From Overwhelmed to Leading with Confidence
Four years of transformation for over 30 priests serving parishes in three Metropolises.
From Overwhelmed to Leading with Confidence
Four years of transformation for over 30 priests serving parishes in three Metropolises.
Measurable Change Across Ministry and Life
The priests who completed the two-year program were interviewed about the difference in their life and leadership before and after completing the program. Here is a summary of their transformation.
Impact
When we surveyed graduates of the program, we found impact in four distinct areas
Development 1: Improved Work-Life Balance & Personal Health
Multiple priests experienced transformative changes in personal wellness, including: establishing daily routines and rhythms, returning to physical fitness (including one who completed a half marathon), and prioritizing family time. They learned how to best structure their daily work schedules and rediscovered "the blessings of being a good father, husband, and priest," recognizing how balancing all three roles is crucial to effective ministry.
Development 2: Enhanced Leadership Awareness & Decision-Making
Priests gained important leadership insights that now guide their daily decisions. They were able to move from reactive activity to deliberate, methodical approaches in their ministry. They learned to focus on the areas of biggest impact rather than trying to do everything, creating deliberate decision-making frameworks they could continue leading from.
Development 3: Stronger Organizational Systems & Support
The program helped priests implement concrete operational improvements, including:
- Hiring administrative staff
- Creating mission-focused budgets, connecting giving to parish purpose
- Making meetings more succinct and focused rather than inefficient, allowing to cut down meeting time in half
Development 4: Deeper Ministry Impact & Enhanced Vision
Priests found that their pastoral work became more meaningful and effective, with one noting that the Sacrament of Confession became where "all program learning coalesces" for the deepest pastoral impact. They gained a clearer vision of "what our parish is truly capable of achieving in Christ's name," enabling more strategic and purposeful ministry planning.
Development 5: Valuable Peer Relationships & Community
The program created lasting connections through cohort relationships and peer clergy groups, providing ongoing support and collaboration opportunities that extended beyond the formal program period.
In Their Own Words
Father George Lamberis
St. Spyridon, Palos Heights, IL
“Looking back, one of the better decisions I made in a long time was asking to be enrolled in the Metropolis’ Clergy Leadership Accelerator. I am rediscovering the blessings of being a good father, husband, and priest, and how balancing all three is crucial to my ministry.”
Father Rick Andrews
Sts. Peter & Paul, Glenview, IL
“This program, along with the help of His Eminence, made it possible to hire an executive assistant – something I never would have dreamed of two years ago – and that support has really helped me implement the principles I’ve learned here. Another win has been in our stewardship program: instead of presenting budgets in terms of line items and minutia like heating and electric bills, we worked to tie everything back into our parish vision and mission, so that people could see their giving as part of fulfilling the mission of our parish and understand that this is really what their contribution is about.”
Father Panagiotis Boznos
St. Athanasios, Aurora, IL
“One of the areas of my life as a priest where I see everything I’ve learned in this program coming together is actually in the Sacrament of Confession. This is where my time has the biggest impact. This is where I do a lot of deep pastoring, and where I can really affect somebody and share with them the love and the mercy of God.”
Father Mark Leondis
Saint Mark, Boca Raton, FL
“The tools I have gained from this experience have been transformative. The brotherhood was outstanding, the curriculum was excellent and His Eminence’s fatherly and brotherly leadership was a true gift. Thanks to this program — Saint Mark just hired our second full-time administrator; our Parish Council Meetings are succinct and focused; I have learned healthy boundaries between work and family; my health is on a great course; my family life has been blessed; I have started a Peer Clergy Book Group and my work is more focused!”
Father George Lamberis
St. Spyridon, Palos Heights, IL
“Looking back, one of the better decisions I made in a long time was asking to be enrolled in the Metropolis’ Clergy Leadership Accelerator. I am rediscovering the blessings of being a good father, husband, and priest, and how balancing all three is crucial to my ministry.”
Father Rick Andrews
Sts. Peter & Paul, Glenview, IL
“This program, along with the help of His Eminence, made it possible to hire an executive assistant – something I never would have dreamed of two years ago – and that support has really helped me implement the principles I’ve learned here. Another win has been in our stewardship program: instead of presenting budgets in terms of line items and minutia like heating and electric bills, we worked to tie everything back into our parish vision and mission, so that people could see their giving as part of fulfilling the mission of our parish and understand that this is really what their contribution is about.”
Father Panagiotis Boznos
St. Athanasios, Aurora, IL
“One of the areas of my life as a priest where I see everything I’ve learned in this program coming together is actually in the Sacrament of Confession. This is where my time has the biggest impact. This is where I do a lot of deep pastoring, and where I can really affect somebody and share with them the love and the mercy of God.”
Father Mark Leondis
Saint Mark, Boca Raton, FL
“The tools I have gained from this experience have been transformative. The brotherhood was outstanding, the curriculum was excellent, and His Eminence’s fatherly and brotherly leadership was a true gift. Thanks to this program, Saint Mark just hired our second full-time administrator; our Parish Council Meetings are succinct and focused; I have learned healthy boundaries between work and family; my health is on a great course; my family life has been blessed; I have started a Peer Clergy Book Group and my work is more focused!”
Father Panagiotis Boznos
St. Athanasios, Aurora, IL
“One of the areas of my life as a priest where I see everything I’ve learned in this program coming together is actually in the Sacrament of Confession. This is where my time has the biggest impact. This is where I do a lot of deep pastoring, and where I can really affect somebody and share with them the love and the mercy of God.”
Father Mark Leondis
Saint Mark, Boca Raton, FL
“The tools I have gained from this experience have been transformative. The brotherhood was outstanding, the curriculum was excellent, and His Eminence’s fatherly and brotherly leadership was a true gift. Thanks to this program, Saint Mark just hired our second full-time administrator; our Parish Council Meetings are succinct and focused; I have learned healthy boundaries between work and family; my health is on a great course; my family life has been blessed; I have started a Peer Clergy Book Group and my work is more focused!”
Real Priests, Real Transformation
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Real Priests, Real Transformation
Graduated 2024
His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael of Chicago
Fr. Chris Avramopoulos, Sts. Constantine & Helen, Palos Hills, IL
Fr. Ciprian Sas, Annunciation, Milwaukee, WI
Fr. Rick Andrews, Sts. Peter & Paul, Glenview, IL
Fr. Chrysanthos Kerkeres, St. George, Chicago, IL
Fr. Mark Leondis, St. Mark, Boca Raton, FL
Fr. Gary Kyriacou, St. Sophia, Los Angeles, CA
Fr. Panagiotis Boznos, St. Athanasios, Aurora, IL
Graduated 2025
Fr. Basil Hickman, St. George, Des Moines, IA
Fr. Demetrios Kounavis, St. George, Schererville, IN
Fr. Dionysios Anagnostopoulos, St. Demetrios, Elmhurst, IL
Fr. Dustin Lyon, Twelve Holy Apostles, Duluth, MN
Fr. George Lamberis, St. Spyridon, Palos Heights, IL
Fr. Sotiri Malamis, Ascension of Our Lord, Lincolnshire, IL
Fr. Theofanis Rauch, All Saints, Peoria, IL
Fr. Tilemahos Alikakos, Holy Taxiarhai & St. Haralambos, Niles, IL
Graduating December 2026
Fr. Patrick O'Rourke, St. Nectarios, Palatine, IL
Fr. Anastasios Theodoropoulos, All Saints, Joliet, IL
Fr. Chris Mihalopoulos, St. Nectarios, Palatine, IL
Fr. Dimitri Tobias, St. John the Baptist, Des Plaines, IL
Fr. Dimitrios Burikas, Sts. Constantine & Helen, Merrillville, IN
Fr. Kosmas Kallis, St. Andrew, Chicago, IL
Fr. Luke Melachrinos, St. Nicholas, Oak Lawn, IL
Fr. Nick Hubbard, Holy Anargyroi, Rochester, MN
Graduating December 2027
Fr. Achilles Karathanos, Sts. Constantine & Helen, Swansea, IL
Fr. Panagiotis Kostoulas, Assumption, Town & Country, MO
Fr. Christodoulos Margellos, Assumption, Madison, WI
Fr. Thomas Alatzakis, St. Demetrios, Libertyville, IL
Fr. Joseph Abouid, St. George, Chicago, IL
Fr. Athanasios Papagiannis, Sts. Constantine & Helen, Lombard, IL
Fr. Panteleimon Dalianis, Sts. Constantine & Helen, Wauwatosa, WI
Fr. Peter Sarolas, Sts. Peter & Paul, Glenview, IL
The Community That Lasts
Cohort relationships continue beyond graduation, creating long-term support networks and collaboration. Alumni coaching remains available at significantly-discounted clergy rates. Participants maintain ongoing access to resources in the Coaching Portal.
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The peer support in the program leads to relationships that last well beyond the two years of the formal program.
