Clergy & Leadership Testimonials

Participating in the Diocesan Coaching Program has reminded me that even after decades of pastoral ministry and administrative leadership, every priest benefits from the wisdom and perspective of those who have successfully led complex organizations. I was blessed with a coach who had a very successful career in health care leadership which he brought to the coaching experience. This experience added depth of experience in strategic planning, communication, personnel management, and organizational health that complements—rather than replaces—our priestly formation. In a time when parishes face increasing demands, limited resources, and rapidly changing expectations, this kind of professional coaching provides priests with a trusted partner who can help us grow, reflect, and lead with greater clarity and confidence. I have found the experience both affirming and challenging in the best possible way, and I firmly believe this program is a valuable resource for priests at every stage of ministry.

Coaching has helped me to better recognize healthy work dynamics (e.g. working in teams, work being delegated, cross-training occurring - and the peace that comes with those) and unhealthy dynamics (e.g. putting out endless fires without setting aside enough time for training and becoming healthier - and the stress that comes with those).  It has helped me to recognize my role in both of those dynamics, to see paths forward, to face obstacles in my way, and realize I need to make decisions about whether to TRY to change or not.  Having Stephanie Brown as my coach has been INSTRUMENTAL in this journey - she is full of wisdom, experience (both in secular leadership and Catholic ministry), faith, empathy, honesty, and a WONDERFUL sense of humor.  She is both rooting for me and holding me accountable at the same time - all for my good and the good of our parish.

I think coaching can be helpful for a priest because it allows a safe space to talk about the difficulties they face daily in their work.   It is a safe place where you can look at the situation from a constructive point of view without worrying about what others might think or say. Becky Magnotta was very helpful in discussing areas of need and improvement. Her conversations were helpful in clarifying my feelings and my concerns.   Becky had helpful responses and ideas that enabled me to better evaluate my situation and better understand how to advance in a positive direction. Becky understands the mission of the church and the challenges that a pastor would have.  She is supportive of the priest’s role and his mission in the church.  I would recommend Becky as a coach for other priests and pastors looking to gain insights into their particular strengths and areas of  need.

1. Coaching matters to me as a priest because it helps to give me a good sounding board and way to get advice when dealing with leadership issues. Most importantly, it helps me to see my own strengths and how I would be able to best use them, not only for myself, but for the good of my assignments. 
2. In addition to part one, it also has helped me to better understand and deal with the challenges I have faced in ministry, and to be coached on how to overcome them, as well as how to best develop my own personal skills to be a better priest and to excel in my own development. 
3. I would recommend [Becky Magnotta] for coaching because you were able to listen as well as give good and practical advice to me, and help me to not only bring out my own strengths, but also use them to best serve the people who have been entrusted to me. 

As for the culmination testimony, starting out with me discovering and finding my strengths was a great way to start. We spent a good amount of time going over my strengths and how they shape not only who I am, but also how I can use them to best serve the people entrusted to me in my assignments.  We spent time going over the areas that I was not as strong in, and how I can best navigate them and work with them. I found this to be the most impactful part as it helped me to realize my talents that God gave and how he called me to use them, but also that the “weaknesses” didn’t necessarily preclude me from certain things.  I found my time being coached to be very beneficial and allowed me to have a solid foundation for how to lead as a priest. Meeting once-a-month helped me to reflect on the challenges and opportunities of the previous month, as well as what would be coming up, and helped me to seek out advice that would allow me to grow and improve with every opportunity.  Overall, found the opportunity to be coached to be a very worthwhile endeavor, as well as an advantageous way to spend my time, as I continue both get comfortable and grow as a priest, understanding my own leadership qualities and skills and how they reflect how God has called me to serve, and how to best apply them in the joys and challenges of ministry. 

Working with Barb Blanco has been a grace-filled experience. As priests, we spend much of our lives caring for others, but we rarely have the space to reflect deeply on our own interior life, strengths, and patterns. Coaching gave me that space—without judgment or pressure—a place to listen, discern, and grow. What touched me most was experiencing Barb as a real and attentive coach. She often noticed my reactions through my eyes and facial expressions, even before I spoke. This was an eye-opener for me. She helped me recognize areas I had treated casually and see them instead as God-given talents and blessings—aptitudes meant to support my priestly journey and ministry. Exploring my Fulfillment Stories and CliftonStrengths during our Leadership and Development coaching was deeply shaping. Reflecting on my top ten strengths and sharing life-transforming stories helped me understand how God has been consistently at work in my life. This awareness has helped me serve with greater freedom, clarity, and confidence, rather than from self-doubt or fatigue. I believe having a coach matters for a priest because it supports both our humanity and our vocation. Coaching does not replace spiritual direction; rather, it complements it by helping us integrate prayer, leadership, ministry, and personal life in a healthy and life-giving way. I would gladly encourage other priests to consider working with Barb. She brings deep faith, gentle wisdom, and professional skill, creating a safe and sacred space where real growth can happen. Her coaching is a true support for priests who desire to serve well while also caring for their own well-being. Thank CCC for your ministry and for faithfully listening to God’s call to support priests in this way.

Imagine sharing your work challenges with someone and receiving real-time insight and perspective you can never see on your own. I’m not talking about ChatGPT. I’m talking about the human intelligence of a trained and experienced executive coach. For the past year, I’ve learned from Jenna Mayo on parish leadership, staff supervision, time management, and other essential topics for Church leaders. Jenna knows what works in business and what’s appropriate in the Church. She has an excellent memory for the details of my workplace and always holds me accountable for progress. Her coaching became even more valuable when midyear I became vicar general of the Diocese of Camden – while remaining pastor of my parish. She supported me in making difficult but sustainable decisions to divide my schedule between chancery and parish. I think many people will find that once they have a coach, they will wonder why you took so long to start – especially if that coach is Jenna Mayo.

I am very grateful for Linda Delia’s insightful analysis of my motivations for and manner of working. She helped bring what had been unconscious to my attention, which has allowed me to apply it intentionally as I face new challenges and set both personal and parish goals. In particular, focusing on my strengths rather than my deficits was extremely helpful. That shift gave me greater clarity and freedom to embrace who God has created me to be, rather than expending energy trying to fix what I am not. When I initially committed to a year of coaching, it was with the understanding that I could step away at any time. I’m careful about how I spend my time and had no desire to continue with something that wasn’t genuinely helpful or worthwhile. I stayed because Linda is exceptional. Our meetings were consistently helpful and worthwhile, and she won me over in our very first session.

My time with Lisa Mladinich was my second stint with coaching. While I certainly found the coaching I received the first time around as helpful and useful, my time with Lisa has truly been groundbreaking for me, not just in a leadership role over others, but as a pastor. In the past, I had always thought that there was a dichotomy between being a “boss” and being a priest and pastor. Lisa, with her gentle way of approaching things and unbelievable listening skills, has shown me that these roles are not exclusive to one another and absolutely need to be integrated for true effective leadership. In addition, as a recovering “people pleaser,” I have had difficulty with correcting and confronting others, especially my staff. Lisa has been invaluable in helping me find a voice that I didn’t know I had. Her constructive feedback has allowed me to find the best way for me to address situations that have always made me feel uncomfortable, in a way that is true to my faith, my core values, and my way of operating and looking at the world. I never realized how much I processed and unpacked the struggles of being the spiritual leader of a staff and a community by “talking it out,” and Lisa has been the perfect conduit and sounding board. Staff issues and interpersonal conflicts that were the topics of conversation and I couldn’t see a way to properly address would, uncannily, have a concrete plan towards resolution at the end of 60 minutes. I am ESPECIALLY grateful for Lisa’s availability in “911” moments. As anyone in ministry can tell you, issues do not conveniently wait until you have a scheduled session. Whether by email or a quick phone call, Lisa was integral in helping me unpack complicated issues in a timely fashion. The best part? You knew that she was praying for you throughout the process. That kind of gift is priceless. While I have often been accused of hyperbole, I can honestly say that I am a much different (and better) pastor because of our time together.