Top photo caption: Erin Quinn, business manager for St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish, Spring Lake, is shown with the parish pastor, Father Damian McElroy. Quinn, who is one of the 10 inaugural participants in the Church Management program, says of the program, “I’ve learned a lot already.” Courtesy photo
By EmmaLee Italia, Contributing Editor
Parish business managers and eventually diocesan priests have a unique opportunity through Villanova University, Pa., to build their knowledge about strategic, managerial and financial operations in the parish.
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., established the plan this fall as a means to enhance temporal administration skills for those involved in parish management. The new program will culminate in a certificate in Church Management through Villanova.
Building Success
Father Christopher Dayton, pastor of St. Paul Parish, Princeton, explained that the idea took shape during a meeting with diocesan officials Kevin Cimei, Joe Bianchi and Michael D’Angelo, as part of an effort to help pastors and business managers in the Diocese have greater success with Church management.
The Princeton pastor knows personally the value of such training. At Bishop O’Connell’s encouragement, Father Dayton earned a master’s degree in 2023 in Church Administration from Villanova. He maintains a relationship with Villanova’s Church Management Department, which helped develop the Trenton-centered program.
According to Father Dayton, a three-point plan was established that would, “first, educate parish business managers in the Diocese through the 12-week certification program at Villanova School of Business.” He added, “We would then propose sending some business managers for full master’s degrees in Church Administration at Villanova if there were interested applicants. [And finally,] send priests 1-10 years ordained to the weeklong priest certification program at Villanova. This way both priests and business managers would have the tools they need to be successful.”
Launched in September, the first phase of the Church Management program included 10 parish business managers invited by the Diocese to participate in a 12-session webinar series. Continuing through April, the series includes such topics as financial reporting; leadership development; leading councils and teams; human resources and people management; spirituality of administration; stewardship and development; strategic planning, and much more.
Father Dayton explained that the business manager program would be funded through scholarships and the Diocese, adding “All programs for priests have been fully funded by generous Villanova donors.”
Details for the priest certification phase of the program are still being finalized. While it will take a number of years to achieve, the goal is that every business manager or head finance person will have completed the 12-week certification program, Father Dayton explained.
Stewardship Through Sound Management
“As disciples of Jesus Christ, we are called to be responsible stewards of the human, financial and organizational resources entrusted to our care,” said Dr. Matthew F. Manion, faculty director, Villanova Center for Church Management. “Yet many Church leaders were never taught the sound management techniques necessary to fulfill that responsibility. This webinar series is designed specifically to fill that need.”
Father Dayton hopes that this program will benefit priests of the Diocese with confidence to serve as pastor.
“Priests spend most of their formation studying theology – and while this is just a glance at the temporal world, I hope it helps them to lead with courage and better rely on the staff they work with,” he said.
For the business managers, Father Dayton believes the program “will help (them) be more effective in their roles and see that the Church isn’t a corporate entity but a Church alive and thriving, living out the Gospel.”
Erin Quinn, business manager for St. Catharine-St. Margaret Parish, Spring Lake, was one of the 10 initial managers invited to the program, and has already turned in her first paper for the course.
“So far it has been a wonderful experience, giving me a fresh perspective on my day-to-day work,” she said. “I’ve learned a lot already, and it’s made me think very intentionally about all aspects of Church management and leadership.”
Some of those aspects include managing practical tasks while keeping the mission of the parish in mind. She has already been trying to support her staff and listen to them more.
Quinn, whose daughter is a freshman at Villanova, stated, “I’m very grateful to be learning in a program in service to the parish that’s helping me grow, and to [my pastor] Father Damian McElroy and Father Dayton for their support.”
“All of us share in this mission of the Church,” said Father Dayton, “and my hope is that this program helps strengthen the gifts and tools our staff and clergy bring to the table each day.”