EXTON, Penn. -- An April 23 graduation ceremony at the Campion Renewal Center in Weston honored 20 priests from the Archdiocese of Boston who completed the Good Leaders, Good Shepherds, the Catholic Leadership Institute’s two-year clergy leadership development program.

The event began with a 3:30 p.m. prayer service followed by a dinner and ceremony hosted by Matthew Manion, president and CEO of CLI. The evening also included testimonials from priest participants Fathers Edward Riley, David Callahan and Robert Oliver.

With the support of Cardinal Seán O’Malley, the participating priests are the second class from the archdiocese to complete the program, with a third class scheduled to graduate in April of 2010.

“As we implement Good Leaders, Good Shepherds in the local Church of Boston, I am grateful for its ability to better equip our priests in leadership skills and competencies -- both pastorally and spiritually,” said Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley.

Good Leaders, Good Shepherds is designed to equip clergy with the relevant, practical and pastoral leadership skills necessary to shepherd a parish and support the governing office of their priesthood. During the two-year program priests learn about the various contexts in which they lead, and specific skill sets within each context that will help them lead most effectively. Catholic Leadership Institute is also preparing to deliver complementary leadership skill building training to parish and diocesan staff members in May of this year.

Along with the Archdiocese of Boston, CLI is ministering to the bishops and presbyterates of an additional 30 U.S. dioceses, including the major metropolitan archdioceses of Philadelphia, Denver, St. Louis, Galveston-Houston and Detroit.

“We are blessed to be ministering with the good shepherds of the Archdiocese of Boston. Our mission is to help priests recognize their God-given potential and develop their leadership skills so they can effectively and confidently lead their faith communities in carrying out the mission of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church,” said Father Bill Dickinson, CLI’s national director of leadership development.