Parochial Solipsism

It is not excessive to suggest that three quarters of the life of the American pastor is consumed with administrative governance. He is, for all intents and purposes, the head of a small business. He hires and fires, reviews budgets, … [Read more...]

Twelve Lessons about the Financial Future of Catholic Schools

I have spoken with several bishops recently about the Catholic schools in their dioceses. The conversations brought home to me that what I recently heard from these bishops are the same questions, and the same challenges, that I have been … [Read more...]

What Every Chancery Needs to Consider

Six Reasons Why Some Chanceries Work Better than Others

While every chancery is unique, some clearly function better than others. There are, in fact, six common, key differentiators (listed below) which separate the highest functioning chanceries from those that are simply well functioning. I … [Read more...]

The Vital Need for a Pastoral Administration Course at the Seminary Level

We are doing a disservice to our seminarians when we fail to teach them about the practical aspects of running a parish.   The “Program for Priestly Formation” is currently the document which guides seminary rectors, administrators, and fa … [Read more...]