Catholic Life and Faith

Grateful Disciples is a project of Catholic Life and Faith, a center for stewardship and servant leadership development. Our mission at Catholic Life and Faith is to form leaders to engage people as disciples of Jesus Christ. To this end, we provide in-depth and accessible formation and training for clergy, staff and parishioners, establishing a common vision and building skills among leaders toward a more engaging and evangelizing community of faith. We offer live and virtual training, contribute to professional publications, develop resources and partner with diocesan and parish leaders.

Leisa Anslinger is the author of Grateful Disciples and is the primary presenter and mentor for this innovative process for stewardship leadership formation. She is the Founder of Catholic Life and Faith, a pastoral resource center supporting parish and diocesan leaders. Leisa brings extensive experience in Catholic parishes and schools to her ministry as an author and speaker. She contributes regularly to the e-newsletter published by the International Catholic Stewardship Council, and is the author of books and numerous e-Resources for evangelization and stewardship. Leisa develops and provides resources, pastoral support and presentations on Stewardship, Leadership Formation, Strengths Development, Engagement, and Evangelization for dioceses, parishes, and organizations. She is a frequent presenter at national and diocesan gatherings. She is a founding team member of the Catholic Strengths and Engagement Community (see more below).

Leisa holds a Bachelor’s degree from St. Mary-of-the-Woods College and Master's degrees from Purdue University and the Athenaeum of Ohio. Leisa served for eleven years as the Director of Guidance at Archbishop McNicholas High School, twelve years as the Pastoral Associate for Evangelization, Catechesis and Stewardship at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, and four as the Associate Director for Parish Vitality in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Ohio. She is the author of 30 Days on Stewardship, Abundant Living, Abundant Giving, 8 Ways to Build Parish Community, Turning Hearts to Christ and co-author of Desires of the Heart, Forming Generous Hearts: Stewardship Planning for Lifelong Faith Formation, and Great Expectations: A pastoral guide for partnering with parents, all published by Twenty-Third Publications.  Leisa is the author of A Vision for Conversion: 8 Steps to Radically Change your RCIA Process, published by Liturgical Press. She has contributed to The Living Word and Sourcebook for Sundays and Seasons, published by Liturgy Training Publications. Leisa is the co-author, with Stephanie Moore, of the Bridges Leadership Series, published by Catholic Life and Faith.

Leisa is a founding team member of the Catholic Strengths and Engagement Community (CSEC), a grassroots nonprofit organization which provides thought leadership, peer-to-peer networking and sharing of best practices toward a more engaging parish in which people have the opportunity to develop and offer their God-given talents as good stewards. Catholic Life and Faith supports CSEC through stewardship of time, talent and treasure. Connect with CSEC here.