Parish Administrator’s Notes
Phil Grant, Pastoral Administrator and Safe Environment Coordinator
November 23, 2025
Leadership and Volunteers
What comes to mind when you hear the word, “leadership”? It’s a common word, but what does it really mean?
When I was first asked what it meant—in an educational leadership course many years ago—I responded with something like, “Uh, the stuff that leaders do?”
(Lame answer, Phil. Even my grade school self knew that it wasn’t a good idea to use a word to define the same word.)
Until that course, I hadn’t thought deeply about the word leadership. That course enlarged my understanding of leadership: what does it mean, what is its value, what is its purpose, who’s involved, what does it look like, and what are some useful leadership skills?
Today, I often define leadership as the things anyone can do in an organization to support its mission. I frame discussions with questions. First of all, what are you and your organization trying to do? Second, how are you going to accomplish those goals? Third, how much time, energy, talent and treasure are you willing to contribute?
Leadership was a big part of a Parish Council retreat last Saturday, November 15. Our Council chose to focus its retreat on youth and families in our faith community. In support of that strategic focus, many volunteers were invited to participate in a two-hour discussion about youth engagement.
I’m grateful to the volunteers who came: Karen, Nick, Ellen, Terry, Isaac, Tara, Valerie, Autumn, Becky, Kathy, Michelle, Elayna, Ralph, Delfina, Jessi, Maggie, Amanda, Olga, and Anthony. Staff members Cristina and I also participated. Together, we participated in acts of leadership. That is, everyone contributed energy, information and ideas regarding our youth programs. We asked what’s going well, and why? What else could we do? What are our goals, direction, and next steps? Who can do what?
Look for more on our youth programs soon.
It’s not a coincidence that St. Matt’s Catholic Community has so many people contributing to leadership in various ways. We are, after all, a volunteer parish.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Phil Grant, Administrator
Safe Environment Coordinator
pgrant@st-matts.org
651-224-9793
Parish Administrator’s Note, November 16, 2025
