March 5-7, 2024 | Green Hill, Hyattsville, MD

Join us for this year’s New Leader Workshop at Green Hill in Hyattsville, MD! Designed specifically for those new to leadership in their religious communities, this workshop will feature opportunities to explore some of the most pressing concerns leaders of religious communities deal with. Join us for overviews on safeguarding, formation, finance, personnel, eldercare, canon and civil law, among other topics. Connect with partners who can help you with your leadership ministry, and network with other new leaders who are facing similar challenges!

Registration Options & Deadlines:

  • Commuter Registration:
    • Workshop
    • Lodging on your own
    • Registration closes on February 24 at 11:59 pm ET

Workshop Topics

Overview

We are looking forward to hearing from CMSM team members and topical experts on the following topics during this year’s New Leader Workshop: safeguarding, formation, finance, personnel, eldercare, canon and civil law. Each presentation will be designed to focus in on 2-3 essential points to help new leaders as they deal with the complex reality of religious leadership today.

There is more information below about the daily schedules during the New Leader Workshop.

Schedule

  • 12 pm – Check In and Lunch
  • 1 pm – Welcome and Introductions – Fr. Frank Donio, SAC
  • 2pm – What is CMSM? – CMSM National Office Staff
    • An overview of the mission, scope of work, and programming the National Office offers to all CMSM members, as well as introductions to the staff.
  • 2:30pm – 10 in 30 – Fr. Frank Donio, SAC
    • A suggested list of the top ten priorities to focus on as you transition into your leadership role. 
  • 3:30pm – Leadership Retrospective – Fr. Jeffrey Kirch, CPPS
    • A welcome from CMSM president Fr. Jeffrey Kirch, CPPS and a reflection on his leadership experience and some of the lessons he has learned from leading his own community. 
  • 4:30 pm – Break
  • 4:45pm – Evening Prayer
  • 5:00pm – Mass
  • 6:00pm – Dinner

  • 8:30am – Mass 
  • 9:00am – Morning Prayer
  • 9:15am – Welcome back and Check-In
  • 9:30am – Safeguarding Panel – Dcn. Steven DeMartino, Fr. John Collins, CSsR, Br. Damian Novello, OSF
    • A panel consisting of the chair of our Director of Safeguarding Initiatives, the Chair of CMSM’s Safeguarding Advisory Committee, and a current major superior, which will feature an overview of safeguarding transition plans for new leaders, a discussion of current challenges in safeguarding, and insights from current leaders on safeguarding. 
  • 10:15 am Break
  • 10:30am – Safeguarding Panel, continued
  • 11:00am – Eldercare – Fr. Myles Sheehan, SJ
    • A presentation from eldercare expert, medical doctor, and former provincial Fr. Sheehan, focusing on how leaders can promote healthy aging for men religious. 
  • 12pm – Lunch
  • 1pm -Welcome back/processing
  • 1:30pm – Canon Law – Fr. James Herring, O. Praem. and Amy Jill Strickland 
    • More details coming soon! 
  • 2:30pm – Civil Law – Philip Ward
    • A set of essential points for new leaders to keep in mind when engaging with civil law, from experienced attorney Phil Ward, who has worked with multiple religious congregations over many years.
  • 3:30pm – The Resource Center for Religious Institutes (RCRI) Introduction
    • A video introduction from CMSM partner RCRI, highlighting their work in canon law, civil law, and finance, as well as the resources they offer to religious communities. 
  • 3:35pm – Finance – Dcn. Mark Fontana
    • Dcn. Mark Fontana, a finance consultant for BMT, a subsidiary of Christian Brothers Services, will discuss a series important points for your community’s finances, such as budgeting, how to review and understand financial statements, and financial forecasting, among other points. 
  • 4:20pm – Check-in 
  • 4:45pm – Evening Prayer
  • 5:00pm – Mass
  • 6pm – Dinner

  • 8:00am – Morning Prayer
  • 8:15am – Mass
  • 8:45am – Breakfast
  • 9:15am – Check-In
  • 9:30am – National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC) Introduction
    • A video introduction from CMSM partner organization NRVC, discussing their work supporting vocations and the resources they offer. 
  • 9:35am – Vocation – Br. Dan O’Riorden, FMS
    • Br. O’Riorden, a former vocation director and current provincial, will provide some insight from his experience in vocation work. Drawing on research about vocation work, he’ll point out some areas that are promising for current vocation work and invite conversation about how you, as a leader, will oversee the community’s vocation efforts. 
  • 10am – Religious Formation Conference (RFC) Introduction
    • A video introduction from CMSM partner organization RFC, introducing the work they do to support formation and the resources they offer. 
  • 10am – Formation – Fr. Ron Mercier, SJ
    • Fr. Mercier, currently the delegate for formation for the Jesuit Conference of the United States and Canada and former provincial of the Central and Southern Province of the Jesuits, will discuss four insights from his time in leadership and formation: identifying and supporting good formators, balancing the good of the man and the institute, understanding the consequences of ‘giving a chance,’ and the essential focus of formation in the charism. 
  • 10:30am – Personnel – Regina Haney & Lisa Pinto
    • An overview of three essential issues in personnel management – salaries, performance management, and difficult conversations – from the executive director of the National Association of Church Personnel Administrators (NACPA) Regina Haney and Senior Director of Human Resources from the Archdiocese of Miami, Lisa Pinto. 
  • 11:30pm – Wellness – David Shellenberger
    • An introduction to wellness for religious leaders, focusing on self care and stress management from the CEO of Saint John Vianney Center David Shellenberger. 
  • 12:30pm – Synthesis/Processing – Fr. Frank Donio, SAC
    • A final opportunity to reflect and synthesize your insights from the previous sessions.
  • 1pm – Lunch/End

Logistics

Lodging

For the Preferred Registration option, lodging has been arranged at the College Park Marriott & Conference Center. The nightly room rate is included in your registration fee. You do not need to book your own hotel room unless you register for the Commuter Registration option.

  • Hotel check-in on March 5 begins at 4:00 pm
    • The Workshop begins on March 5 at 12:30 pm at Green Hill. We suggest arriving directly to Green Hill and checking in to the hotel after dinner on Monday evening.
  • Hotel check-out on March 7 is at 12:00 pm

Arrival/Departure

The NLW will start on Tuesday, March 5 with lunch at 12 pm and conclude Thursday, March 7 after lunch (approximately 2:00 pm).

Airport

We look forward to seeing you. If you have any questions, please reach out to David Rohrer Budiash, Director of programs, at [email protected] or (240) 436-1311.