On Oct. 2, 17 priests who serve in the Springfield diocese will graduate from Catholic Leadership Institute's Good Leaders Good Shepherds program. Over the course of almost two years, these men will have gathered a total of 19 days to complete six modules that were led by CLI faculty members. They met at either Villa Maria Catholic Life Center or at the Chiara Center, both in Springfield.

Good Leaders Good Shepherds uses Jesus Christ as the ultimate shepherd and model of leadership. It is a curriculum for clergy specifically designed to help Catholic priests overcome the modern challenges of a diminishing number of clergy and more complex circumstances for priestly ministry.

According to the CLI Web site, the goal of the program is to "minimize the frustration and energy spent on their administrative roles and maximize the joy and time spent on the pastoral duties for which they were uniquely ordained. The impact will be more holy, healthy, and happy shepherds of vibrant parish communities, leading more people to a deeper relationship with Christ."

Sticking with the program has been well worthwhile, said Father Joseph Ring, vicar for clergy, pastor of St. James Parish in Riverton, and priest moderator of Resurrection Parish in Illiopolis. "This was something I had seen at a conference for vicars for clergy. The whole point of it is to help us become better pastoral leaders in the parishes.

"Each module is designed around priestly and pastoral ministry. Each training module includes time for prayer, liturgy and fraternity," Father Ring said. "In learning those skills we can face challenges with the right tools. It is not so frustrating and we have more energy to give to pastoral ministry. So, when I'm a good leader, I'll also become a better shepherd."

Father Jeffrey Stone, who was ordained just over three years ago, said he found the program to be comprehensive and informative and a good way to get discussions started among the priests. "I think a lot of people believe that all of the priests know each other very well and that we all know what is happening all around the diocese," said Father Stone, who is pastor of St. Brigid in Liberty, St. Edward in Mendon and St. Joseph in Quincy.

"But the truth is most of us are so busy with our parishes that we don't always know one another," Father Stone said. "We can learn from each other. When I heard what other priests are doing and how they handle committees and things like that in their parishes - that sparked ideas in me."

Along with Father Ring and Father Stone, also completing the program were:  Father John Beveridge, Father Gerald Bunse, Father Richard Chiola, Father Christopher Comerford, Father D. Patrick Gibbons, Father Jeffery Grant, Father Thomas Hagstrom, Father David Hoefler, Father Patrick Jakel, Father Allen Kemme, Father William Kessler, Msgr. Michael Kuse, Father Thomas Meyer, Father James Palakudy, SAC, and Father Angel Sierra.