
MINISTRY FOR PRIESTLY SUPPORT
2023 ANNUAL REPORT

28 PRIESTS. OVER ONE THOUSAND HOURS. ONE AWESOME MISSION. 2023 WAS A GREAT YEAR!
We served 28 priests from 16 different dioceses during well over one thousand hours of one-on-one personalized ministry!
Without any significant advertisement, and mostly word of mouth, God is doing great things in Grand Isle!
WE SERVED PRIESTS WITHIN THE DIOCESE OF HOUMA-THIBODAUX.
We served 13 priests from the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. That’s 26% of the active “available” priests of the diocese. Services included one-on-one mentoring, ongoing spiritual direction, and silent retreats.
WE SERVED PRIESTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
We served 15 different priests from 15 different dioceses. Services included training for Vicars for Clergy, sabbatical facilitation, ongoing spiritual direction, 30-day retreat, and eight-day retreats. We also served via convocations the (Arch)Dioceses of Philadelphia, Louisville, and Knoxville.


A HOME FOR MINISTRY!
Purchased in 2022, MPS moved into its ministry home in February 2023.
The 3,600 sqaure foot facility houses our administrative office, as well as serves as our primary host location for ministry to priests.
It also has private accomodations for Kristin, allowing her and Fr. Mark to team for ministry in Grand Isle.
HOUMA-THIBODAUX WELCOMED BISHOP MARIO DORSONVILLE
Born in Bogata, Columbia and from the Archdiocese of Washington D.C., Bishop Mario Dorsonville was installed the fifth Bishop of Houma-Thibodaux on March 29, 2023.
Bishop Dorsonville has shared his endorsement of the Ministry for Priestly Support.


WE LEARNED MORE ABOUT WHAT WITHIN OUR MINISTRY IS REALLY BEARING FRUIT.
Our individual, one one one, mentoring is bearing fruit. In 2023, we provided mentoring for seven priests of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux. Ideally, the men arrive on the island the day before for rest, repose, and prayer. Then, we provide a full-day of mentoring, tailored to their specific needs and requests.
Our facilitation of our first six-month sabbatical was life-changning. It combined all of what we do: the art of living, contemplative leadership, and more.
​
God worked miracles in the silent retreats, both in the 8-day and 30-day format.
WE LEARNED MORE ABOUT WHAT REALLY INFLUENCES PRIESTS.
We learned ... how you live influences how you lead. We have seen over and over that when priests rediscover how to live they also become better at how to lead. We are learning that human things such as pace, lifestyle, and balance all influence a priest’s spiritual life as much as anything else.
​
We learned ... the little things are the key to the big things. Things such as stucture, calendar, time management, delegation, etc. influence “perception.”
​
We learned ... more about hosptiality, rest, play, etc. We have noticed that when priests are relaxed and rested they are far more receptive to mentoring.


WE LEARNED MORE ABOUT WHAT WITHIN OUR PROCESS IS BEARING FRUIT.
We have discovered that there are five steps in our process of mentoring.
​
-
Assess. We check-in with priests before they arrive, assessing their needs.
-
Hospitality. Priests arrive early to relax, rest, pray, and prep for mentoring.
-
Engage. The mentoring is designed to help priests engage with God. Our job is to clarify the questions so that the priest can go to the Lord for the answers.
-
Plan. Prior to his leaving the island, we develop with the priest a concrete plan for the next 90 days.
-
Return. The parish becomes the “laboratory” for his living his 90-day plan.
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2024.
We will continue to mentor priests one-on-one, both on the island during their quarterly visits, as well as in between visits through monthly Zoom follow up.
​
We will hosts priests in Grand Isle for silent retreats, both in the 8-day format, as well as for the full 30-day format within the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius.
​
We will continue providing monthly ongoing spiritual direction to priests.


IN 2024 WE WILL CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR INTERNAL OPERATIONS.
We will continue to work closely with our reconstituted Corporate Board.
We will begin intentional and strategic consultation with our newly established Group of Consultors.
We will further monthly communication and quarterly consultation with the Office of the Bishop.
WE WILL HAVE A PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE ART OF LIVING.
We will remain intentional about our discipline within the art of living.
We will continue to carve out days of prayer to listen to the Lord’s tutoring us about the art of living.
It is our hope to have written reflections, articulating what we have learned from the Lord about “what is” this art of living.
