DIMENSIONS OF FAITH-BASED LEADERSHIP: CENTRALIZED, DIALECTIC, DISTRIBUTED, AND SUSTAINED PRACTICES IN CATHOLIC EDUCATION


Sr. Celia M. Piala OP
STUDENT, HOLY CROSS OF DAVAO COLLEGE
Abstract
Leadership in Catholic educational institutions is fundamentally rooted in spirituality, service, moral stewardship, and communal discernment rather than solely organizational management. Unlike secular leadership models that primarily focus on efficiency, productivity, and institutional performance, faith-based leadership in Catholic schools integrates Gospel values, ethical responsibility, and the mission of evangelization into everyday educational practices. Religious administrators are entrusted not only with operational governance but also with nurturing faith formation, preserving Catholic identity, and promoting holistic human development among students, faculty, and the wider school community (Brooks & Brooks, 2021). Catholic educational leadership is deeply connected to the Church’s mission of forming persons who are intellectually competent, morally grounded, spiritually mature, and socially responsible. According to contemporary studies, leaders in Catholic schools are expected to embody servant leadership, spiritual authenticity, compassion, humility, and commitment to community building (Greenleaf, 1977; Fry, 2003). Leadership is therefore viewed not merely as authority or administration but as a vocation of service guided by faith and discernment.
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EPRA International Journal of Environmental Economics, Commerce and Educational Management

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Published on : 2026-05-15

Vol : 13
Issue : 5
Month : May
Year : 2026
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