by John Sorce
Special to The Leaven
ATCHISON — Priests are some of the most educated people around. Each one, at minimum, holds a master’s degree.
And they’ll be the first to say there’s always more to learn, especially when it comes to parish life.
Recognizing that reality, the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas has launched a new program to equip priests with the necessary tools for leading a parish — from how to develop a synodal culture to managing finances.
“The idea going forward is everybody will go through this two-year workshop of formation and preparation before they are allowed to be named a pastor of a parish or a parochial administrator,” said Father Dan Morris, director of seminarians for the archdiocese.
The program took inspiration from the book “A Seminarian’s Toolbox: Preparing for Parish Leadership” edited by Patrick Stokely.
“Each chapter is dedicated to a different aspect of leadership and authored by a different person in the field,” said Father Morris.
“There are only so many years of seminary formation,” he continued, “and this helps the newly ordained receive the essential preparation in helping him succeed as a pastor.”
The first session of this program was held at Benedictine College in Atchison from July 19 to 24. Priests who have been ordained within the last five years and have been a priest for at least a year and missionary priests were present.
It focused on identity, vision and mission; leadership, collaboration and pastoring in a synodal church; canonical and legal matters; human resources; and parish administration and finance.
A second session will take place next July and will cover communications; risk management and prevention; Catholic and parish schools; parish operations; and managing the liturgical life of a parish.
Father George Rhodes, parochial administrator of St. Francis Xavier in Burlington, St. Joseph in Waverly, St. Teresa in Westphalia and St. Patrick, Emerald, was ordained a priest in 2023 and assigned to those four parishes last fall.
“It was an unusual time for a move, and I didn’t get the normal new pastor training, so I felt like I had a lot to learn,” said Father Rhodes.
“I was glad to have an opportunity to have a lot of questions answered and learn a lot of other things I would not have otherwise known,” he added.
The week included speakers from the chancery offices as well as Archbishop Shawn McKnight and Jim Lundholm-Eads, senior consultant at Leadership Roundtable. The goal was to build confidence and competence in administrative and leadership roles during the first years of priesthood by learning from chancery, lay, and clergy experts.
“We don’t know what we don’t know, so it’s healthy that they are speaking into all of these things and making us aware that they want to help us succeed as pastors,” said Father Morris.
“Seminary laid the groundwork for being a diocesan priest and a spiritual father, but you can’t teach all of these things in seminary,” said Father Rhodes. “There are archdiocesan policies and practices that couldn’t be taught at a seminary where people are from different dioceses.
“Both are needed, and I’m grateful for both.”
Father Marcos Lopez, CS, is a missionary priest from Mexico who has been serving in the archdiocese for three years. He is the parochial administrator of Blessed Sacrament and Christ the King parishes in Kansas City, Kansas.
“Now we have a map of the different services in our archdiocese,” said Father Marcos. “It’s beautiful to work together as priests, bishops and lay people in the synodal church like Archbishop McKnight is calling us.”
“The hope is this will make us better able to serve our parishes and the people of them,” added Father Rhodes. “That’s the ultimate goal.”
