Catholic parishes include many aspects of small businesses that require the exercise of a number of management competencies including human resource management, financial planning, and team leadership. The individuals responsible for these activities may vary from parish to parish depending on its size and the availability of people with appropriate skills. Mount St. Mary’s Seminary has been developing these skills in its seminarians for several years as part of its Pastors and Stewards priestly formation program. During this time the Seminary has surveyed vocation directors and parish priests across the nation to ensure course materials are comprehensive while remaining practical. As part of its service to the broader Catholic Community, the Seminary is now making these educational materials available on-line for use by parish priests or lay people.
Through this program, Mount St. Mary’s is able to remediate the financial and administrative challenges that parish priests often face, ensuring they are well-prepared for the vocation to which God has called them.
If you're interested in purchasing a module and need assistance, please view our step-by-step purchasing instructions.
The Seminary offers computer-aided learning modules (CAMs) designed to enhance learning in financial literacy, human resources and pastoral administration. Course content is specifically geared to what priests and lay parish professionals will face in a Catholic setting. Participants learn how to interpret financial document terminology, create a budget, hire an employee, let someone go in a charitable way, and manage a staff.
These courses are designed to be taken at your own pace; there are no deadlines to register or begin.
For additional information, please contact seminaryinfo@msmary.edu.
Provides a basic orientation of the priest as the administrator. It provides competency in the cost of hiring, firing, salary and benefits, the value of job descriptions, performance reviews and ethical practices.
Module price: $100
Module I will provide a basic orientation of key financial concepts, such as the creation of a parish budget, fidelity to the mission of the parish and explains the importance of transparency and accountability.
Module price: $100
This Module will provide methods to manage a budget and explores some best practices for financial accountability.
Module price: $100
Provides a basic orientation of the priest as a leader. It explores a background on the servant-leader model of leadership, styles of communication and competency of decision making.
Module price: $100
Module I will help plan for assessment, develop a timeline, form and prepare a strategic planning team, collect and analyze data, set goals and draft the plan.
Module price: $100
Module II will help to identify stakeholders to solicit feedback, review, approve, monitor and disseminate the plan, as well as make revisions as needed.
Module price: $100
This Module will provide useful information for future clergy to be good stewards of their own personal finances such as checking and savings account, personal budget, investment and retirement plans, establishing and maintaining good credit, loans (car), etc.
Module price: $100
Includes Pastoral Leadership and Strategic Planning I & II
Bundle price: $250
Includes Human Resource Management and Parish Financials I and II
Bundle price: $250
All seven modules are included in this bundle: Parish Leadership, Parish Financials I & II, Human Resources, Strategic Planning I & II, and Personal Finance.
Bundle price: $500