Leadership Coaching for Priests: Entering Into Sacred Ground

By Carla Molina, Leadership Consultant

I am a faithful Catholic and Executive Coach. I love seeing transformation in clients, particularly when that transformation goes deep and becomes engrained in their lives.

In 2018, Catholic Leadership Institute engaged skilled professionals at the diocesan level across the country to help accompany priests to leverage insights through the Called for More service to benefit their own personal growth. Over time, we enhanced this service to become a year-long commitment we now call Leadership Coaching. And, just as with my former clients, we have been able to see a positive impact in the whole person.

A prayerful priest encounters the Lord in his interior life. As a coach, entering into the inner life of a priest is entering into sacred ground. Our leadership coaches are men and women chosen to do that lovingly and respectfully. Some of these partnerships have deepened over time. I know one case where a leadership coach and a priest decided to meet weekly instead of monthly because the benefits to the priest were so important. I know others who continue coaching beyond the year-long commitment, again because of the benefits realized by the priest. In all cases, the coaches themselves have also gained profound knowledge about the faith and insights about themselves through these interactions.

Proven and effective human tools can also be used at the service of the Church. As much as I have seen the benefits of coaching up close throughout a variety of organizations, I’m edified by how much this service can also bring multiple benefits to the Church that I love.

Carla Molina is a Leadership Consultant and serves several dioceses, parishes, and priests around the country with expert support and Leadership Coaching.