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Catholic Leadership for Civil Society: A Practical Guide on Authentic Lay Leadership
With their new book, Catholic Leadership for Civil Society , authors Cristofer Pereyra and Erin Monnin provide a guide to authentic lay Catholic leadership. The book was born out of the experience gained through the work of Tepeyac Leadership, Inc. (TLI) a global non-profit organization dedicated to forming Catholic professionals in civic leadership (TLIprogram.org). Much of the inspiration found in its pages also comes from the witness and exemplary leadership of two bishops who have closely guided the work of TLI, Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix, and Archbishop José Gómez of Los Angeles.
Cristofer Pereyra is the Chief Executive Officer for TLI. Pereyra’s professional career started in media, when he worked for Univision Communications as a television news reporter. He is happily married, and the father of four.
Erin Monnin is a Catholic wife, mother, entrepreneur, speaker, and social media influencer. Erin is a former FOCUS missionary, a TLI graduate, co-host of the “Catholic Leadership for Civil Society” podcast and a Catholic blogger. The authors wrote this book to challenge the laity to take on leadership roles in the secular world. They hope to reach the hearts and minds of Catholic professionals around the world, who might not otherwise be able to experience TLI’s signature civic formation program. The early chapters of the book lay out the reasons this book needed to be. The rest of the book’s action-oriented message compels the reader to execute on its vision. Catholic Leadership is written primarily for Catholic professionals in the early to mid-stages of their careers. About the book, the Most Reverend José Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles has said, “In this fine book, Cristofer Pereyra and Erin Monnin offer an inspiring, hopeful, and practical vision for the new evangelization of our country.” He added, “May Our Lady of Guadalupe be near to each one of you who reads this, and may she help us all to be apostles and missionary disciples, lead many people to know the joy and newness of life that we have in Jesus Christ!” About the work of TLI, the Most Reverend Thomas Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix has said, “The true call of the laity, the authentic vocation of lay Catholic men and women, is to be ambassadors of Christ in the world, living among everyone else in secular society, while striving for holiness, sanctifying the world, and witnessing to the Gospel wherever they go. This is the aim of TLI.” Catholic Leadership is structured to show that lay Catholic leadership is not meant to be lived out within the confines of the Catholic community exclusively, but instead serve mainly as a guiding force which illuminates every aspect of secular society with the Truth of the Gospel. The book explains why lay Catholic professionals have a unique responsibility and privileged opportunity to influence the world for Christ. It’s not an optional prerogative, but their duty as baptized children of God. The authors explain that chance and coincidence are not compatible with the Catholic Faith. If God has blessed some lay Catholics with a professional career, then their career must obligatorily become those Catholics’ field of mission. Ultimately, this book explores specific fields and concrete ways to carry out Catholic leadership for civil society.
Cristofer Pereyra is the Chief Executive Officer for TLI. Pereyra’s professional career started in media, when he worked for Univision Communications as a television news reporter. He is happily married, and the father of four.
Erin Monnin is a Catholic wife, mother, entrepreneur, speaker, and social media influencer. Erin is a former FOCUS missionary, a TLI graduate, co-host of the “Catholic Leadership for Civil Society” podcast and a Catholic blogger. The authors wrote this book to challenge the laity to take on leadership roles in the secular world. They hope to reach the hearts and minds of Catholic professionals around the world, who might not otherwise be able to experience TLI’s signature civic formation program. The early chapters of the book lay out the reasons this book needed to be. The rest of the book’s action-oriented message compels the reader to execute on its vision. Catholic Leadership is written primarily for Catholic professionals in the early to mid-stages of their careers. About the book, the Most Reverend José Gomez, Archbishop of Los Angeles has said, “In this fine book, Cristofer Pereyra and Erin Monnin offer an inspiring, hopeful, and practical vision for the new evangelization of our country.” He added, “May Our Lady of Guadalupe be near to each one of you who reads this, and may she help us all to be apostles and missionary disciples, lead many people to know the joy and newness of life that we have in Jesus Christ!” About the work of TLI, the Most Reverend Thomas Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix has said, “The true call of the laity, the authentic vocation of lay Catholic men and women, is to be ambassadors of Christ in the world, living among everyone else in secular society, while striving for holiness, sanctifying the world, and witnessing to the Gospel wherever they go. This is the aim of TLI.” Catholic Leadership is structured to show that lay Catholic leadership is not meant to be lived out within the confines of the Catholic community exclusively, but instead serve mainly as a guiding force which illuminates every aspect of secular society with the Truth of the Gospel. The book explains why lay Catholic professionals have a unique responsibility and privileged opportunity to influence the world for Christ. It’s not an optional prerogative, but their duty as baptized children of God. The authors explain that chance and coincidence are not compatible with the Catholic Faith. If God has blessed some lay Catholics with a professional career, then their career must obligatorily become those Catholics’ field of mission. Ultimately, this book explores specific fields and concrete ways to carry out Catholic leadership for civil society.
- GenresCatholic
109 pages, Paperback
Published April 4, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 4, 2022
Synopsis of review:
1. Targeted for Catholic young professionals.
2. Reinforces the primary vocation of the laity – to be Holy and to bring the Gospel to the world.
3. Learn how the secular world works, and then engage it on the terms of Christ – Truth and Love.
Cristofer Pereyra and Erin Monnin have engaged in an action of writing what I would call a “Primer” for the Faithful to engage in the public sphere. The targeted audience is explicitly the young professional just making his way into the world of lay leadership. Even though I have experienced many different professional settings, I was left with a great impression of why it is important to be involved with several different key placements that I had not thought of before.
I was personally inspired to give this book to several more senior Catholic lay leaders, especially more senior in age, because at some point catechesis took a big hit during the formation of those who are of age to be “in charge” today. Hopefully this book will help those who missed out on robust formation be inspired to follow the Holy Spirit in their lives.
With a mixture of quotes from Our Lord, Scripture, Saints (especially Josemaria Escriva and John Paul the Great), and documents from the ordinary magisterium and Councils, Pereyra and Monnin are able to set their encouragement on a solid foundation. This is especially important because the call they are making looks very difficult, one might even say that the normal business professional may have to be united to the Passion of Our Lord in able to authentically live out a real life.
The focal point of the call to action is the understanding that it is the primary vocation of the laity to be faithful and holy, and then to bring that into the secular world. It is my job, for instance, to have the relationship with God that allows me to then till the soil of my day-to-day dealings with other business professionals that I work with. This of course, is just the beginning of that mission.
One of the key takeaways that I encountered was the importance of positioning within society. As I read this book, I realized that I should not be pursuing any business or personal goal for myself, but rather for the good of the Kingdom of God. This changes the whole perspective of the “why” behind my business endeavors. I do not want to be elected to a school board to be a famous politician, as a faithful Catholic I should aim to be involved in levels of government like the school board so that I can fight for the dignity of humanity in the curriculum of the school, to protect our children from insidious ideas, and to help proclaim truth (morally and academically, because they are not opposed when done right).
Further, I was finally given a real “why” behind board service. As someone who has worked for different educational and non-profit organizations I didn’t really understand the power that a board could wield in the moral sphere. As younger leaders are reading this is should inspire them to grow and be successful, but also for more senior leaders this should inspire them to be more than a “rubber stamp” for an organization. Faithful Catholics MUST make a difference in our world, or the world will make its difference on our families.
Finally, I will end this short review with an encouragement to my fellow Catholics to pursue Truth in Charity. If you’re a Knight of Columbus, you should remember Fraternity and Charity as two of our four watchwords – we should apply that more than just in our Chapter meetings. If you’re not a part of any Christian organization, the key to life is laid down by Saint Paul very succinctly – “Faith, Hope, and Love” and the greatest is Love (Caritas or Charity). Our Lord is the Way the Truth and the Life and the Life. We must live in the Truth in our day-to-day dealings.
Please pick this book up as a primer to really organize your thoughts on your dealings with the public sphere and your day to day business.
1. Targeted for Catholic young professionals.
2. Reinforces the primary vocation of the laity – to be Holy and to bring the Gospel to the world.
3. Learn how the secular world works, and then engage it on the terms of Christ – Truth and Love.
Cristofer Pereyra and Erin Monnin have engaged in an action of writing what I would call a “Primer” for the Faithful to engage in the public sphere. The targeted audience is explicitly the young professional just making his way into the world of lay leadership. Even though I have experienced many different professional settings, I was left with a great impression of why it is important to be involved with several different key placements that I had not thought of before.
I was personally inspired to give this book to several more senior Catholic lay leaders, especially more senior in age, because at some point catechesis took a big hit during the formation of those who are of age to be “in charge” today. Hopefully this book will help those who missed out on robust formation be inspired to follow the Holy Spirit in their lives.
With a mixture of quotes from Our Lord, Scripture, Saints (especially Josemaria Escriva and John Paul the Great), and documents from the ordinary magisterium and Councils, Pereyra and Monnin are able to set their encouragement on a solid foundation. This is especially important because the call they are making looks very difficult, one might even say that the normal business professional may have to be united to the Passion of Our Lord in able to authentically live out a real life.
The focal point of the call to action is the understanding that it is the primary vocation of the laity to be faithful and holy, and then to bring that into the secular world. It is my job, for instance, to have the relationship with God that allows me to then till the soil of my day-to-day dealings with other business professionals that I work with. This of course, is just the beginning of that mission.
One of the key takeaways that I encountered was the importance of positioning within society. As I read this book, I realized that I should not be pursuing any business or personal goal for myself, but rather for the good of the Kingdom of God. This changes the whole perspective of the “why” behind my business endeavors. I do not want to be elected to a school board to be a famous politician, as a faithful Catholic I should aim to be involved in levels of government like the school board so that I can fight for the dignity of humanity in the curriculum of the school, to protect our children from insidious ideas, and to help proclaim truth (morally and academically, because they are not opposed when done right).
Further, I was finally given a real “why” behind board service. As someone who has worked for different educational and non-profit organizations I didn’t really understand the power that a board could wield in the moral sphere. As younger leaders are reading this is should inspire them to grow and be successful, but also for more senior leaders this should inspire them to be more than a “rubber stamp” for an organization. Faithful Catholics MUST make a difference in our world, or the world will make its difference on our families.
Finally, I will end this short review with an encouragement to my fellow Catholics to pursue Truth in Charity. If you’re a Knight of Columbus, you should remember Fraternity and Charity as two of our four watchwords – we should apply that more than just in our Chapter meetings. If you’re not a part of any Christian organization, the key to life is laid down by Saint Paul very succinctly – “Faith, Hope, and Love” and the greatest is Love (Caritas or Charity). Our Lord is the Way the Truth and the Life and the Life. We must live in the Truth in our day-to-day dealings.
Please pick this book up as a primer to really organize your thoughts on your dealings with the public sphere and your day to day business.
December 19, 2023
Great roadmap book with short chapters o. Different dimensions of being a leader. Adds value in the way it synthesizes core aspects of leadership and how it points to many further resources. Worth reading
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews