International Holy Cross priests and brothers finish leadership program at Notre Dame

Photos provided by the Holy Cross Mission Center.

This summer, 20 Holy Cross brothers and priests from around the world participated in a three-week Congregational Formation for Leaders Program which was held at the University of Notre Dame. (Three more were unable to obtain visas, and travel restrictions due to the Ebola outbreak prevented another from attending.) The formation program was a collaboration between the University’s Office of Mission Engagement and Church Affairs and the Congregation’s General Administration.

Participants included men from mission locations supported by the Holy Cross Mission Center: Rev. Lawrence Mwenya, C.S.C., (EA); Rev. Digonta Chambugong, C.S.C., (SHJ); Rev. Sumon Peter Costa, C.S.C., (SHJ); Rev. Badhon Hilarash Rozario, C.S.C., (SHJ); and Br. Toren Joseph Palma, C.S.C., (SJ).

The formation program was divided into five modules:

1. Organizational Behavior,
2. Financial Resources,
3. Personnel Resources,
4. Strategy and Structure, and
5. Theology and Spirituality.

Each module was taught by a member of the Congregation or a professor from a Holy Cross higher education institution.

The class materials were tailored to focus on the issues, topics, and principles most relevant to the Congregation’s mission today. This included having each participant present a case from their ministry that they studied with their classmates.

In addition to the five modules, several guest speakers spoke on topics throughout the three weeks, including three guest speakers who spoke on Tuesday nights.

At the first of these special gatherings, Most Rev. Kevin C. Rhoades, Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, addressed the virtues of Christian leadership.

The following week, Mr. Jack Brennan, the former CEO and chairman of Vanguard who recently stepped down as the chairman of the Board of Trustees at the University of Notre Dame, outlined the core qualities of a good leader and addressed the topics of governance and collaboration in service of the mission. He was joined by Rev. John Jenkins, C.S.C., president emeritus of Notre Dame.

On the final Tuesday, Dr. Carolyn Woo, former dean of the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business (1997-2011) and former president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services (2012-2016), spoke about the leadership style required to guide an international and multicultural organization in the Church.

Participants were also joined via Zoom for two sessions given by Helen Harrington from L + P Consultants, who shared about the sustainability and planning study commissioned by the General Administration.

At the completion of the three weeks, participants expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to grow in knowledge and skills and to develop fraternal relationships with religious from other jurisdictions.

Together, let us pray that God will bring the good work of this program to completion in the form of a more dynamic, collaborative, and mission-oriented leadership in our Congregation.

Provided by the Holy Cross Mission Center and adapted from an article provided by the General Administration of the Congregation of Holy Cross, July 2026.