SAINT SEBASTIAN INSTITUTE
“In this field, priests are still trained as if it’s 1825.”
Fr. Boniface Endorf, O.P
Endorsed and Advised by Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services
We are a group of devout Catholic servicemembers and veterans, including clergy, combat veterans, Special Operations veterans, professors, West Point graduates, leadership experts, founders and authors. Our core values are orthodoxy, charity, joy, and intensity.
We serve God and His Church by melding the expertise of the world's greatest fighting force into the timeless truths of the Catholic Church to provide leadership development for the critical nodes in His network - our beloved priests.
Our premier method brings priests from across the country to the Hudson Valley for the Kapaun Priest Leadership Course - an immersive, 5-day experience featuring individual leadership and health coaching, Academy-proven techniques, Key Leader Engagement training, and our unique culminating exercise, the Pastor Stress Test.
Join Our Movement
Kapaun Priest Leadership Course Cohort 3
June 1-5, 2026
Our 5-day Kapaun Priest Leadership Course features an immersive mix of classroom, reflective, and experiential learning models, expertly led by a world-class team of priests and military veterans dedicated to providing the best leadership development possible for the priests that attend the course. Priests of any experience level are welcome to attend - the only requirement is a desire to learn and grow.
The course takes place at the historic Most Holy Trinity Catholic Chapel in the Hudson Valley of New York. Throughout the course, we employ a crawl-walk-run methodology, teaching attendees how to lead themselves first before leading their units. The course culminates with an in-depth, 12-hour practical and holistic scenario to develop a priest’s leadership skills om a realistic environment, featuring professional role players and one-on-one leadership coaching.
Supplemental exercises, including marksmanship training and scalable team fitness events all reinforce the leadership lessons in our unique military-inspired manner.
If you are not a priest but know one that might want to attend, please direct him to this website to sign up. Funds are available to cover all costs of attendance, including travel, thanks to generous donors.
Volunteer
We welcome lay Catholics who want to deepen their formation, lend their gifts, and be part of a transformative community committed to growing in holiness, leadership, and mission. Whether you’re interested in supporting our formation efforts, helping with events, or contributing your talents behind the scenes, there’s a place for you to make an impact for Christ and His Church.
Donate
Your donation empowers Catholics to develop as leaders, deepen their faith, and live with evangelical zeal.
“Leaders plan. Priests obey. Saints do both.”
– Fr. Michael D., Cohort 2