World Priest Program is delivered in three, 5-day
workshops that are most effective when
experienced in sequential order.
Each individual workshop is $950, or $2,850 for all three.
Round-trip airport shuttle is available for $50 per session.
February Session
Topics and
Schedule
Introduction to U.S. Speech Patterns
Jeff Jenkins teaches participants how to train the ear to
detect derivations between one's current speech patterns and those
of target speakers. He further provides techniques that can be used
to practice the target speech patterns on the sound, word and
sentence level.
U.S. Church Hierarchical Structures
From one U.S. Catholic diocese to another, titles, roles and
functions of Church hierarchy and personnel may differ somewhat.
Differences naturally exist from country to country as well.
Fr. Steve Giannini covers the basic functions of personnel in
typical U.S. dioceses, contrasting the differences with
workshop participants' home dioceses.
Gender, Boundary and Sexuality Issues and Dynamics
The dynamics of America's culture in regard to sex and sexuality
can be rather confusing to priests from other countries, cultures
and backgrounds.
Br. John Mark Falkenhain, OSB, employs his extensive
research and counseling practice to help international priests
better understand U.S. cultural dynamics in this area.
American Cultures
Dr. Tom Walters introduces the myriad of cultures present in
America through the lens of Church history. What are America's
religious (specifically Catholic) cultures and how did they
come to be that way? What can an international priest expect from
the Church and parish in which he ministers?
Sharing Your Culture
A simple act, such as preparing and sharing a meal
indigenous to your country, can open the doors to an intercultural
exchange with your American parishioners. A cooking and cultural
sharing demonstration sets the model for what international priests
can try in their parishes. Other methods of sharing your culture
with those you serve will also be discussed.
Homiletics and Mass Practicum
Fr.
Godfrey Mullen, OSB, helps workshop participants understand and
master the norms and customs of presiding and preaching at a
typical Sunday Eucharistic liturgy in the United States.
Taxes and Finances for International Priests
If the U.S. tax code appears puzzling for the average American,
consider how much more so it can be for international clergy with
their own special set of regulations.
Cecelia Hamilton covers the tax code as it applies specifically
to visiting clergy and offers best practices for budgeting and
managing money.
April Session Topics
and
Schedule
Speech Patterns for Increased Comprehensibility
Building upon his February presentation,
Jeff Jenkins teaches participants how to apply target speech
patterns to important features of linguistic comprehensibility.
Particular attention is given to stress, rhythm and intonation.
Presbyteral Theology
IPP Director
Fr. Ron Knott explores the major themes from his books,
Intentional Presbyterates: Claiming Our Common Sense of
Purpose and A Bishop and His Priests Together.
What does it mean to be a priest as a member of a presbyterate?
What are the implications for working together intentionally with
other priests of a diocese?
Building Confidence for Cross-Cultural Encounters
Jeff Jenkins helps participants discover the cultural values
and motivations that color the way we interpret and evaluate our
experiences and perceptions and gives tangible strategies for
communicating better across those cultural differences.
U.S. Catholic Church History
Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology President-Rector
Fr. Denis Robinson, OSB, retraces the people, places and
events that comprise the unique makeup of American Church history
and their implications for today's U.S. Catholic.
Sharing Your Culture
Following the presentation in February, workshop
participants try their own hand at cultural
sharing by preparing dinner and sharing
stories from their cultural upbringing. Other opportunities
and ideas for sharing your culture will be discussed.
Homiletics and Mass Practicum
Fr.
Godfrey Mullen, OSB, helps workshop participants understand and
master the norms and customs of presiding and preaching at a
typical funeral liturgy in the United States.
Working with Permanent Deacons and Lay Ecclesial Ministers
Permanent deacons and lay ecclesial ministers, although not
unique to the Church in the United States, are more prevalent in
parishes and ministerial settings than in all other countries. Fr. Julian
Peters, OSB, covers the typical duties and working
relationships of these fellow ministers and explains how their
presence and ministry both benefit and impact the work and ministry
of their priest-pastors.
July Session
Topics and Schedule
Speech Patterns for Pastoral and Liturgical Ministry
Jeff Jenkins helps participants focus on
how to apply target speech patterns to important speech tasks as
priests: proclamation, homiletics and spontaneous speech.
Particular attention is given to phrasing, volume and speed.
Parish Revitalization
Many today accept the closing of
parishes as "inevitable." IPP Director Fr. Ron Knott draws upon extensive experience
as a pastor in "reviving" a home mission parish, a rural parish and
a center-city cathedral parish, as well as his DMin degree in
"parish revitalization," to offer some tried-and-true
approaches to answering the question, "Why not a second golden
age?"
Civil Law and the
Church
Most parish administrators have
some working knowledge of Church law, but may find themselves
lacking when confronting issues of civil law. Sr. Angela Shaughnessy, SCN, discusses the
basics of civil law as it impacts clergy and religious
institutions.
Sharing Your Culture
Following the presentations in February
and April, workshop participants try their own hand
at cultural sharing by preparing dinner and
sharing stories from their cultural upbringing. Other
opportunities and ideas for sharing your culture will be
discussed.
Homiletics and Mass
Practicum
Fr. Godfrey Mullen, OSB, helps workshop
participants understand and master the norms and customs of
presiding and preaching at a typical wedding liturgy in the United
States.
Ethics and Accountability for
Catholic Parishes
Joe Cook discusses best practices
regarding parish management in the areas of Mission Statements,
Ministry Programs, Advisory Boards, Conflict of Interest, Human
Resources, Financial and Legal Matters, Transparency, Fundraising,
and Public Life and Public Policy.
Outing to Lincoln Boyhood
National Memorial
Abraham Lincoln, America's
16th president, lived in southern Indiana from the age
of 7 to 21. As he later wrote of those days, "There I grew
up." On our outing to the Lincoln
Boyhood National Memorial, we'll learn more about this man whom
many Americans consider our greatest president. President Lincoln
led our nation during its civil war, preserved the Union
and brought an end to slavery. We'll visit the museum
and information center and stop at the sites where the
Lincoln cabin stood and the cemetery where his mother, Nancy
Hanks, is buried.
