With the conclusion of the Christmas season, we enter liturgically into a brief few weeks of Ordinary Time. We also began a new calendar year. This time of year, we have an opportunity to reflect on where we have been and where we want to go, particularly in terms of leadership. As you may have seen in our last newsletter, CMSM is one of the partners in a Lilly Endowment grant to The Catholic University of America. Our part of the grant is $250,000 over five years. With these funds, we intend to enhance our leadership formation offerings.
Over the last few years, we have introduced new programming or redesigned existing programs with formation of leaders of male religious communities as the central focus. We have three upcoming programs that might be of interest. The first, January 27-30, is our Winter Leadership Gathering which uses a case study model and facilitated discussion among leaders. Our primary topic for this time together will be community life.
The second opportunity on February 17 is our Eldercare Summit, which is online. We will have the directors of both the National Religious Retirement Office (NRRO) and Save Our Aging Religious (SOAR) who will assist our members and their collaborators in deepening knowledge of planning grants and additional funding for care of elder members.
The third event, March 3-5, is our New Leader Workshop. We consider this program critically important for those in the first year or two of leadership. Our consultation shows that those who participated in this program know more readily the major issues facing leaders of male religious communities and how to access resources to address them.
Over the next few years, we will add to our programing, just as we have with our Young Religious Leadership Development Certificate Program. The second cohort of that program is currently meeting. We will open registration later this month for the third cohort which will start in September.
May we be in prayer for one another for fruitful service in leadership of our communities.
In prayerful solidarity,
Frank Donio, SAC
Executive Director
This is an excerpt from the January 2026 Items of Note. Items of Note is a monthly email for CMSM members and partners. If you are not receiving Items of Note once a month via email, please email contact@cmsm.org.