Spiritus

About Spiritus

The SPIRITUS Program is designed for Catholic school leaders and teachers, including religious education classroom teachers. It is also designed for other Church leaders including youth ministers.

The Program has been designed to provide school leaders and teachers with opportunities for faith formation and leadership development in evangelisation along with the skills and understanding to be able to apply this practically in Catholic schools and other Church ministry contexts.

The La Salle Academy provides education and training opportunities to develop teachers and leaders with professional efficacy, theological literacy and the skills to bring faith and life into dialogue. Above all else, however, it is committed to the formation of teachers and leaders as witnesses; people who live by the spirit of faith.

The SPIRITUS Program can be completed as professional learning or as units of study within formal courses in the ACU. The units are designed at Australian Qualifications Framework, (AQF) Level 8 and have articulation into other courses.

Insights into Spiritus

ACU La Salle invited Aboriginal leader and artist, Miriam Rose to paint a work that communicated insights of both the Good News and the Dreaming of Aboriginal people into the work of the Holy Spirit. View Miriam explaining the features of the SPIRITUS artwork.

  • "The formation of teachers and leaders through the ACU La Salle Academy program, SPIRITUS, has had a significant impact, and I have witnessed and participated in this myself in Canberra as well as internationally in London and Rome. I described this program as being on the cutting edge of what the Holy Spirit is doing in the Catholic world at the moment."

    Archbishop Christopher Prowse - Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn

  • "Inspiring, enthusing, challenging and thought provoking. Those words come to mind when I reflect upon the last few days (SPIRITUS)…I have learnt about the importance of witnessing to the faith and to talk about our encounters with Jesus Christ in an intentional and purposeful way with our staff and students."

    Michael Exton - Principal, St Ignatius College Geelong

  • "This whole (SPIRITUS) experience has been totally transformational (International Formation program London). I have been involved in Catholic education for 40 years and this has made a fundamental change in my life and has reinforced the wonderful joy of being a Catholic educator… I feel fully connected to the universal Church and the good news that the Holy Spirit is working and moving amongst us."

    Joan McCombe - Diocese of Down and Connor Northern Ireland

  • "The main part about it (International Formation Program London) has been the way it has bought people together from different parts of the world… this has meant something quite special. From a catholic leader’s point of view in a school it has been really exciting to see a joined up and organised vision for how we might be able to deliver more effectively formation for the pupils we work with and our staff. I feel encouraged and excited about the whole experience."

    Stuart McPherson - Principal, Worth School England

  • "SPIRITUS 2022 has not only given the participants the key to unlocking the New Evangelisation for our young people in schools and parishes, but the strength to push open the doors too. The Program was sensitively created to offer human, spiritual, pastoral and intellectual formation. The days were full of deep discussion, fraternal sharing, prayerful reflection and a profound sense of hope and joy. We look forward to the fruits of this work and growing the network of faith-full Catholic leaders in the coming years."

    Barbara Coupar - Director Scottish Catholic Education Service

  • "SPIRITUS Aotearoa NZ was a pivotal opportunity for leaders and teachers to crystalise the challenge and opportunity of a New Evangelisation paradigm in NZ Catholic schools. The program presented a framework linking ecclesial documents on our evangelising mission as educators to contemporary pedagogies of evangelisation in Catholic schools and an empowering pathway for the meaningful evaluation of Catholic Special Character."

    Brendan Bergin - RE Advisor Diocese Auckland, New Zealand

Testmonials

Spiritus Video Testimonials

SPIRITUS has been developing an international reputation of being at the forefront of Catholic school and system leader formation. SPIRITUS has been conducted over recent years in several Australian arch/dioceses, in New Zealand and the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Key References & Resources