Only the Pastor Can Take the First Step
A Simple Christmas Idea
The Courage of an American Pastor
Paid Staff vs. Volunteers
Let’s Do Something
Evangelization and Discipleship in the “Workplace”
Parishes Loving Parishes
Amazing Parish Follow-up Checklist
Beautiful Simplicity at Mass
Pastors and Their Associates
The Dangerous Fear of Attrition
Pat Lencioni 2017 USCCB Convocation Keynote
Post Conference Video Message from Pat Lencioni
Post-Conference Webinar: Four Tips for Moving Your Parish Forward
Who Should Be on Your Leadership Team
Circle of Concern & Circle of Influence
Three Common Mistakes That Prevent Progress
The Four Ingredients of an Amazing Homily
Amazing Parish Best Practices: Getting Clear About What Works
The Better Pastor: An Honest Look at the Challenges of Leading a Parish
Webinar: Hospitality During the Holidays and Beyond!
First Steps to Creating an Amazing Parish Webinar Recording
Recommended Reading
Additional Resources
SMALL BIBLE GROUP STUDY
The Great Adventure Bible Study by Jeff Cavins
STEWARDSHIP
RESOURCES
Our Sunday Visitor
CREATING CUSTOM PARISH APPS
Catholic Parish Apps
COMMUNICATION TOOL FOR PARISHES
Flocknote
LIFELONG MISSIONARY TRAINING
FOCUS
PROGRAMS, MOVIES & BOOKS
FORMED
PARISH TOOL FOR EVANGELIZATION
ALPHA
PARISH RENEWAL RESOURCES
Real Life Catholic with Chris Stefanick
LIFE CHANGING RESOURCES FOR CATHOLICS & THEIR PARISHES
Dynamic Catholic
WELCOME THOSE RETURNING TO THE FAITHThe Better Pastor
“As he approached the door to the sacristy, Fr. Daniel Connor had no idea that his parish— and his priesthood—was about to be changed forever.”
The Better Pastor
by Patrick Lencioni
The Better Pastor is a fictional yet realistic story, lovingly written for all those priests in the world who are not only spiritual shepherds but also leaders of the organizations we call parishes.
Being the pastor of a Catholic parish is one of the most challenging jobs in the world. Whether they are responsible for a small rural parish, medium-sized urban one, or large suburban mega-parish, all pastors have one thing in common: they can’t do it alone. Unfortunately, many wonderful priests find that becoming a pastor can be overwhelming and lonely, and can even diminish the joy of their vocation. This is a tragedy, and an unnecessary one.
In his first book intended specifically for clergy, Patrick Lencioni tells the story of a priest who is challenged to think differently about his “job.” As he does in his other leadership fables written for the secular world, Lencioni quickly cuts to the heart of the challenge faced by leaders, and he provokes them to embrace simple but powerful concepts that can change the way they work and serve the people God has put in their lives.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Patrick Lencioni is a New York Times best-selling author and president of the Table Group, a firm dedicated to helping organizations become healthier and more effective. He is a lifelong Catholic who, after more than twenty years in business, decided to spend more of his time and energy serving the Church. He is a cofounder of The Amazing Parish Movement, committed to helping pastors and their teams improve organizationally and spiritually. He has worked with a host of parishes, schools, and dioceses, and has consulted to a wide variety of Catholic apostolates. Pat lives in California with his wife and four sons.
Patrick Lencioni is a consummate storyteller and renowned leadership expert. The Better Pastor is a timely answer to prayer, and a resource for every priest!
Lencioni is one of the most sought after leadership experts of our time, and the most successful organizations in the world look to him for advice. Now he's putting his gifts at the service of the Church he loves so much. His advice is simple, focused, and accessible, just like our ministries should be.
In a humorous fable, Lencioni lays bare the challenge faced by every generation of priests: confronting pastoral realities that seminary training could neither anticipate nor address.
This book is a highly relevant story for today’s parish priest. It will serve as a catalyst to better help pastors successfully, faithfully, and happily live out their calling as good leaders and shepherds of our beloved parishes.
Parish life demands that we pastors steer the ship in unfamiliar and sometimes threatening waters. In The Better Pastor, Patrick Lencioni offers us a new way of seeing our role as shepherds, one that is challenging, encouraging, and hopeful in the same breath.