Finally: The Human Formation Priests Have Always Deserved
Stop living on empty. Start leading with confidence.
Develop the human formation skills seminary never taught you, but your priesthood requires, with professional emotional intelligence coaching designed exclusively for Catholic priests.
There’s no time to wait. The People of God need you fully alive today. Book a free discovery call and let’s get started.
Self-doubt. Fear of conflict. Inner criticism. Resentments. Insecurity. Chronic stress. Frustration. Exhaustion. Loneliness.
Have you experienced any of these?
You're not alone. Many priests quietly carry this interior weight and the shame keeps it hidden.
Imagine your life and priesthood without that heavy burden. Would you lead more boldly, love more freely, and serve Christ with greater confidence? Would you exercise your spiritual fatherhood with more joy? Would a whole new set of possibilities immediately open up for you should you have the transformative skills to cope with these struggles effectively?
These struggles are not only common—they’re deeply human. Until now, no one has approached them with both scientific insight and sensitivity to your unique vocation.
That changes here.
The Shepherd Within is the world’s first organization to translate human formation theory into practical, scientifically validated tools in emotional intelligence, equipping Catholic priests with the foundational skills to be confident shepherds and spiritual fathers.
Forming “the shepherd within” means learning to leverage one’s inner life rather than allowing it to control you. It's the emancipation from self-absorbing personal insecurities. It encompasses developing the human skills necessary to navigate life and ministry with confidence, resilience, and effectiveness. Ultimately, it signifies conforming one’s humanity on a deeper level to that of Christ to more fully live up to your title - “Father.”
The truth is that most are rarely taught these human skills.
Not in our families.
Not in the seminary.
And yet, flourishing in ministry—and in life—depends on them. Why? Because one is human before being a priest. “Grace builds on nature.”
These essential skills are what you know as “human formation,” but what the world knows as “emotional intelligence.” These are highly complementary frameworks.
These human skills are like the lattice—the structure—that allows the vine to grow and produce fruit: no lattice, no vine growth, no fruit. Likewise, struggles in emotional intelligence (human formation) = struggles in the life of grace = struggles producing ministerial fruit.
It’s no longer a secret what these skills are. Decades of scientific research have identified 15 core emotional and social skills that determine how well we function as humans. The world’s best and brightest, in all industries, are learning them.
And now, so are you.
🕊️Hope:
Emotional Intelligence Coaching Is Transforming the Priesthood
Approximately 50% of priests report symptoms of burnout, such as emotional exhaustion, physical distress, and even loss of joy in ministry.
👉 Emotional intelligence is proven to prevent and reverse burnout, fostering resilience and renewed passion for one's vocation.
Priests experience mental illness, trauma, and addiction at rates similar to the wider population.
👉 Emotional intelligence is linked to enhanced emotional awareness and self-regulation, promoting mental health, inner healing, and reducing chronic stress.
Priests are contracting chronic illness at twice the rate of the American male population.
👉 Higher emotionally intelligent individuals are more likely to engage in positive health behaviors—regular exercise, balanced diet, abstaining from smoking/drinking, successfully coping with stress, anger, and resentments—while avoiding risky ones.
Leadership demands in the Church are greater than ever, and priests are expected to step into complex leadership roles earlier in their ministry.
👉 Higher emotional intelligence is directly linked to transformational leadership among clergy —enabling them to navigate conflict, inspire teams, build thriving communities, and lead as shepherds after Christ’s own heart.
Fatherhood is the priest’s fundamental identity, yet the most neglected formation topic.
👉 Priests are called to be spiritual fathers—guiding, nurturing, and protecting the flock entrusted to them. But without emotional intelligence, it’s a struggle to enter fully into this role. Emotional intelligence equips priests with the self-awareness, emotional maturity, and relational skills to father souls after Christ’s own heart.
Ministry disillusionment and vocational fatigue are rising concerns.
👉 Priests with strong emotional intelligence report higher ministry satisfaction, lower emotional exhaustion, and greater vocational resilience.
Isolation and loneliness in single rectory living continue to affect many priests.
👉 Emotional intelligence is strongly linked to emotional closeness and better communication, leading to deeper friendships, authentic priestly fraternity, healthy relational intimacy, and stronger relationships with parishioners.
Chaste celibacy remains a profound and challenging aspect of priestly life.
👉 Affective maturity is a prerequisite for healthy chaste celibacy. Emotional intelligence develops the affective maturity essential for coping with attraction, living celibacy with joy, and integrating one’s sexuality in a healthy, virtuous way.
A Priest’s Experience with The Shepherd Within
“I would not be where I am today as a priest, happier and healthier than I've ever been, and more excited to be a priest today without Matthew’s help.”
Who We Serve
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Priests
We serve individual priests who desire deep personal transformation, enabling them to live with greater joy, lead with confidence, and serve Christ with lasting impact.
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Church Leaders
Diocesan leaders, Religious Orders, seminary formators, and vocation directors seeking effective ways to strengthen the men entrusted to their care. We partner with them by equipping priests and seminarians with the emotional intelligence and human formation skills needed for healthy, lasting, and joyful ministry and fatherhood.
How We Serve
We utilize the first scientifically validated platinum model of emotional intelligence, called the EQi 2.0.
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Personalized emotional intelligence coaching to help you lead, live, and serve with greater confidence.
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Small-group coaching for priests or seminarians who want to grow together and learn from each other in emotional intelligence, resilience, and authentic brotherhood.
Meet Matt
Hi, I’m Matt—the founder and coach behind The Shepherd Within.
With Master’s degrees in Theology, Psychology, and Business Administration, and professional certifications in Emotional Intelligence, Life Coaching, and Church Management, I bring a unique blend of theological insight, psychological expertise, and practical leadership experience to my work with priests.
For years, I’ve walked closely with priests—as a seminarian, parish employee, and later as Director of Clergy Support for the Diocese of Fall River. I’ve seen firsthand the immense demands of priestly life and the toll they can take on emotional and spiritual well-being.
That’s why I founded The Shepherd Within: to help priests cultivate the human skills essential for thriving in their vocation—resilience, confidence, emotional intelligence, and spiritual depth. Too often, I saw priests sent for costly interventions when what they really needed was practical, compassionate support and a new skillset. My mission is to change that by providing the best human formation in the country.
I believe the Church needs priests today who are authentically human and heroically sacrificial—spiritual fathers who “stand at the door and watch,” ready to protect and provide for their flocks. Thriving in priesthood isn’t just possible—it’s essential for the renewal of the Church’s mission.
On a personal note, I’m blessed to share life with my wife and our three beautiful children in Rhode Island. In rare moments of free time, I enjoy sneaking in a round of golf.
Father, may you know we love the man behind the collar—and that with the right support, you can flourish both personally and ministerially.
I look forward to walking with you!
What People Are Saying
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![Matthew Leonard, Catholic Evangelist & Founder of ScienceOfSainthood.com]()
Matthew Leonard, Catholic Evangelist & Founder of ScienceOfSainthood.com
"We don’t just need more priests. We need men properly equipped to answer God’s call. Matt’s work is desperately needed.”
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![Msgr. Roger J. Landry National Director, The Pontifical Mission Societies Priest of the Diocese of Fall River]()
Msgr. Roger J. Landry National Director, The Pontifical Mission Societies Priest of the Diocese of Fall River
“Matt Robinson has brought great intelligence, vitality, innovation, hard work and sincere concern for priests’ full flourishing to his service of the priests of the Diocese of Fall River. He couples a profound theological reverence for priests and the priesthood with a broad practical experience of the challenges and joys priests face every day. I’m happy to see that through The Shepherd Within he’s now going to use his many gifts to help even more priests experience renewal. “
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![Father Herb Sperger, Former Director of Spiritual Formation, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia]()
Father Herb Sperger, Former Director of Spiritual Formation, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia
“So many priests today are dealing with extraordinary challenges. Often, they are responsible for large or multiple parishes, sometimes in addition to other ministerial responsibilities, and yet many times do not have the support they find themselves in need of. Matt's personal coaching - given his psychological and theological background, as well as his experience in ministry to priests - can provide them the opportunity to deal with the challenges they face, as well as to build up the inner resources they need in order to go forward in ministry with greater confidence in themselves. I highly recommend Matthew and his program, The Shepherd Within.”
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![Leslie DeLisle APRN, PMHCNS-BC, Psychiatric Nurse Practioner, Diocesan Consultant]()
Leslie DeLisle APRN, PMHCNS-BC, Psychiatric Nurse Practioner, Diocesan Consultant
“I’ve seen firsthand how Matt’s coaching helps priests regain balance, resilience, and joy in their vocation. The Shepherd Within meets a critical need in the Church today - supporting priests as men, leaders, and spiritual fathers.”
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![Fr. Thomas F.X. Hoar, SSE, President, St. Edmunds Retreat at Enders Island]()
Fr. Thomas F.X. Hoar, SSE, President, St. Edmunds Retreat at Enders Island
“Matt Robinson has many tools to help priests develop and maintain healthy, balanced, and prayerful lives in ministry.”
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![John Varieur, LMHC, Director of the Family Counseling Center]()
John Varieur, LMHC, Director of the Family Counseling Center
"The Shepherd Within offers a one-of-a-kind service that helps blend the knowledge of the business world with the wisdom of Church teaching. These principles have the ability to provide lifelong successful skills both on an individual level and when using them in ministering to others."
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![Fr. Richard McFadden, JCL, Judicial Vicar, Archdiocese of Philadelphia]()
Fr. Richard McFadden, JCL, Judicial Vicar, Archdiocese of Philadelphia
"I have known Matthew for nearly two decades, and have seen firsthand his abiding love of Christ and his Church. I am grateful that he is using his considerable talents in multiple disciplines to help priests grow into strong and capable shepherds."
Decree on Priestly Training, Optatam Totius, Pope Saint Paul VI, 1965:
