O’Grady Leadership Institute Sparks Plans for Increased Catholic Identity

Karina Contti, director of human resources for Catholic Charities of Long Island, joined more than 20 fellow Catholic Charities senior executives from around the country for the weeklong Advanced O’Grady Leadership Institute.

The June 16-20 institute took place at Catholic Charities USA headquarters in Alexandria, Va., where participants learned how to enhance their organization’s Catholic identity, even as they serve people of all faiths and backgrounds. Before arriving, participants were surveyed about their priorities and divided into small groups based on their responses.

Individual group members wanted to incorporate Catholic identity into policies, revamp new hire orientation, and install visual elements such as religious iconography in buildings. Contti said she is seeking to make CCLI’s mission more of a “living, breathing” element of the organization’s culture through policies, new hire orientation, and the interview process.

“It signifies who we are as an organization,” Contti said. “Catholic Charities is not Catholic Charities just by name. We’re Catholic Charities by action. We help everyone, just as Jesus helped everyone. He’s our role model. We’re taking his example.”

The deep discussion about Catholic identity was anchored in Vatican II documents, highlighting those on human dignity and religious freedom, and also focused “on what true caritas means,” Contti said. The discussions were not solely focused on Catholic Charities USA and member organizations here, but expanded to feature Caritas Internationalis, the global Catholic charity network.

Among the presenters were Kerry Alys Robinson, president and CEO, Catholic Charities USA, who spoke on “Imagining Abundance: Spirituality of Fundraising”; Father Klaus Baumann, vice dean and dean of theology at Albert Ludwig University in Freiburg, Germany, “Fundamentals of Christian Anthropology”; and Father Bryan Hehir, Parker Gilbert Montgomery Professor of the Practice of Religion and Public Life at Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, “The Church and American Pluralism” and “The Legal Parameters of Catholic Identity.”

The O’Grady institute enables participants to better understand their roles as leaders of a Catholic Charities organization by using Catholic moral methodologies to analyze and develop actions for social, clinical, business and bioethical issues; holding dialogues with experts to explore advanced concepts in moral, scriptural and pastoral theology; and learning how to engage their organization to broaden and deepen its Catholic identity.

All this is done in the company of peers, with whom they network, socialize, and pray. Daily morning meditations focus on the Gospel, and each day concludes with Mass. The Gospel reflections feature familiar readings, such as the Good Samaritan and the Beatitudes, but often with a twist, which participants discuss in small groups. In the case of the Good Samaritan, the innkeeper is the primary focus.

Likening the innkeeper’s approach to the work of Catholic Charities, Contti explained, “Can you take care of this person? If they need anything else, let me know... The Good Samaritan is really that person who reaches out to us for help or assistance for someone else. We become that innkeeper.”

When Contti was invited to participate in the O’Grady Institute, she discussed the opportunity with CEO Michael E. Smith, who expressed his full support. Contti, who came to CCLI in March 2023, said our organization is blessed to be led by someone who “understands our uniqueness and supports the executive team to help employees and the community.”

Contti said she and Smith already have engaged in preliminary discussions about the institute. A three-pronged approach to foster Catholic identity at CCLI is planned to touch on the imagery people see in our facilities, as well as organizational culture and policies, and procedures.

She credited Bishop John O. Barres of Rockville Centre with providing the initial impetus for a focus on Catholic identity and mission. “The bishop gave us the framework.”

The O’Grady Institute received her full seal of approval. “Every single executive of Catholic Charities should go through this. It gives us such a good opportunity to understand caritas in such a real and tangible way. It was a great experience.”