As the parish priest at St Declan’s in Penshurst, Fr Chris Ryan MGL has been more than a compassionate shepherd – he’s a keen judge of leadership potential within his community.
While not all priests are naturally equipped to be a ‘parish talent scout’, he believes that with the right tools, they can unlock true transformation and inspire growth in their parishes.
“A priest is ordained to teach, to sanctify and to lead or to shepherd, and we took the shepherding part of that seriously. But part of that leadership dimension is also about calling forth the charism of the laity. It’s not a significant part of our personal formation, but that’s an area that can be improved on,” he says.
At the ‘Way of Hope’ conference in late October, Fr Chris will be leading a dedicated clergy workshop on that often-overlooked aspect of parish life: nurturing leadership among the laity.
Fr Chris’s own parish experience offers a powerful example. He has a proven track record in recognising and nurturing lay leaders, such as Nellie Doueihi, whose outreach to the elderly has become a beacon of hope and service to more than 300 elderly people.
In 2018, Fr Chris encouraged Nellie to do Alpha, an experience she said “encouraged me to go deeper into my faith.”
Fast forward to 2023 and her parish-based mission has seen the introduction of many life-changing initiatives including the ‘Tech Savvy Seniors’ program where senior Marist College students assist seniors to unlock the mysteries of technology.
Make no mistake, Nellie Doueihi is a “doer” and a devout Catholic.
She is also a creative innovator whose search for a deeper faith and discipleship have taken her on a journey that now sees her changing the lives of those who are often discarded and forgotten.
Nellie has blossomed into a wonderful gift to her community with Fr Chris’ encouragement and support, her efforts seeing her win the 2023 Westfield Local Hero Award and a $20k grant to continue her work.
“It’s not just about being a good father to the community,” he notes. “It’s about helping others answer their call to mission and evangelise,” says Fr Chris.
For many priests, this is not a natural gift, but a skill that can – and must – be learned if the church is to thrive.
“I like to talk about the Holy Spirit being the first minister in the parish, and then the second minister, really is the whole community,” Fr Chris explains.
“A big part of my role is actually to free up people to take up their baptismal vocation and to exercise their gifts in leadership and in mission. I’ve put my trust in key people to do significant things in the life of a parish, that actually enhances what we’re doing in the parish as a whole. It’s about asking, how do we help them discover that role?”
The Way of Hope Conference is designed to equip clergy and laity alike with the tools, inspiration, and practical wisdom needed to renew their parishes and build vibrant, mission-focused communities.
Fr Chris believes that the tide is turning when it comes to faith and these skills can help facilitate those hungry to answer their call.
“There are young people especially, who are showing up with a real openness to faith and something like Alpha is a great tool for helping them to take a significant step on the journey of faith.
“You need some tools at your disposal to help facilitate that in young people and others. So if, as a priest, you’ve got a heart for that, I think this is a great conference to come to.”
Tania Rimac who supports parishes with Alpha in a Catholic context and is a parish renewal team leader in the Sydney Centre for Evangelisation, said that “we are aware of the important role that our priests have in our parishes to bring about renewal and the challenges they face.
“This is the reason that we created a workshop for clergy only at the conference – so that the conversation supports the leadership of our priests which is a conversation that is unique just to them,” she added.
“We hope our clergy will attend with their parishioners, so together they can be inspired for more for their parishes and leave better equipped to respond to the call placed on their lives and the needs if their parish communities.”
To all clergy: Don’t miss this chance to be renewed, to learn how to nurture the next generation of parish leaders, and to help your community answer the call to mission. The future of the church depends on it. Attend the Way of Hope conference – and help lead the way.
The Way of Hope conference takes place over two days: on 31 October and 1 November at the Liverpool Catholic Club. For more information and registration, visit the link.
