Young Religious Leadership Development Program

Leadership in religious communities has unique demands: it must maintain the Christocentric and communal focuses of religious life while leading ministries and communities, yet still learn and adapt leadership skills from both the secular and ecclesial worlds. The Young Religious Leadership Program’s goal is to support young religious in meeting these demands. It is a cohort-based, certificate earning program developed by CMSM that applies the best practices in leadership development to the context and reality of young, religious leaders.

Detailed information on the program, including cost, logistics, and content, can be found further down the page. If you would like to speak to someone about the program, please email David Rohrer Budiash or call (240) 436-1331.

Thank you for your interest in the Young Religious Leadership Development Program. The 2024-2025 Cohort is full. If you would like to join the waitlist, please complete the registration, and you will be notified if a space becomes available. If you have any questions, contact David Rohrer Budiash.

Program Highlights

A year-long journey through three key areas of leadership development: the interior life of the leader, collaboration skills with community members and partners, and preparing for adaptive leadership challenges
Certificate in leadership development earned through St. Joseph’s College of Maine
Cohort based (learn in community, from one another)
Co-facilitation, from an expert in leadership and a religious
Monthly, online sessions: 2 hours to include prayer, presentation of content, small group discussion and peer support
Classwork, including reading texts and articles, watching video content, and writing and responding to prompts, all which takes place in between monthly sessions
Year-long, starting with an in-person opening gathering (September 17-19, 2024), 10 monthly sessions, closing with an in-person meeting at the CMSM assembly (July 22-24, 2025)

Who is this Program For?

This program is designed for religious who have been fully incorporated into their community (i.e., solemn profession, ordination, or any other milestone a community uses to indicate life commitment) for 10 years or less.
It is not intended for those in postulancy, novitiate, or simple vows. Instead, it is geared towards religious who have already made a life commitment to their community and are preparing to take on greater responsibilities and roles.
The program is expected to run annually, so there will be future opportunities for younger members to participate.
This program focuses on leadership, not management – those who are interested in developing management skills, such as budgeting, facilities management, and personnel would be better served by pursuing programs that focus on these areas, such as Villanova’s Certificates in Church or School Management.

Cost and Logistics

The program cost is $1,700, which covers everything except travel costs, lodging at the closing session, and books.
The opening session is in-person, from September 17-19, 2024 at St. Paul of the Cross Retreat House in Detroit, MI. Although it may be possible for participants to join remotely, all are encouraged to attend in person to get to know other members of the cohort.
The closing session is also in-person at the CMSM 2025 National Assembly, from July 22-24, 2025 in Baltimore, MD.

Program Framework: Interior, Collaborative, & Adaptive

Learn More About Each Module

The program is still in development and there may be changes before it begins in September.

Interior Life

Discuss the unique characteristics of religious leadership. Root your leadership in your own call from Jesus and integrate your charism into your leadership style. Develop better self-awareness, while honing strategies for effective communication and resilience in challenging situations.

Internal life of the Young, Religious Leader

Click Here to Learn More about Module One

Collaborative Life

Focus on the communal, collaborative, and relational aspects of religious leadership, such as building teams, communal discernment and decision making, and navigating group conflict.

In Community & As Ministry Leader

Click Here to Learn More about Module Two

Adaptive Life

Learn about adaptive leadership challenges, which require a a change of attitude, approach, or mindset to solve, develop skills to solve adaptive challenges, and apply these to an concrete issue of your choice.

Navigating Opportunities, Challenges and Transition

Click Here to Learn More about Module Three