Episode 245: Mike Brinda on Parish Management in Light of the Catholic Intellectual and Spiritual Tradition (October 5, 2022)

This week (October 5th) on The Open Door we discuss parish management in light of theCatholic intellectual and spiritual tradition. Our welcome guest is Michael Brinda,successful entrepreneur and author of Parish Management and Operations: The BuckStops Here (En Route Books and Media, 2021). He founded New Horizons ComputerLearning Centers in 1982 and franchised New Horizons around the world. After sellinghis company in 1994, Brinda turned to studying, prison ministry, and then teaching atHoly Apostles College and Seminary. Today he is especially active in prison ministry.Michael and his wife, Kathy, are proud parents and grandparents.Among the questions we will ask are the following. Please feel free to add your own.Prof. Brinda may be reached at [email protected]. How did you come to have the calling to move from being an entrepreneur and teachingcomputer skills to teaching parish management? Were you “knocked off a horse” orwas the transition more gradual? (Note: this is a miraculous story that I will compress.)2. What is parish management and operations? Is the concept of “parish management”misunderstood?3. What is your book’s intended audience? Does it include bishops, pastors, andparishioners alike?4. Do our Catholic seminaries teach parish management today?5. Do you find seminary Rectors are willing to add parish management and operations totheir curriculum?6. Are seminarians receptive to learning the principles of parish management?7. What should be the top priorities of good parish management? Can you share anyparticular examples with us?8. The concept of a via negativa--- essentially the study of what not to do, crops up intheology and philosophy. What ought parish management not involve? Could you giveus some prime examples?9. How did you come to be involved in prison ministry?10. What is the general attitude of inmates towards religion and God?11. Do you have another book in the making?