LEAD
Forming spiritually grounded leaders who embody the Dehonian spirit of love and reconciliation.
“LEAD” stands for Leadership, Education, Apostolic and Development. Through in-person retreats, online gatherings and digital communication, LEAD offers a multi-year program to form spiritually grounded leaders who embody the Dehonian spirit of love and reconciliation. Participants can take part in some or all components of LEAD. Current participants include school principals, office managers, communication professionals, finance personnel, and administrators.
What others are saying
At the end of each LEAD retreat, participants are asked to share a brief reflection on their experience. The following are from participants in 2025 retreats.
"The LEAD program offers a great opportunity to build your spiritual foundation- rooting it in the charisms of Fr. Dehon. You are able to bring a Dehonian spirit back to the people you serve. It is a great way to network with other Priests of the Sacred Heart ministries and foster a sense of belonging to a bigger mission."
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"LEAD gave me the chance to pause and more intentionally connect my daily leadership work to our mission and the Dehonian charisms; it deepened both my perspective and my purpose."
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"It helped me think about how love and reconciliation simmer in my soul."
"When I center myself in God, everything else comes easier."
LEAD Program Overview
The full LEAD program spans five years. The focus of each year (and the tentative location of each year’s LEAD retreat):
Year 1: Leading from within: cultivating self-leadership (Wisconsin)
Year 2: Leading with heart: virtues, values and spirituality (South Dakota)
Year 3: Leading through relationships: people, purpose, process (Mississippi)
Year 4: Leading together: fostering community and synodality through reconciliation (Texas)
Year 5: Leading tomorrow: imagination, innovation, Interculturation (Pilgrimage)
Meet Our LEAD Team
The team behind the LEAD program includes Dr. Julie O’Connor, VP of Student Services and Special Projects for Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, Monica Misey, province director of Dehonian Associates, and Joe Tyrell, director of Mission Integration for St. Joseph’s Indian School. Joe is pictured at left during a recent LEAD retreat.