Formed to Lead: The Marian Way of Catholic Women's Leadership

Formed to Lead: The Marian Way of Catholic Women’s Leadership is a five-week foundational course that explores this distinctly Marian vision of women and leadership through the five characteristics of true devotion identified by St. Louis de Montfort: interior, tender, holy, constant, and disinterested. Looking to the Blessed Virgin Mary as the preeminent exemplar of womanhood and faithful discipleship, participants will study how the five characteristics of true devotion, together with Mary’s principal virtues, provide a pattern for the interior formation of the Catholic woman leader. The lives and witness of women saints will demonstrate how this Marian way of being can take flesh in different personalities, vocations, circumstances, and forms of leadership, with particular attention given to St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) and her profound insights into the nature and vocation of woman. Integrating Catholic theology and spirituality with practical principles of leadership, the course will consider how a woman shaped after the heart of Mary leads from an interior life grounded in God, a character formed in virtue, a steadfast fidelity to truth and mission, and a generous gift of self for the good of others.

Instructor:   Donald Wallenfang, OCDS

Required Texts: 

• Alexandre Havard, Virtuous Leadership: An Agenda for Personal Excellence, 3rd ed. (New York: Scepter Publishers, 2022).
• Albert L. Wiseman, Don Clifton, and Curt Liesveld, Living Your Strengths: Catholic Edition: Discover Your God-Given Talents and Inspire Your Community, 2nd ed. (Omaha, NE: Gallup Press, 2006).
• Ruma Bose and Lou Faust, Mother Teresa, CEO: Unexpected Principles for Practical Leadership (San Francisco, CA: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2011).
• Ann M. Garrido, Redeeming Conflict: 12 Habits for Christian Leaders (Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 2016).

Course Dates:  October 5- November 8, 2026

Cost:     $35 non-refundable registration fee

              $460 tuition