The Parish Life Office supports vibrant parish life through leadership formation. The Office of Parish Life offers courses, workshops, resources and consultation services on many topics in leadership pinciples and skills for pastoral ministry. These services can be designed or customized to fit any particular parish needs. There is no cost for this service.
Leadership Skills for Parish Ministry Course - a five session course presents the foundational understanding and practical skills needed for:
- Productive and Enjoyable Meetings
- Time Management
- Persuasive Communication
- Win-Win Problem Solving
- Enabling Volunteers
- Conflict Management
- Leading Public Prayer
- Event Planning
- Christian Approach to Leadership
This course can be adapted to fit particular local needs.
Other popular workshop topics:
- Meeting Skills for Parish Organizations: strategic planning, agenda - the key to productive and enjoyable meetings, the art of facilitating, persuasive communication and negotiating skills (for parish staff and pastoral council)
- Managing Groups: how good decisions are made, the art of delegation, role of committees, group life cycle and structures (for any parish organization),
- Spirituality for Lay Leaders: Baptism - priest, prophet and king, the Eucharistic heart of parish, discovering an earth crammed with heaven (for parish staff and pastoral council)
- Volunteers - Finding Them, Training Them and Keeping Them: where they are hiding, guilt-free delegation strategies, training made easy, building a self-sustaining leadership system (for parish staff and ministry leaders)
- Strategic Planning Made Simple: the difference between proactive and reactive planning, elements and steps in developing a strategic plan, how to best consult with the congregation, to survey or not to survey - that is the question, how to write high impact goals
- Gifts Discovery for Ministry: inventory God's gifts, naming strengths, taping personal passion, finding the right fit for ministry (for ministry leaders)
- Dealing with Difficult People - When Strangling Isn't an Option: why are some people so difficult, how to recognize the positive intent in everyone, diagnosing the real problem behind problematic behavior, blending and re-directing negative energy
Parish vitality does not just happen. It is the result of strategic thinking and effective leadership. One of the hallmarks of effective leadership is the ability to mobilize a community and focus its energy in a strategic direction. Completing a Parish Planning Survey is one strategic step that all parishes can take in pursuit of vibrant parish life. You can print a copy of the tool for use or call to receive a copy at the Office of Parish Life 716-847-5531.
Contact Us
Kathleen B. Heffern, 716-847-5530
Dennis Mahaney, 716-847-8393