Find Respite, Find Communion, and

Let God Powerfully

Pour into You

A Retreat for Parish Leaders

Father John Riccardo / 3 Hours

Many Catholic leaders in the church find themselves wounded and disheartened. Is this God’s plan for parishes and parish leaders?

No! Yet, it can be dangerous to be professionally religious, i.e. someone who works full time for the church.

Does this sound familiar? A person starts ministry with hope and zeal. Slowly over time, he or she ends up being bogged down by fighting fires at the parish, running into personnel issues, and operating in silos. The mission for souls seems to be impossible and the minister resorts to operating from a place of depletion and discouragement. Is there a remedy to this cycle of parish strife?

Father John Riccardo proposes another way. As a former pastor, and now a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit and the founder and executive director of ACTS XXIX, Father Riccardo knows the struggle of parish life and wants to join you in forging a path for your parish.


Through three simple principles that are adaptable to any situation, Fr. Riccardo gives a clear path forward for any parish leader who is feeling the weight of being a minister and administrator.

Our hope through this course is to renew your parish by pouring into you—the parish leader—so that you can truly believe that “You were born for such a time as this.” Esther 4:14

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Throughout this course you will gain:

1

Three fundamental convictions that emphasize the importance of parish leadership and why it can be so difficult today

2

Understanding the current landscape and how that impacts you as a parish leader and your parish

3

How to have hope amidst all the challenges of parish life

4

How to communicate the Kerygma and why it is absolutely vital to your parish staff and parishioners to know and be able to communicate

5

How to go from a staff –> to a team –> to a family

6

How to allow God to be the architect of your parish

7

Reacquiring a Biblical worldview

8
9

This course is recommended for the following groups:

  • Pastors
  • Deacons
  • Deacons
  • DRE’s
  • Ministry Leaders
  • Volunteers
  • Any Parish Minister
  • Pastoral Councils
  • Leadership Teams
  • Youth Ministers
  • Pastoral Councils
  • All Parish Staff

Meet the Expert

Fr. John Riccardo, missionary and ACTS XXIX Executive Director. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1996. In 2019, after 23 years in parish ministry, he founded Acts XXIX to proclaim the gospel in an attractive and compelling way and to equip clergy and lay leaders for the age in which God has chosen us to live.

Fr. John is a graduate of the University of Michigan, the Gregorian University, and the Pope John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family.

Course Features

More than just inspiration, each course includes practical steps, strategies, and tactics for mission success.

Downloadable Guides for Your Entire Team

Each course includes printable guides for discussion and ministry planning. Perfect for individuals or groups.

Discussion Groups

Each course includes a community chat to discuss topics with other participants and experts.

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