Parish cry rooms, young adult activities, and even priest’s homilies have seen improvements thanks to the Diocese of Allentown’s partnership with Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI).
In the fall of 2023, the Diocese of Allentown began its partnership with CLI to embark on “Next Generation Diocese” which helps parishes form disciples through use of the Disciple Makers Index (DMI) and supports pastors in their parish assignments and ministry transitions through the “Called for More” process. Today, these initiatives from CLI have started to strengthen priests and parishes.
Between January and April of 2024, about 70 Diocesan priests took the “Priest Leadership Inventory (PLI),” which helped them better understand their own leadership preferences and skills and provide a plan for professional and spiritual growth. At the priest convocation in October 2024, results from the inventory were shared and led to fruitful conversation and planning.
Father Eugene Ritz, the Vicar for Clergy, said “I have personally found that this forum created a place for priests to express their strengths and preferences for future ministry which has been helpful in planning and preparing for potential assignments.”
The Priest Leadership Inventory has already born fruit, including helping priests know how to best care for themselves so that they can care for their flock. Monsignor Thomas Orsulak, Pastor at St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Reading, shared that “Developing a personal growth plan, which resulted from the PLI, was important to me.”
Monsignor Orsulak explained how he and his spiritual director identified areas of focus based on the inventory results. “One area of focus was ‘Spiritual and Communal Life.’ My director noted how much I enjoy my annual retreat. He asked me why I limited myself to only one week a year.”
Monsignor Orsulak doubled his time spent on retreat annually, and he has noticed how devoting more time for spiritual enrichment has aided his ministry. “The fruits of my retreats tend to show up in homilies with better content and focus,” he said. “Additionally, I celebrate Mass more slowly and with more attention.”
On the parish side of things, churches from all over the Diocese have begun taking action based on the results of the Disciple Makers Index, a survey which offered a snapshot of the demographics, beliefs, practices, and attitudes of parishioners. The DMI was conducted in Lent of 2024, and every parish participated.
Maggie Riggins, Executive Director of Evangelization and Formation, shared the hope that has come from the DMI. “The DMI opened the door for pastors and parishioners to take a good look at their parish to see what areas they want to focus on, create goals, and then work to reach those goals,” she said. “Parishes that never had a Pastoral Council or Planning Teams comprised of the laity, now have these groups at their parish to work with. The laity are feeling more involved in the planning at the parish and are committed to the process.”
One such Pastoral Planning Team is at Assumption BVM, Bethlehem. Mary Williams, head of the team, described how the DMI led Assumption to form priorities and action plans to address them. “Our three Priority Goals are to engage younger parishioners ages 26-46, to help people grow spiritually in their faith, and to develop lay leadership. We formed three Implementation Teams to address each of these goals. Our Teams have been meeting regularly to pray, plan, and coordinate programs and workshops for our parish beginning this Fall.”
Deacon Joe Petrauskas shared similar growth from St. Columbkill Parish, Boyertown. Addressing their main priority of helping families and young people grow in faith, Deacon said: “Within the first 6 months we created a Family Comfort room for parents with children under the age of 4 so they can care for children without missing out on the Sunday liturgy. A social is scheduled for Young Adults…Praying the Rosary between the Sunday Masses is being moved from the chapel to the main sanctuary to encourage wider participation…and these are only a few of the many other plans in the works for this year alone.”
Riggins summed up the Diocesan situation: “Change is never easy, but I have noticed that people are excited to branch out from the norm and take some chances with implementing new initiatives at their parish.”
