About us
The Catholic Leadership Foundation is a business name and of the Educational Centre for Christian Spirituality (ECCS). The ECCS was entrusted with the work of the Catholic Leadership Foundation by the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. The Educational Centre.
The Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, are an international Congregation with a missionary orientation who are passionate about bringing the love of God to people everywhere. Their spirituality and mission are expressed in the motto given to them by their Founder, Fr Jules Chevalier: “May the Sacred Heart of Jesus Be Everywhere Loved”.
Forming Leaders for the Future
Our Mission Context
The Australian Plenary Council and the Synod on Synodality recognised the need to provide Catholics, especially lay leaders, with faith education and formation, The Foundation was established with the support of the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart to respond to this growing need especially in rural and remote areas.
Our Vision
The Catholic Leadership Foundation envisions a generation of Catholics whose faith is shaped and nurtured by God’s Word and who are led by leaders who willing and humbly "cast their nets" in response to Jesus's call to evangelise in new ways and who collaborate in a spirit of synodality.
Our Mission
Inspired by Luke 5:1-11, our mission is to provide formation for Catholics, especially lay leaders, called to be missionary disciples sharing the Good News of God's saving love in Jesus Christ.
What makes our mission distinctive?
The Catholic Leadership Foundation distinguishes itself by offering an approach to leadership formation that draws upon the rich array of the Church's spiritual heritage. Our Into the Deep Program is founded on an integrated and flexible approach to formation, recognising the diversity of faith and life experience and cultivating a holistic understanding of leadership.
Our Strategic Priorities
Leader Formation
‘Into the Deep’ is an intensive ministry development and formation program for Catholic leaders. It is an extended leadership formation program designed to deepen and strengthen participants’ relationship with Jesus and to be renewed as a missionary disciple. Key components include The First Spiritual Exercises, retreat experiences, seminars, mentoring, Lectio Divina, pilgrimage, mission enhancement projects, small group learning and spiritual conversation, journaling, critical reflection, and evaluation. …. More
Living the Scriptures
‘With Burning Hearts’ promotes initiatives to assist Catholics in reading and praying the Scriptures as an encounter with Jesus. Visit lectiodivina.com.au. Key initiatives include building online and in situ participation in praying Lectio Divina, the publication of educational resources and programs to enhance Scripture education …. More
Networking leaders
‘So I Send You’ provides a public website and professional networking platform for the ongoing communication, information and formation Catholics, especially lay Catholic leaders. They will promote and provide access to relevant resources, programs and events …. More
Working in Partnership
‘With Others For Others’ seeks partnerships with dioceses and religious institutes to promote and enable other programs and initiatives aimed at the formation of Catholics, especially lay leaders. Key actions involve identifying need areas in faith education and formation, especially in rural and remote areas and developing partnerships to promote and fund leadership formation opportunities …. More
Underpinning theology and principles
Formation and Divine Revelation
Lay people are "Called by God, through Christ, in the Holy Spirit, with others, for others." This thesis serves as a guiding framework for understanding the role and mission of lay ministers within the Catholic Church.
A Theology of Ministry for Lay Leaders
Lay people are "Called by God, through Christ, in the Holy Spirit, with others, for others." This thesis serves as a guiding framework for understanding the role and mission of lay ministers within the Catholic Church.
Catholic Leadership: Principles & Practices
Catholic leaders are called to be catalysts for the New Evangelisation, inspiring and empowering others to embrace the Gospel and share it with the world.
The Formation of Catholic Leaders
Key principles for formation for mission and ministry are shared in many statements and frameworks concerning Catholic formation.
Our Board
Marianna Agostino
Board Chair
Michael Tan
Director
Robert Tinkli
Director
Monica Dutton
Director
Jo Spek
Director
David Walker
Director & Member
Our Leadership Team
Virginia Ryan
Chief Executive Officer
Greg Wilson
Manager
Friends of the Foundation
Friends of the Foundation will be invited to support the work of The Foundation and contribute to the education and formation of Catholic lay leaders who we believe will exercise ever more influential leadership within the Church as senior leaders themselves. Friends will be invited to help guide its early development. Friends will also be invited to consider how they could be more directly involved in ways including:
Becoming a mentor for those leaders undertaking the Into the Deep Program
Writing one or more short reflections for our fortnightly newsletter
Posting and responding to posts sharing ideas and information as a member of an online professional learning community created at catholicleadershipfoundation.org
Praying for our Foundation and those for whom it seeks to provide education and formation
Friends of the Foundation will have access to formation opportunities themselves and be invited to annual Mass and dinner funded by The Foundation.
Click below if you are interested in becoming a Friend of the Foundation.