Thursday, 01 July 2010 14:41

WICHITA – Thirty priests of the Diocese of Wichita received certificates Wednesday, June 16, for completing the Good Leaders, Good Shepherds clergy leadership development program.
“Good Leaders, Good Shepherds has been engaging, fun, and has already demonstrated its potential to help me and the priest participants be better leaders after the fashion of Jesus.  This will be a great boost to our shared responsibility for carrying out the mission of the Church,” Bishop Michael O. Jackels said.

Good Leaders, Good Shepherds is designed to equip clergy with the relevant, practical, and pastoral leadership skills necessary to shepherd a parish and support the governing office of their priesthood. During the two-year program priests learn about the various contexts in which they lead and specific skills that will help them lead most effectively. Catholic Leadership Institute also offers a complementary leadership skill building training program to parish and diocesan leaders entitled, Tending the Talents.
Fr. Bill Dickinson, Catholic Leadership Institute’s National Director for Ministry Development, hosted the prayer service, dinner, and ceremony at the Spiritual Life Center.
“We are blessed to be ministering with the good priests of the Diocese of Wichita,” Fr. Dickinson said. “Our mission is to help priests recognize their God-given potential and develop their leadership skills so they can effectively and confidently lead their faith communities in carrying out the mission of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church.”
The evening included testimonials from program participants Fathers Bernie Gorges, David Lies, and John Lanzrath. 
Along with the Diocese of Wichita, Catholic Leadership Institute is ministering to the bishops and presbyterates of an additional 46 United States dioceses including the Archdiocese of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.