Bishop Bonnar’s Advent Call to Renewal and Leadership


This Advent 2024, Bishop David Bonnar, bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown, delivered an inspiring message to his presbyterate, calling them to embrace their role as messengers of hope during the Jubilee Year. Acknowledging the challenges of recent years, including the pandemic, Bishop Bonnar reminded the priests of their mission to embody and proclaim hope. Drawing on the wisdom of Fr. Jim McKarns, a priest of the diocese, he echoed “Gentlemen, we sell hope!”

Bishop Bonnar urged his priests to deepen their joy in the Gospel and courageously embrace their call to pastoral leadership. Recognizing the need for continued growth, he highlighted the transformative opportunities provided by the Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI), specifically in Leadership Coaching for priests. “The exercise of our pastoral leadership is always a work in progress; we are incomplete and there is always a need for continued growth,” he wrote, emphasizing the importance of personal and professional development. He praised CLI as a “valuable gifted resource” that had equipped the diocese with insights through the Disciple Maker Index Survey and offered tools for personal and pastoral renewal.

A key component of CLI’s offerings, Bishop Bonnar explained, was professional leadership coaching, which he described as providing “transformational care for priests.” He acknowledged that few priests had yet embraced this resource, but he encouraged them to do so for their benefit and the good of the Church. “A winning team relies not just upon talent and hard work, but good coaching,” he emphasized, urging his brothers to avail themselves of this “gift of promise” to enhance their ministry and strengthen their leadership.

Through his Advent message, Bishop Bonnar called his priests to greater unity, resilience, and hope, equipping them to carry the light of Christ into their ministry and beyond.


Leadership Coaching offers priest accompaniment in their ministry, helping them appreciate their natural leadership style, identify leadership skills needed to better serve the people of God in their ministry, and provide accountability for their own individual growth and call to “be more” by God’s grace.

by Mary Serafino

December 03, 2024




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