From 29 May to 18 June, 20 Holy Cross Brothers and Priests from around the world came to the University of Notre Dame for the summer session of the Congregational Formation for Leaders Program. The program was a product of a creative partnership between the Congregation’s General Administration and the University’s Office of Mission Engagement and Church Affairs.
Br. Paul Bednarczyk, C.S.C., Superior General, had highlighted leadership formation for the Congregation’s brothers and priests as one of his top priorities. “Religious leadership today is quite complex,” he said. The Congregation must “equip our younger members with an increased capacity to navigate the various intricacies of a rapidly changing Congregation, Church, society and world.”
“Providing such leadership in-service now will help ensure the strength, sustainability, and vitality of our Congregation in the future,” added Br. Bednarczyk.
“It was truly a profound experience to have the first Holy Cross congregational leaders program at the University of Notre Dame during the summer of 2026,” said Fr. Austin Collins, C.S.C., Vice President of the Office of Mission Engagement and Church Affairs at the University of Notre Dame. “It was an honor to welcome our brothers from around the world to Notre Dame. As a global, Catholic, research university, collaborating with the Congregation of Holy Cross General Administration made perfect sense. This collaboration of lay and religious colleagues strengthened the mission of the program. The seeds have now been planted for beneficial relationships throughout the congregation and our institutions of higher education.”
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The leadership program was divided into two stages. The first stage, which began back on 19 September, consisted of eight months of on-line classes spread over the program’s five modules or subject areas: organizational behavior (Fr. Daniel Parrish, C.S.C.), financial resources (Fr. Jack Ryan, C.S.C.), human resources (Fr. Steve Lacroix, C.S.C.), strategy and structure (Dr. Mark Meckler), and theology and spirituality (Professor Stacey Noem).
Those online classes prepared the participants for the second stage, which was the three-week summer session at the University of Notre Dame. The in-person program allowed the participants to dive deeper into the various subjects. The professors tailored their classes to focus on the issues, topics, and principles most relevant for the Congregation’s mission today.
“The classes in the three-week program were intense, but they gave me and my colleagues a chance to reflect on our ministry experiences,” said Fr. Lawrence Mwenya, C.S.C., from the Province of East Africa. “Sharing experiences from ministries in different jurisdictions helped me appreciate the cultural contexts where we serve. The insights and theories that we learned renewed my zeal for ministry and also prompted me to consider the best ways to apply them in the mission of the Congregation of Holy Cross.”
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In addition to the classes, three distinguished guest speakers joined the leadership program on Tuesday nights for a lecture series: Most Rev. Kevin C. Rhoades, Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend; Mr. Jack Brennan, the former CEO and Chairman of Vanguard who recently stepped down as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Notre Dame; and Dr. Carolyn Woo, the former President and CEO of Catholic Relief Services who also served 14 years as the Dean of the Mendoza College of Business at Notre Dame.
The participants also heard from Br. Bednarczyk on his vision for leadership in the Congregation. He spent a week accompanying the program.
For the three weeks that they were at Notre Dame, the participants were generously hosted by the Midwest Province and U.S. Province at Columba Hall and Moreau Seminary and Scholasticate. On weekdays, Corby Hall received the program for lunch, and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart welcomed them for Masses.
The program participants also had the opportunity to get to know and interact with religious and apostolates in the South Bend area. On Sunday, 31 May, the Sisters of the Holy Cross hosted them at their convent at St. Mary’s College. The visit included a tour of the convent and the Church of Loretto, a presentation on the sisters’ missions around the world, and a social.
On Thursday, 4 June, Dr. Marco Clark, President, and Dr. Dianne Barlas, Vice President for Mission and Ministry, at Holy Cross College hosted the group for a tour of campus, dinner, and a presentation on the college’s mission. On the following Thursday, 11 June, it was the University of Notre Dame’s turn, as Fr. Robert Dowd, C.S.C., President, and other senior leaders hosted the program for a dinner in the President’s Lounge on the 14th floor of the Hesburgh Library.
Although the program was pretty intensive, with classes five and a half days a week, there was also time to recreate together, with several optional activities on the weekends. These social moments and interactions were an important part of the program, as one of the goals was to help the Holy Cross Brothers and Priests from different countries and cultures form deeper fraternal bonds and friendships that will help propel their work and the Congregation’s mission forward in the future.
“I found this leadership program inspiring as I continue to deepen my commitment to Holy Cross and our mission,” said Br. Jimmy Henke, C.S.C., from the U.S. Province. “I experienced it as an opportunity for growth: growth in brotherhood with our community around the world, growth in knowledge of how to lead effectively and lovingly, and growth in inspiration to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit.”
“Spending time at the leadership program reminded me that leadership isn't about having all the answers; it's about courage, humility, and genuine commitment to the people we serve,” said Fr. Ronson D’Souza, C.S.C., from the Province of South India. “I'm coming back to Holy Cross with a clearer sense of purpose and real excitement for where we can take our leadership journey next. What stays with me most from Notre Dame is the reminder that great leadership starts with service and self-reflection.”