SAINT SEBASTIAN INSTITUTE
FORGING COURAGEOUS CATHOLIC LEADERS
Endorsed and Advised by Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services
Amidst massive societal and technological disruption, Americans are hungrier than ever for truth, goodness and beauty. Christ and His Church are the only answer to our deepest human desires, and many Americans are joyfully seeing this for the first time, while others remain tragically in darkness.
Bringing the message of Christ to our country is the great challenge and privilege of our lives, and this mission requires courageous leadership, from clergy and laity alike. As military veterans, we know the value of leadership in combat and in peace, at war and at home - and we also know how to transform raw recruits into inspirational leaders.
Drawing on time-tested leadership principles from the Service Academies and from the rich experiential training methods of Special Operations Forces, we are building leadership development courses to forge Catholic leaders for the front lines of the Church.
We invite you to join us in our mission by praying for us, attending one of our programs, joining our Volunteer Corps, or supporting us financially.
Leaders are made, not born.
OUR PROGRAMS
Named in honor of Venerable and Medal of Honor Recipient Father Emil Kapaun, our 5-day Kapaun Priest Leadership Course features an immersive mix of classroom, reflective, and experiential learning models, led by a world-class team of priests and military veterans. Priests of any experience level are welcome to attend - the only requirement is a desire to learn and grow.
Our next three cohorts will be at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in the Hudson Valley of New York, with no fee to attend.
Cohort 3: June 1-5, 2026
Cohort 4: September 28-October 2, 2026
Cohort 5: October 19-23, 2026
Named in honor of Servant of God and Medal of Honor Recipient Father Vincent Capodanno, Grunt Padre Expeditions (GPXs) teach organizational leadership through field training exercises amidst the beauty of nature. From planning and delegation through OODA loops and peer-to-peer leadership, our Special Forces Veterans leading the course will teach critical leadership lessons and catalyze leadership development for all students.
Our pilot course is August 12-20, 2026 in the Wind River Range of Wyoming in collaboration with COR Expeditions and the Archdiocese for the Military Services. Nearly all expenses are being covered by a generous grant from the Koch Foundation. If you are interested in attending, please contact us using the link below.
Our team of instructors can tailor our offerings to meet your needs - whether that be a custom course to prepare priests for their first parish or a workshop for an entire seminary or school, our team of instructors will work with you to develop an experience that meets the leadership development needs of your organization.
If you are interested in our Mobile Training Team (MTT) offerings, please contact us using the link below, and we will respond as soon as we can.
“Leaders plan. Priests obey. Saints do both.”
– Fr. Michael D., Cohort 2