Women’s Leadership for Mission
Leadership for Mission is a two-year, part-time program structured across four residential sessions and supported through an online learning management system. The sponsored program is open to Catholic women aged 25-35 with diverse personal and professional experiences from across Australia.
Designed by and for women inspired by the Gospel, this unique program brings the leadership experiences of women within the Church together in the context of an academic and collaborative learning environment. Leadership for Mission is a joint initiative of the Council for Australian Catholic Women, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Catholic Mission and the Australian Catholic University.
Framed by an engagement with scripture, theology, spirituality and leadership, this program encourages participants to reflect on their faith in the context of our contemporary world. In the company of other women, the participants explore how and in what ways their personal mission and vocation can contribute to a vision of leadership for the church and society which promotes equity, equality, and reconciliation.
After a time without a dedicated coordinator Andrea Dean, Director of the Office for the Participation of Women announced that Sr Ruth Durick has taken up the role.
Andrea noted
“Sr Ruth facilitated ‘The Young Catholic Women’s Interfaith Fellowship’ from 2006 to 2009 and has been Provincial of the Ursuline Sisters. She brings extensive leadership experience plus a deep commitment to the holistic formation of young women. We couldn’t have found anyone more suitable.”
Sophie Cox, a participant in the current program said
“The Leadership for Mission program has been an empowering experience. It has connected me with an incredible group of supportive women, who have encouraged me to consider issues of women’s leadership from a range of different angles and viewpoints. The academic component of the program has been equally challenging and inspiring and has really enabled me to connect with my faith in an intellectual way that has me really excited about the possibilities for my future with the Church. As a faith formation program, Leadership for Mission has allowed me to feel more connected to my faith and has made me realise the important role I am playing as one woman in the Church. It is an absolutely life changing, joy filled, empowering program and I am so thankful to have been a part of it.”
Upon completion, students are awarded the Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies.
Applications open 1 July and close 14 October. Full details and application forms are available www.leadership4mission.com.au and Director of the Office for the Participation of Women, Andrea Dean is available to answer any questions, director.opw@catholic.org.au or 0487 388 873
