SESSION KICKOFF
Date: Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Time: 5:30PM – 7:30PM
Location: Century House, Latham, New York
Agenda
5:30PM–6:00PM
Drinks and Appetizers
6:00PM–7:30PM
Welcome Session
Welcoming Remarks
Fr. Louis Iasiello O.F.M. Ph.D
Franciscan Scholar in Residence, Siena College
Invited Speaker
Mike Saccocio
Executive Director / City Mission of Schenectady
Post Kickoff
Please click on photographs to enlarge
Thank you for joining us for a fantastic kickoff event punctuated by inspirational speakers and wonderful conversation about how to enhance our leadership skills to better serve our community!
Fr. Lou Iasiello began the evening with an opening prayer that called for help as we build skills to better respond to the growing needs of our world, our church, our families and friends, and the worshipping communities we represent at this Institute. His talk then made connections between the Institute for Pastoral Leaders and the theological. In the spirit of synodality, everyone will be given a voice at the Institute as we are all called to be leaders in our communities.
Our invited speaker, Mike Saccocia, Executive Director City Mission of Schenectady, inspired us with his discussion about three lessons he has taken from his work. First, low ceilings are bad for the soul and leaders should lift those ceilings for all. Second, the reward for a job well done is the next tough job - and we should welcome these new challenges. Finally, if you want to make a big impact, you must do things that are small. Even the little changes we make can build upon each other to have a greater impact on our parish, our school, our community.
We then spent time in our teams setting goals for team growth and then identifying ways that we can grow as individuals to support team success. What a wonderful evening together!
We look forward to the next six sessions of the Institute for Pastoral Leaders.