God in the Spreadsheets: Managing Your Parish with Faith and Excellence
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May 13, 2026What does a chemical engineer turned Silicon Valley tech professional turned Catholic priest have to teach us about running a parish? As it turns out — quite a lot.
In the latest episode of The Engaged Parish Podcast, we sat down with Father Robert Gahl, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the Busch School of Business at The Catholic University of America and Director of the Church Management Program (CMP). The conversation was as inspiring as it was practical.
The Best-Kept Secret in Catholic Higher Education
Father Robert opened by describing CUA as "the best-kept secret in the United States." Founded in 1887 by papal charter from Pope Leo XIII, it is the only pontifical university in the country and the only one whose chancellor serves by virtue of his office as the Archbishop of Washington. Under the leadership of President Peter Kilpatrick, CUA has undergone a remarkable renewal of its Catholic identity. The seminary across the street has grown from 14 to over 32 men per class. Something is clearly stirring.
A Program Built for Parish Leaders
The Church Management Program was born out of a real need — priests and parish administrators who are deeply faithful but underprepared for the financial, operational, and managerial realities of running a parish. Father and his colleagues built the CMP to meet that need head-on.
The program offers:- A Graduate Certificate (12 credit hours) for working parish professionals
- A full Master of Arts in Administration and Management (MEAM) degree
- Courses covering finance, HR, property management, canon law, and responsible use of technology
- Deep spiritual formation integrated throughout every course
One of the most memorable moments of the conversation came when Father echoed St. Teresa of Avila: if you can find God among the pots and pans in the kitchen, you can find Him in the spreadsheet too. That's not just a charming quote, it's the heartbeat of the entire program. The CMP isn't just about equipping leaders with business skills. It's about forming leaders who can serve their flock with both competence and holiness.
Father also addressed burnout and the "rat race mentality" that can quietly derail even the most generous priests and parish staff. The program draws on cognitive science and the Catholic spiritual tradition from St. Ignatius of Loyola to St. Josemaría Escrivá — to help leaders manage stress in a way that's life-giving, not depleting.The Church deserves great leaders. This program is helping form them.A Special Offer for New Students
Learn more at cmp.catholic.edu or reach out to Father Robert directly at [email protected].
The Graduate Certificate normally runs around $10,000, but through May 31, 2026, CUA is offering a special rate of $7,500. Payment plans are available, and many dioceses offer continuing education stipends to help offset costs. Mention promo code eCatholicCMP when applying to take advantage of this offer.
About the Engaged Parish Podcast
The Engaged Parish Podcast is proudly produced by eCatholic, the engagement platform of the Catholic Church. We exist to equip and inspire Catholic parish leaders, staff, and volunteers to serve their communities with greater confidence and capacity. New episodes drop regularly.
You can tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio app, Fio, and eCatholic's YouTube Channel. Be sure to like, comment, and subscribe!