Gregorian Fellows: “Leadership Training for Young Catholics”

The Register featured a photo Immaculee Ilibagiza addressing Gregorian Fellows.

The National Catholic Register recently published an article on programs that train future leaders, including the Gregorian Fellows.

It quoted Gregorian Fellows Director and Dean of Students at Benedictine College, Dr. Joseph Wurtz.

“Most people hear the word ‘leadership’ and assume it is simply a neutral process,” he told the paper. “They bypass the discussion of ends — who the human person is, what the good is, etc. If you don’t get that right, you could end up with an understanding of leadership that is solely utilitarian.”

“For us, leadership training starts with personal formation,” Wurtz said.

The Register described leadership training at Benedictine College.

“Benedictine puts a strong emphasis on developing leadership. One of Benedictine’s leadership seminars is designed for students elected to offices and in other formal leadership positions on campus. It deals with everything from time management to acquiring humility and other Benedictine values.”

The Gregorian Fellows program, a part of Benedictine College’s Gregorian Institute, is training 100 students in the enduring principles and contemporary skills necessary for leadership.

It is part of the four-fold strategy of the Gregorian Institute to promote Catholic identity in public life. The strategy:

1. Form current leaders in authentic Catholic identity, through a distinguished speaker series, the Gregorian speech digest and website.
2. Form future leaders in authentic Catholic identity, through the Gregorian Fellows program.
3. Celebrate Catholic identity, though the American Catholic Hall of Fame.
4. Defend Catholic identity, through the Memorare Army for Religious Freedom.

The article describes the Fellows:

“They attend workshops where practical skills are taught and attend a fellows-only retreat.

“Prominent speakers, such as author and Rwandan genocide survivor Immaculée Illibagiza, constitutional law professor Hadley Arkes and Princeton professor Robert George have [met with] the Gregorian Fellows.”

Read the entire article here.