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Plenary
Sessions Descriptions
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Bishop William Skylstad -
The Challenge and Grace of the Journey to
Holiness
Monday, February 24, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
The
priesthood provides an unusually fertile ground
for conversion of heart and ongoing formation.
Prayer time, celebration of sacraments
especially Eucharist, the constant encounter
with God’s people in ministry and the ongoing
opportunities for growth and processing the
challenge of priestly service in the Church, are
the Emmaus journey over and over again. This
path of constant discovery inevitably leads to a
better understanding and appreciation of the
mysterious presence of Jesus in priestly
ministry.
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Dolores R. Leckey -
The Examined Life and Authentic Leadership
Tuesday, February 25, 10:30 – Noon
The
title is drawn from the Committee’s working
title,
Holy and Effective Priests and Presbyterates.
One question guiding this session is “What
constitutes holiness and how does holiness
influence leadership?” Ongoing conversion
(moral, religious and intellectual) at every
stage of life is a central element. Commitment,
creativity, collaboration and community are also
essential. How can these be fostered in the life
of a contemporary priest is another critical
question embedded in this presentation.
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Paul Wilkes -
Holy, Happy and Effective Parish Priest: A
Report from the Field
Wednesday, February 26, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Paul
Wilkes conducted a ground-breaking, Lilly
Endowment-sponsored national search to produce
his book,
Excellent Catholic Parishes: The Guide to Best
Places and Practices.
He will talk about how Church excellence looks
in different parishes in different parts of the
country, how it is being achieved, and how it is
within the reach of every parish.
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Rev. Brian O. McDermott,
SJ
- Fractured Authority, Broken
Hearts, and the Call
Thursday, February 27, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Given the present state of the Church, what are
the mental and spiritual capacities required in
the priest today? How ought a priest take up his
authority for the sake of the community
precisely at a time when clerical authority is
fractured? What services as authority figure can
the priest provide the community, just when that
community (including the priest) copes with
broken dreams and broken hearts? One way of
fruitfully engaging these painful questions is
by exploring both authority and leadership as
spiritual practice.
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