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The Spirituality of Catholic School Leadership Part Two: The Catholic School Leader’s Toolbox

“Start by doing what is necessary; then do what is possible; 

and suddenly, you are doing the impossible.”

- St. Francis of Assisi

Editor’s Note: The material insight in this document and subsequent webinar/workshop presentations are attributed to Ken R. Rasp as a strategic partner with Catholic Vitality 360.


The Required Toolkit for Catholic School Leaders

As illustrated in Part One of this topic, the new frontier of Catholic school leadership requires a strong, collaborative, spiritual leader. This inspiring leader, with a focus on continuous innovation, must understand finances, fundraising, academic rigor, marketing, facilities, human resources, and legal policy and technology; all while cultivating a culture of inclusion, cooperation, and sustainable vitality. 

While Part One focused on the proper disposition, attitude and approach, here in Part Two, we illustrate some practical strategies that can be implemented to navigate these critical issues. We call this the Catholic School Leader’s Toolkit.


A Leader Who Leads

Having served at all levels of Catholic education, from colleges and universities to elementary and high schools for over 40 years, Ken Rasp has certainly thrived as a spiritual, collaborative and academic leader. While serving as President of Muskegon Catholic Central in Muskegon, MI, during the tumultuous uncertainty of Covid, he was called upon by a school parent to “be a leader who leads.” Taken aback by the audacious spirit of this imposing stipulation, Ken became reflective and began writing and sharing his position on visionary Catholic school leadership. What follows are his inspired thoughts.


Empowerment and Obedience

Throughout my career, a key ingredient in my relationship with my team members has been the concept of empowerment. It was an opportunity to show how much trust and respect I had for those who worked with me. It allowed them to step out independently, reach beyond their ceiling, and move proactively toward success. As a leader who leads, I needed to set the stage by:

  • Communicating any expectations and desired outcomes clearly and concisely;

  • Choosing to empower because I took pride in potential and watching people grow and take on the job;

  • Steering with competence and confidence;

  • Trusting my team to accept being empowered with maturity; and

  • Helping each other to accept responsibility and knowledge for what they are accountable for.

I shared with my teams that empowerment was not a one-way street. Each must exercise responsibility and loyalty by keeping me informed and aware. Part of the challenge was understanding how to use the assets available to them, including me. They quickly discovered that they did not know what they did not know.

An unusual byproduct of this conversation was obedience. Certainly not the blind or restrictive kind of obedience. It was genuine and positive and only occurred when loyalty and respect flowed from a nurtured relationship. Team members were obedient, knowing I had their best interests in mind. In essence, they trusted that I had their back. I asked them to take on responsibilities that I knew they could accomplish. It was an amazingly positive situation in an office where love and transparency existed. Accomplishments skyrocketed when we all worked together.

For me, it was not about having my team obedient. It was about creating an environment where we trusted that we could be powerful and successful if we did what we were supposed to do. As the President, I must have this kind of relationship with and support from my operational team. If not, we would spin our wheels, stuck following our tail, going around in circles.


God is God, and I am Not

What a powerful statement this is. It is easy to say and complicated to live. As Catholic school leaders, we can get caught up in the almost never-ending busyness of the day. We step into the issues and activities to provide solutions and answers quickly. It is easy to step around God because we need to solve an issue or manage an activity immediately. We all do it. It happens in the spur of the moment. It’s not that we push God aside; we step over Him, forgetting in that instant the essential need for God to provide direction and focus. Sometimes, it works, but we all know how much better it would be to notice and acknowledge God’s presence and control.

God is ever-present in our lives. We are never alone. In those instances where we inadvertently step over or beyond God, He is there, ready for us to step back and open our eyes, hands, minds, and hearts to Him. He wants to understand that His role is not to do the work for us. His role is to provide the grace and mercy that allow us to act on His behalf. With God squarely in the center of the action or issue, we accomplish our work with grace and mercy and share it amongst all participants, no matter the number.

Our God is awesome! He provides all the direction and drive that allows us to wrap ourselves in His love. He reminds us that making a simple choice for Him is up to us. Of course, that choice leads to another, and another, and another. As our choices add up, His grace and mercy bolster and nurture us into His adopted daughters and sons. The closer we get to At-One-Ment, the more responsibility He gives us to be more like Him in our interactions with people. 


Inspirational and Motivational

A vital role for a leader who leads is being a huge institutional cheerleader. I do not mean someone who boisterously shares an opinion or thought that is not necessarily part of the plan. I am talking about a leader who understands and owns the vision and goals at a level where their enthusiasm for the vision is contagious. They can articulate not only the what of the vision but also the steps and strides needed to find a high degree of success.

Being positive and enthusiastic is just a tiny part of the effort to keep the entire team motivated to maintain and sustain until the end. I have found that I need to bolster and nurture my team to continue when exhaustion, anxiety, and fatigue are the emotions at the front of my mind. Finishing strong is essential; the leader is essentially the team’s inspirational captain. In the hectic, frenetically fast-paced environment that a Catholic school leader works within, providing those moments of humor, uplifting statements, or a statement of gratitude or praise, it is sometimes difficult to find the energy to be positive. As leaders, we must find the stamina and forethought to step beyond ourselves and help our team stay motivated and engaged in the process and scope of work. It is important to note that being a leader is about elevating others, not themselves.

Another important aspect of this is that the leader’s efforts are about achieving goals and objectives that are realistic and attainable. It is tough on optimism and positivity to set your sights on mountaintop-type goals. It is tough not only on the team but also on the leader. Motivation to achieve must be grounded in the opportunity for success, not on the whims of a leader who has no sense of the reality of the situation. I believe in providing opportunities to over-achieve, but they are crafted around objectives everyone sees as possible. 

You never want to settle on less when you can blow the socks off a project or activity. With a strong belief in a team and a realistic view of the situation, the team is ready for greatness. Now, with some inspiration and positivity, greatness can and will happen.


Key Statements

I would like to end with a listing of statements detailing Ken as a leader who leads.

  • I am a leader who is a follower of Jesus. 

  • I am a leader because God has gifted me with that skill set.

  • I am a leader who chooses to be a servant first.

  • I am a leader who intentionally builds a team, understanding that I am responsible for lifting them to a place where they can perform with dignity and worth-it-ness.

  • I am a leader who works intentionally to build a team because "we" are more substantial than "I."

  • I am a leader who helps those I lead understand expectations and responsibilities with no shortcuts.

  • I am a leader who surrounds himself with solid characters who are willing to step out and voice a contrary opinion or viewpoint.

  • I am a leader who loves to care and cares to love.

  • I am a leader who embraces failure and understands the positive impact of falling and having to find a way to get up.

  • I am a leader who loves to influence and be influenced.

As you go forward in Faith, please remember these important points: 

  • Catholic school leaders are called by God.

  • He gifts us with a skill set that we must hon into a toolbox or attributes and traits that allow us to be His hands and feet in our school setting.

  • We must choose to notice His continual presence in our lives.

  • He provides us the opportunity to keenly focus on the mission and vision of building the Body of Christ.

We Can Help

At Catholic Vitality 360, it is our ministry to serve your needs. Our mission is your vitality. All of the processes we share in our writings, videos and Zoomcast, THE CIRCLE are available to you. You are not alone in this work and we are happy to help. We consider you and your parish/school a vitality partner with us as we navigate building the Kingdom of God. Our proven approach will provide clarity, a working plan and a proven system that produces impressive results and engages more people in the life of the parish/school.

Engage others, share this dynamic vision, create a collaborative team and build ongoing vitality.

This will take time, patience, persistence, perseverance and PRAYER.

Do not fear, we walk in Faith and this is God’s work. 

Be Good and Do Good.


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“Start by doing what is necessary; then do what is possible; 
and suddenly, you are doing the impossible.”
- St. Francis of Assisi
Editor’s Note: The material insight in this document and subsequent webinar/workshop presentations are attributed to Ken R. Rasp as a strategic partner with Catholic Vitality 360.

The Required Toolkit for Catholic School Leaders
As illustrated in Part One of this topic, the new frontier of Catholic school leadership requires a strong, collaborative, spiritual leader. This inspiring leader, with a focus on continuous innovation, must understand finances, fundraising, academic rigor, marketing, facilities, human resources, and legal policy and technology; all while cultivating a culture of inclusion, cooperation, and sustainable vitality. 
While Part One focused on the proper disposition, attitude and approach, here in Part Two, we illustrate some practical strategies that can be implemented to navigate these critical issues. We call this the Catholic School Leader’s Toolkit.

A Leader Who Leads
Having served at all levels of Catholic education, from colleges and universities to elementary and high schools for over 40 years, Ken Rasp has certainly thrived as a spiritual, collaborative and academic leader. While serving as President of Muskegon Catholic Central in Muskegon, MI, during the tumultuous uncertainty of Covid, he was called upon by a school parent to “be a leader who leads.” Taken aback by the audacious spirit of this imposing stipulation, Ken became reflective and began writing and sharing his position on visionary Catholic school leadership. What follows are his inspired thoughts.

Empowerment and Obedience
Throughout my career, a key ingredient in my relationship with my team members has been the concept of empowerment. It was an opportunity to show how much trust and respect I had for those who worked with me. It allowed them to step out independently, reach beyond their ceiling, and move proactively toward success. As a leader who leads, I needed to set the stage by:
  • Communicating any expectations and desired outcomes clearly and concisely;
  • Choosing to empower because I took pride in potential and watching people grow and take on the job;
  • Steering with competence and confidence;
  • Trusting my team to accept being empowered with maturity; and
  • Helping each other to accept responsibility and knowledge for what they are accountable for.
I shared with my teams that empowerment was not a one-way street. Each must exercise responsibility and loyalty by keeping me informed and aware. Part of the challenge was understanding how to use the assets available to them, including me. They quickly discovered that they did not know what they did not know.
An unusual byproduct of this conversation was obedience. Certainly not the blind or restrictive kind of obedience. It was genuine and positive and only occurred when loyalty and respect flowed from a nurtured relationship. Team members were obedient, knowing I had their best interests in mind. In essence, they trusted that I had their back. I asked them to take on responsibilities that I knew they could accomplish. It was an amazingly positive situation in an office where love and transparency existed. Accomplishments skyrocketed when we all worked together.
For me, it was not about having my team obedient. It was about creating an environment where we trusted that we could be powerful and successful if we did what we were supposed to do. As the President, I must have this kind of relationship with and support from my operational team. If not, we would spin our wheels, stuck following our tail, going around in circles.

God is God, and I am Not
What a powerful statement this is. It is easy to say and complicated to live. As Catholic school leaders, we can get caught up in the almost never-ending busyness of the day. We step into the issues and activities to provide solutions and answers quickly. It is easy to step around God because we need to solve an issue or manage an activity immediately. We all do it. It happens in the spur of the moment. It’s not that we push God aside; we step over Him, forgetting in that instant the essential need for God to provide direction and focus. Sometimes, it works, but we all know how much better it would be to notice and acknowledge God’s presence and control.
God is ever-present in our lives. We are never alone. In those instances where we inadvertently step over or beyond God, He is there, ready for us to step back and open our eyes, hands, minds, and hearts to Him. He wants to understand that His role is not to do the work for us. His role is to provide the grace and mercy that allow us to act on His behalf. With God squarely in the center of the action or issue, we accomplish our work with grace and mercy and share it amongst all participants, no matter the number.
Our God is awesome! He provides all the direction and drive that allows us to wrap ourselves in His love. He reminds us that making a simple choice for Him is up to us. Of course, that choice leads to another, and another, and another. As our choices add up, His grace and mercy bolster and nurture us into His adopted daughters and sons. The closer we get to At-One-Ment, the more responsibility He gives us to be more like Him in our interactions with people. 

Inspirational and Motivational
A vital role for a leader who leads is being a huge institutional cheerleader. I do not mean someone who boisterously shares an opinion or thought that is not necessarily part of the plan. I am talking about a leader who understands and owns the vision and goals at a level where their enthusiasm for the vision is contagious. They can articulate not only the what of the vision but also the steps and strides needed to find a high degree of success.
Being positive and enthusiastic is just a tiny part of the effort to keep the entire team motivated to maintain and sustain until the end. I have found that I need to bolster and nurture my team to continue when exhaustion, anxiety, and fatigue are the emotions at the front of my mind. Finishing strong is essential; the leader is essentially the team’s inspirational captain. In the hectic, frenetically fast-paced environment that a Catholic school leader works within, providing those moments of humor, uplifting statements, or a statement of gratitude or praise, it is sometimes difficult to find the energy to be positive. As leaders, we must find the stamina and forethought to step beyond ourselves and help our team stay motivated and engaged in the process and scope of work. It is important to note that being a leader is about elevating others, not themselves.
Another important aspect of this is that the leader’s efforts are about achieving goals and objectives that are realistic and attainable. It is tough on optimism and positivity to set your sights on mountaintop-type goals. It is tough not only on the team but also on the leader. Motivation to achieve must be grounded in the opportunity for success, not on the whims of a leader who has no sense of the reality of the situation. I believe in providing opportunities to over-achieve, but they are crafted around objectives everyone sees as possible. 
You never want to settle on less when you can blow the socks off a project or activity. With a strong belief in a team and a realistic view of the situation, the team is ready for greatness. Now, with some inspiration and positivity, greatness can and will happen.

Key Statements
I would like to end with a listing of statements detailing Ken as a leader who leads.
  • I am a leader who is a follower of Jesus. 
  • I am a leader because God has gifted me with that skill set.
  • I am a leader who chooses to be a servant first.
  • I am a leader who intentionally builds a team, understanding that I am responsible for lifting them to a place where they can perform with dignity and worth-it-ness.
  • I am a leader who works intentionally to build a team because \"we\" are more substantial than \"I.\"
  • I am a leader who helps those I lead understand expectations and responsibilities with no shortcuts.
  • I am a leader who surrounds himself with solid characters who are willing to step out and voice a contrary opinion or viewpoint.
  • I am a leader who loves to care and cares to love.
  • I am a leader who embraces failure and understands the positive impact of falling and having to find a way to get up.
  • I am a leader who loves to influence and be influenced.
As you go forward in Faith, please remember these important points: 
  • Catholic school leaders are called by God.
  • He gifts us with a skill set that we must hon into a toolbox or attributes and traits that allow us to be His hands and feet in our school setting.
  • We must choose to notice His continual presence in our lives.
  • He provides us the opportunity to keenly focus on the mission and vision of building the Body of Christ.
We Can Help
At Catholic Vitality 360, it is our ministry to serve your needs. Our mission is your vitality. All of the processes we share in our writings, videos and Zoomcast, THE CIRCLE are available to you. You are not alone in this work and we are happy to help. We consider you and your parish/school a vitality partner with us as we navigate building the Kingdom of God. Our proven approach will provide clarity, a working plan and a proven system that produces impressive results and engages more people in the life of the parish/school.
Engage others, share this dynamic vision, create a collaborative team and build ongoing vitality.
This will take time, patience, persistence, perseverance and PRAYER.
Do not fear, we walk in Faith and this is God’s work. 
Be Good and Do Good.

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