The real question is, does the prospective TLI program participant, who now works at a parish/diocese want to work in the secular world? If the answer is yes, then absolutely, they should participate in the program. TLI is probably not a good fit for a lay person who has made out his/her mind about building a career working for the Church. TLI is also not for clergy.
Most sessions start with a rich discussion on a (light, 3-5 pages) reading handout that is provided one week prior. Participants then hear from two or three speakers per night. These are very engaging 20-minute PowerPoint presentations. Then, the facilitator starts a virtual Q&A panel, where the participants interact with the experts. The sessions typically end with an engaging exercise or dynamic, such as discussion in small groups (through virtual breakout rooms) that are meant to help participants further digest the content and grow in fellowship.
Both. The 18 sessions of the program take place on a virtual platform (From February to June). These live sessions are highly engaging, and interactive, and you participate from the comfort of your home or office. In addition to the weekly sessions, the program involves an all-day retreat. It takes place on a Saturday of April or May. The retreat is in-person. There is a virtual version of the retreat, but participants are highly encouraged to experience it in-person.
There are a couple of ways, TLI is not a group or young adult ministry. In fact, while many of the program participants are millennials, TLI is not restricted to any age group. TLI is for Catholic professionals “in the early to mid-stages of their career.” We let them define if this is where they are. In addition, TLI is not a Catholic professional guild, where you can join at any time and participate for as long as you want. TLI is a five-month civic leadership development program (You are in, you are out, and you are done). But in those five-months we are able to touch participants in profound ways that have transformative effects in both their professional and spiritual lives.
Yes, Tepeyac Leadership Initiative is a national program. It is available to Catholic professionals throughout the US. Most of the live sessions of the program are virtual (none of our content is prerecorded). For our all-day retreat, participants have a choice to meet in person at one of our two retreat locations in Nashville, Tennessee or Phoenix, Arizona.
- Increase their awareness of and participation in leadership roles in the community.
- Learn how to guide their careers by their Catholic faith with confidence and wisdom.
- Clarify their vision, and be mentored into the next level in their career.
- Become a virtuous leader and learn how to influence others positively.
- Become part of an influential network of professionals that share their values and drive for success.
- Be surrounded, meet and learn from California’s and Arizona’s top catholic business and community leaders.
- Be part of a project to advance the common good, making an impact in the community.
- Have opportunities for professional, personal and spiritual growth, through encouraged introspection.
Most sessions bring together a panel of experts, made up of top Catholic professionals and seasoned lay leaders from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Diocese of Phoenix and many others around the country.
Several leadership events are available throughout the program. Participation in these events are entirely optional, but complement and enrich the program experience.
TLI is a five-month program beginning in February and continuing through June over the course of 18 weekly sessions. Participants can join TLI in one of three tracks (divided by time zones). TLI West meets Tuesdays, TLI Central meets Wednesdays and TLI East meets Thursdays. All tracks of the program meet from 7-10 p.m. in their respective time zones. The program costs $2,000. There is a $200 early-bird discount if applying before November 1. Installment plans are also available.
TLI is a perfect fit for Catholics who come to Mass regularly but have not shown much interest in ministry or apostolate work. Catholics who are focused in a professional career. Who are very interested in leadership development from a career standpoint. They identify strongly as Catholics but would prefer to minimize their commitment at the parish level.
Next to you will be seating other Catholic professionals from different walks of life. They are as eager as you are to become leaders and grow professionally and in faith.
Graduate-level MBA courses have homework with intense reading requirements. You typically prepare for class by reading case studies and preparing answers that pertain to those case studies.
The classes at MBA courses last much longer, and are more challenging to remain engaged with, as each class is held by the same instructor for periods of 8 weeks at the time.
TLI sessions are not lectures as they are meant to be fast paced and interactive. Each presentation last 30 minutes and is followed by a Q&A session.
We wouldn’t call them lectures, as they are meant to be fast paced, and interactive. Each presentation last 30 minutes and is followed by a Q&A session.
Day one is orientation day, which is different from all sessions that come after. There are no presenters or Q&A panels here. The facilitator goes over the different parts of the program, expectations and responsibilities of each participant. We close the session with interactions/dynamics meant to allow participants to get to know their peers. Orientation is mandatory.
TLI as designed for busy professionals. Every participant in the program is a busy professional. With that in mind, the TLI program was designed to be a flexible and manageable experience. Participants commit to joining the program for 18 (3-hour) weekly sessions. They join the sessions virtually, from the comfort of their home or office. There is no homework, paper, or project to work on outside the sessions. The only other component is an all-day retreat on a Saturday. Last, participants are allowed to miss up to three sessions (if needed) and still graduate from TLI. Mind you, participants typically do not want to miss any sessions, since they are highly engaging and rewarding.
TLI is the perfect place to send those Catholics who are working professionals, not necessarily interested in ministry or parish work. Through TLI, participants learn how to guide their careers by their Catholic faith. Moreover, TLI graduates turn their professional careers into their apostolate, supporting the mission of the Church and advancing the common good. This is a great place to send Catholics in the professional world to grow in their faith and become Catholic leaders ready to make an impact in the community.
Through a partnership with the University of Mary, completion of the TLI program awards participants 3 credits towards a VL certificate of MBA at the University of Mary.
The time commitment for TLI is significantly less than that of a master’s degree. The program last 5 months, and is comprised of 18 weekly sessions. The commitment is moderate and flexible. It could represent the first step towards someone considering a masters degree, but the reach of the program is much higher than academics. There are both intellectual and a spiritual components to the program in order to form and shape participants in an integral way.
TLI draws professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds. Past cohorts have had a great representation from the legal, legislative, finance, education, health, government, business and non-profit sectors. If you are a professional from any field, in the first to mid stages of your career, a practicing Catholic, you are eligible to apply for TLI.
Ever wonder why so many accomplished, successful people feel empty? Career success, for the sake of success, is not success at all. Everyone has a purpose and a mission. The Tepeyac Leadership Initiative wants to help faithful Catholics discover their mission in life. Parish life is full of activities and wonderful lay associations that can do much to bring about a sense of belonging. But the true call for lay people is to live their faith out in the world. The TLI program is a place for Catholics in the professional world to exercise their gifts and talents, growing professionally and spiritually while also becoming leaders in their community.
While university studies, certifications, and other career advancement opportunities can do a great deal to teach techniques and vital concepts for specific industries, what is not often available is an opportunity to form our minds and hearts to lead with purpose. TLI is primarily meant to help professionals in the early to mid stages of their careers to become leaders, both in their own professional fields and their communities. By applying for admission to TLI and participating in the program, candidates are aspiring to join a new network of solid Catholic professionals ready to accomplish concrete goals for the betterment of themselves, their Church and their communities.
If you are a practicing Catholic with a professional career, the simple answer is yes. TLI was designed to help Catholic working professionals, from all fields, to discover a driving force for success in their professional, personal and spiritual lives through their Catholic faith. The program leverages the wisdom of seasoned Catholic leaders in order to guide participants in aspiring to leadership in their professional fields and the community. This leadership program sets itself apart from the rest by approaching leadership in an integral way and by drawing from 2000 years of principles and wisdom found in the Catholic faith. TLI can help take your faith out of the pews and into the world.