Richmond, VA, October 17, 2007 – Over 100 priests gathered with Bishop DiLorenzo in Williamsburg, VA for the Richmond Diocese Convocation of Priests.

Over the course of three days, the priests of the diocese engaged in reflection on the spiritual formation of priests, the leadership of the priest, the use and abuse of power, and issues of parish management.

Fr. Michael Heher, vicar general and moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Orange, CA, engaged the priests on their mission of service and love and how that translates into a specific ministry of leadership.

Dr. Paul Ashton, a psychologist and consultant to religious communities and dioceses, addressed issues of power and the role of the priest.

Mr. Michael Brough, Director of Planning and Member Services for the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management, shared best practices in parish management, discussed how to ensure shared responsibility and accountability at the parish level, and promoted a model of how priests can “manage from the middle”.

Mr. John Barrett and members of the Diocesan Office of Finance joined the priests for the session on parish financial accountability. 

Each parish received a copy of the Church in America DVD and workbook from the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management to be used with parishioners to plan in the areas of parish management, financial accountability and personnel development. 

Further information on the Leadership Roundtable can be found at www.nlrcm.org.

Resources from the Diocese of Richmond can be found at www.richmonddiocese.org.  These include:

Called to Stewardship (Finance Council Policies)
Called to Give (Gift Acceptance Policies)
Called to Work in Harmony (Personnel Policies)
Called to Serve (Parish Pastoral Councils)