Redeeming Administration: 12 Spiritual Habits for Catholic Leaders Ann Garrido Ave Maria Press, 2013

This short and thoughtful volumne offers – for each practice for each of 12 spiritual habits of administration:  A reflection on a practice  A description of “Companion for the Journey” (Catholic saint) on the practice  Prayer and reflection questions.

The book is based on the understanding that “leadership tilts toward the creation of vision and policy… Administration tilts toward the execution and management of vision and policy,” (Page 6)” and the assumption that: “… If we are attentive to the potential grace present in the day-to-day responsibilities we tackle as administrators, we can be formed and molded in profound ways.” (Page 9). This volume can be used as a discussion starter for staffs.

Practices are:  Breadth of Vision  Generativity  Trust  Agape  Integrity  Humility  Courage  Reflection  Humor  Forgiveness  Embrace Death  Hope

The final chapter (“Admistration Call Us to Too Much”) offer some suggestions to prioritize one’s time. It begins with a poem (More) by Clarencer Heller:

The devil came to me disguised as more, One more good thing I could do, Should do, And then another, And another. I was seduced and misguided. The more sapped my energy, my joy, my delight. There was more harshness and impatience In my voice and my presence. And the devil grinned, While God sighed patiently Knowing that when I get worn down enough, I’ll come home to my true self, To being my true self in God.