LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
We’re thrilled to share that the Catholic Women’s Leadership Foundation is entering an exciting season of growth over the next five years. New partnerships and expanded programs are on the way—opening doors for even more women to access meaningful, faith-centred leadership opportunities that inspire confidence, purpose, and impact. Please read below for further details on current offerings.​​
Catholic Women in Leadership
Hybrid (Online & In-Person Delivery)
8 Weeks + 2 Day Retreat
Course Overview
What does it mean to be a woman in leadership in Catholic communities? How do you best lead with empathy, inclusion, and purpose in an increasingly divided world? And how might faith and interdisciplinarity help us innovate in our communities and institutions?
The Catholic Women in Leadership Program is designed to support Catholic women leaders in making effective and long-lasting change in their communities and institutions. With talks from experts across fields—from servant leadership to Indigenous ways of leading to finding your voice—this course leverages academic excellence, discussion, community, and real-world expertise to help you become a more effective and more empathetic leader to all of your community members.
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Micro-credential
This course is part of St. Mary’s University Continuing Education program. Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion to commemorate their effort.
Dates:
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Tuesday, March 3, 2026
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Wednesday, March 11, 2026** (please note that all other sessions occur on Tuesday evenings)
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Tuesday, March 17, 2026
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Tuesday, March 24, 2026
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Tuesday, March 31, 2026
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Tuesday, April 7, 2026
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Tuesday, April 14, 2026
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Tuesday, April 21, 2026
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Tuesday, April 28, 2026
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TBA (2-day retreat)
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Time and method of delivery:
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Weeknight sessions: Online via Teams, 6:30 to 8:30PM (MST)
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2-day retreat: TBA, in-person at St. Mary’s University, in Calgary, AB
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Course fee: $400.00 per person. Does not include travel to and from Calgary for the 2-day in-person retreat.
Sessions
This course includes eight (8) 2-hour online sessions, beginning in March 2026, and concludes with a 2-day retreat.
Method of Teaching
This course is hybrid and will be delivered via Teams (weeknight sessions) and in-person (2-day retreat, June 2026), and will include interactive group discussions, sessions led by experts, assigned readings, and reflection assignments. All participants will be required to complete the assigned reading and reflections, and participate in group discussions.
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Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
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Implement and prioritize Catholic servant leadership, no matter the faith context of your organization
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Compare methods and strategies of leadership, and implement various methods depending on the situation, including Indigenous ways of leading
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Support and advocate for all members of your community, including diverse voices and youth
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Promote and actualize accommodations and accessibility
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Apply inclusive leadership principles in real-world situations
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Manage and resolve conflicts as a leader, and navigate challenging conversations with people of different backgrounds and contexts
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Support and advocate for yourself and your team members to prioritize stress management and resiliency
Understand how Faith can help you to prioritize service, compassion, and social justice in your community, organization, and day-to-day life
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About the Instructors
Our instructors are distinguished Catholic leaders, scholars, and practitioners drawn from education, ministry, theology, social justice, and community leadership. Together, they bring decades of experience in faith-based leadership, academic research, pastoral ministry, and executive administration—offering participants both rigorous insight and practical wisdom for leading with purpose, compassion, and conviction.
Created to support a just, merciful, and compassionate world nurtured by the genius of women, the Catholic Women's Leadership Foundation offer a yearlong leadership certificate program to help Catholic women strengthen their leadership skills in an environment which integrates faith and spirituality.
Program Impact
The impact of the Leadership Program is far-reaching for both the community and the Catholic Church. In the quest for Catholic social justice in society:
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Women will gain valuable leadership skills
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Program graduates will lead and be an important influence as workplaces explore their social purpose and meet their ESG (environmental, social, and corporate governance) mandates
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Program graduates will become a pool of trained laywomen providing succession in Catholic social justice work currently championed by a diminishing number of religious women
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Women with specialized skill sets and knowledge will be important resources for charities in the more effective promotion of their missions to create a just and compassionate society
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Local parishes, committees, and dioceses will be strengthened by the feminine genius as women take on more leadership roles
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Governments at all levels will be encouraged by a constituency of women not afraid to advocate on behalf of those without a voice
Program Highlights
The Leadership Program is developed to accommodate women who may be working full time. It is based on adult learning principles and is be women-centered. The program features numerous networking opportunities and a mentorship plan designed to strengthen each woman’s ability to grow.
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After completing the Program, women will have the skills they need, whether they are speaking on behalf of an organization, fundraising for a local community group, making decisions that affect the health and well-being of people or serving as a director of a major organization or a government agency.
