Institute for Priests and Presbyterates
Pre-Retirement Workshop for Priests
Encore Priests is a workshop for priests in their 60s or approaching retirement.
Four Weeks to Restoke Your Fire
"Stoking the Fire" is a four-week mini-sabbatical designed for priests at midlife.
Saint Meinrad's Institute for Priests and Presbyterates offers dioceses several do-it-yourself models for strengthening presbyteral unity, designed by IPP founding director Fr. Ronald Knott, the author of Intentional Presbyterates: Claiming Our Common Sense of Purpose.
Presbyteral Assembly Models
Presbyteral assemblies are based on a series of five models, collectively titled Intentional Presbyterates. Below are links to downloadable PDFs that describe each of the models.
Part I: "Claiming Our Common Sense of Purpose as Diocesan Priests"
This model focuses on the theology of presbyteral unity, on writing a common vision statement, and on hearing the expectations of internal and external stakeholders.
PART II: "Honoring the Variety of gifts within Our Presbyterate"
This model focuses on how giving fellow priests opportunities to share their gifts and talents with one another is part of the work of building presbyteral unity and constitutes part of a priest's spiritual life.
PART III: "Made Holy By Our Shared Ministry"
This model is based on the themes of Pastores Dabo Vobis, concentrating on how his threefold ministry is a priest's principal means of sanctification.
PART IV: "The Asceticism Of Dialogue In The Ministry Of Unity"
This model is based on a theme within Pope Paul VI's encyclical Ecclesiam Suam to help priests learn to speak with one another more effectively.
Retreat Model
This retreat model, titled "Claiming our Common Sense of Purpose as Diocesan Priests," is based on Part I of the Intentional Presbyterates series of presbyteral assemblies.
Resources
Prayers for the Presbyterate
A Priest's Prayer for His Presbyterate
Oración del Sacerdote por su Presbiterio (Spanish version)
Song For Presbyteral Gatherings
"Lord and Teacher You Have Called Us" is a hymn created for use in presbyteral retreats and assemblies. Commissioned by Fr. J. Ronald Knott, founding director of the Institute for Priests and Presbyterates, the lyrics were written by Fr. Harry Hagan, OSB, using sentiments from Church documents.
The song can be sung to any of several familiar hymn tunes. It can be used freely under Creative Common Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
We can help
To discuss implementing these models in your diocese, contact the Institute for Priests and Presbyterates at 800-357-8477 or by email at smipp@saintmeinrad.edu