Core Elements of the Latino Pastoral Leaders Initiative

In developing the Latino Pastoral Leaders Initiative, Leadership Roundtable worked to ensure that all program elements were culturally adapted, including creating materials in both English and Spanish, and were designed to respond to the many complexities Hispanic/Latino pastoral leaders face in day-to-day ministry. As part of the program, participants were invited to study, develop, and apply leadership skills and pastoral ministry competencies as well as understand the best practices in Church management and leadership. Participants engaged in the program both online and in–person and were welcomed to participate in the language in which they were most comfortable. Attending the trainings, workshops, and small group discussions in this way allowed greater flexibility for the leaders, many who were not full-time employees of the Church. The program elements included:

Catholic Leadership 360 — A leadership development process that uses a 360-degree assessment tool to provide respectful, structured feedback on key leadership competencies and behaviors that have been shown to contribute to the success of Catholic pastoral leaders. Participants use this feedback to create a development plan for their leadership development throughout the Initiative.

Toolbox for Pastoral Management — A comprehensive introduction to the key elements of pastoral management in a workshop-style series of presentations that provide practical, ready-to-use tools.

Catholic Standards for Excellence — Training in a comprehensive set of managerial best practices designed to assist parishes, dioceses, and Catholic organizations in their operations to help leaders advance the Church’s mission. 

Peer Group Coaching Sessions — Monthly sessions that allow participants to tap into the wisdom of their colleagues, guided by an experienced facilitator. These sessions provide a forum to explore further and synthesize pastoral skills and leadership concepts learned in the other program elements.

“It is a person-based training that involves so many skills and technical training,” explained Miguel Galeano, a participant in the Diocese of St. Augustine. “The small groups allowed us to develop confidence, share our challenges, and support each other … We felt that we were not alone and that we are one Church, which makes us more proactive within our ministries.” 

This piece is an excerpt from the 2022 Latino Pastoral Leaders Impact Report.