offering executive coaching to priests, in small groups, since 2021; it has been a unique, custom-built experience focusing on the priests’ own individual leadership gifting. This was a direct result of Bishop Sullivan’s desire to invest in the clergy and want for them to be happy, healthy, holy and thriving in every place they were sent to serve. The desired outcome is that each priest comes to an even deeper understanding of why Jesus needs him to be his priest. Why? Because no two are alike.
During this gathering, for the first time, every priest of the Diocese was invited into leadership coaching. To do this, the Diocese has partnered with the Communion of Catholic Coaches, a national organization of skilled, private practice coaches who are Catholic and wish to bring their own skills and gifts to the Church. There are also a small number of local coaches involved as well. The leadership journey begins with the priests’ own stories of fulfillment throughout their lives, as well as strengths and talents. The process can then move into the individualized and customized growth plans the priest has created.
This is an opportunity for accompaniment, celebration, affirmation and professional growth. At its core, the coaching is intended to ensure each priest can thrive as he serves the current and future Church.
As of this writing, more than 20% of the priests are taking this opportunity to be accompanied, listened to, affirmed and celebrated, and to grow/develop in a way that contributes to living a vibrant and holy priesthood.
If at this moment in time, there are a smaller number of priests who serve, each one should have every opportunity and resource to be fulfilled in his priestly vocation.
Donna Ottaviano-Britt is director of the Office of Discipleship and Leadership and Secretariat for Pastoral Outreach for the Diocese of Camden.
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