The Catholic Leadership Institute (CLI) empowers Catholic parishes to thrive by providing pastoral leadership formation and consulting services to bishops, priests, deacons, religious, and lay leaders, ultimately aiming to create more vibrant faith communities rooted in Jesus Christ. They achieve this through various programs and tools, including the Disciple Maker Index (DMI), parish revitalization processes, and equipping clergy and lay leaders with enhanced leadership skills and strategies. 

Our Parish completed the Disciple Maker Index (DMI) last fall and received the results in 2025, which we are now analyzing for further action.

Here's a breakdown of what CLI does for Catholic parishes:

Leadership Formation:

CLI offers specialized programs like "Good Leaders, Good Shepherds" for priests and equips lay leaders with the skills to evangelize and serve effectively within the parish. 

Visioning and Planning:

They assist parishes and dioceses in articulating a vision for their future, developing implementation plans, and creating strategic goals, often utilizing data from the Disciple Maker Index (DMI). 

Parish Revitalization:

CLI provides a two-year revitalization process that focuses on data analysis and ministry effectiveness to help parishes engage their communities and foster spiritual growth. 

Disciple Maker Index (DMI):

This survey tool provides objective data on parishioner attitudes, beliefs, participation, and demographics, helping leaders understand their parish's strengths and opportunities for growth. 

Consulting Services:

CLI offers faith-filled, collaborative consulting to address various diocesan and parish challenges, such as priest shortages, implementing new models, and communication strategies. 

Fostering Vibrant Faith Communities:

By strengthening leadership confidence and competence, promoting intentional discipleship, and encouraging a missionary impulse, CLI aims to cultivate more engaged and thriving parishes.