O’Malley: Time is right for Archdiocesan Catholic Center improvement initiative

When Archbishop Bernard Hebda tapped Tim O’Malley to lead an organizational improvement initiative for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis’ central offices, he credited O’Malley’s proven abilities as a strategic thinker and implementer of change.

Coming from a law enforcement background with experience practicing law and serving as a state administrative law judge, O’Malley joined the archdiocese in 2014 to build an Office of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment, which he continues to direct. Now he’s also tasked with overseeing a plan to improve the Archdiocesan Catholic Center’s effectiveness in executing its mission to serve Christ by providing sound leadership and improved services to parishes, schools and other Catholic entities throughout the archdiocese.

Headquartered in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood of St. Paul, the ACC is comprised of 29 offices with 130 staff members. Offices include those of the archbishop and auxiliary bishop; Catholic Education; Clergy Formation; Marriage, Family and Life; Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment; and Latino Ministry. Other offices handle administrative responsibilities: Human Resources and Benefits, Finance and Administration, Financial Standards and Parish Accounting. Its Office of Communications includes The Catholic Spirit.

Last year, the archdiocese partnered with a global consulting firm to assess its organizational health and provide a framework for improvement. The assessment began with an extensive survey sent to ACC staff, parish and school staff, and other stakeholders. The results showed that ACC employees feel they belong and their work matters. The results also showed that many employees don’t understand the archdiocese’s direction and their role in it. The analysis also revealed there’s work to be done to better serve stakeholders, improve operational rigor, and develop talent within the ACC staff.

Efforts are underway to strategically address needed improvements to organizational effectiveness, an initiative that leaders have named Project Isaiah. The overall goal is for the ACC to provide better support to parishes, O’Malley said.

“This assessment was very comprehensive, and across really all demographics, both internal and external, there were some clear operational areas in which we could improve,” O’Malley said. “By improving in those areas, we can deliver better to those at parishes and the schools, clergy, volunteers (and) staff who are really … doing the direct work of our Church.”

O’Malley said the time is ripe for the ACC to undergo evaluation and make necessary changes. In 2015, the archdiocese entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to mounting claims of clergy sexual abuse, and Archbishop John Nienstedt and Auxiliary Bishop Lee Piche suddenly resigned. Archbishop Hebda took leadership of the archdiocese, first in a temporary capacity, and then as its archbishop in 2016. Prior to and during bankruptcy, the ACC operated in “a crisis management approach” that was more reactive than proactive, O’Malley said. It’s been two years since the bankruptcy resolved, and the Archdiocesan Synod process is well underway, which is “adding direction and input again from a wide range of perspectives,” he said.

ACC staff also is “primed” for improvement, O’Malley said. “The assessment itself shows that employees find this to be very meaningful and rewarding work as they support others, and that they are very sincere and motivated, and they want to do the best they can,” he said.

However, Project Isaiah “is not the kind of approach that lends itself to a quick fix,” he said. “We need to look at making some changes that are well-thought-out and helpful. … I’m hoping that with time, the people that we work with directly will see the change, but the change for the people in the pews and the (Catholic school) students will be less direct, a little more subtle.”

A timeframe for Project Isaiah is still developing, but O’Malley said he thought a year was a realistic goal.

Staffing changes in the Office of Ministerial Standards and Safe Environment, including the January hiring of Paul Iovino as deputy director, who has 25 years of experience with the St. Paul Police Department, has made it possible for O’Malley to add overseeing Project Isaiah to his own responsibilities.

Prior to working for the archdiocese, O’Malley led successful efforts to make transformational change in government, including in 2008 the reorganization of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s information service and integration divisions, while he was serving as BCA superintendent. That process involved input from the 60 employees in those divisions as well as from a wide range of external stakeholders, and resulted in increased accuracy, completeness and timeliness of criminal justice information and improved service delivery to BCA customers, he said.

In a Dec. 15 letter to ACC staff, Archbishop Hebda shared his confidence that O’Malley would have similar success with Project Isaiah.

“Tim led the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis through one of the most difficult times in its history by working with the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office to address systemic deficiencies in child safety and survivor services,” he said. “He and his team have put in place processes and forged relationships so that our goal of partnering with others to keep children safe has advanced greatly.”

O’Malley said he’s excited and honored to lead the process, but he doesn’t downplay the effort and time it will take for everyone involved.

“The truth is, it’s going to take some hard work. It’s going to take a while,” he said. “But I really think … the time is right to do this.”