Center for Parish Leadership

CPL is dedicated to providing parish leaders with easy access to information, training, spiritual growth and networking opportunities.

The Center for Parish Leadership believes that healthy Catholic parishes require active participation by parishioners in the leadership of the parish. This practice is guided by the spirit and content of Vatican II, recognizing that all members of the Church are called and gifted. The Center for Parish Leadership believes this partnership with parish lay leaders enhances the roles of Pastor and staff as they seek to effectively lead our parishes. We have worked with current parish leaders to identify four critical areas of service that are the focus of our ministry: 1. Leadership Resources: Electronic and print resources that support parish leadership development and effectiveness. (Highlight - website: www.parishleader.org ) 2. Leadership Training: Training in leadership skills and practices that support effective, faith-filled parish ministry. (Highlight - Parish-based training in collaborative staff and ministry leader team formation) 3. Spiritual Growth of Leaders: Opportunities for parish leaders nourish life-long spiritual growth. (Highlight - Development of the Stories & Songs for the Journey CD series. This 3 CD set includes wonderful faith-based stories and beautiful music that will inspire the leaders faith journey.) 4. Networking of Leaders: Periodic parish leader gatherings that encourage leaders to know one another on a personal level, share their experience in a spirit of lifelong learning, and collaborate on key issues facing their parishes. (Highlight - Annual parish leader conferences. The 2009 conference focused on the development of parish Leadership Development Teams) CPL's goal is to offer these services to parish leaders in multiple formats and delivery systems. We believe that by supporting pastors, staff and parish ministry leaders with effective training, current best-practices that are working in parishes, spiritual nourishment, and opportunities to share their experience, our parish ministries will thrive. Your support for our organization will be multiplied a thousand-fold through the work of parish leaders and parish ministry in hundreds of parishes throughout the United States.