This episode of Plenary Matters with Geraldine Doogue and Virginia Ryan introduces an inspiring new initiative within the Australian Catholic Church — the Catholic Leadership Foundation (CLF), launched in March. Virginia Ryan, the inaugural CEO, explains that the Foundation is a response to the Plenary Council’s call and the Global Synod’s vision for a renewed Church. The aim is to form lay Catholics as confident, spiritually grounded, and capable leaders who can continue the Church’s mission in education, health, and parish life — roles once predominantly held by religious congregations. The Foundation’s sponsor, the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, a missionary congregation with a deep pastoral and Sacred Heart spirituality, has been instrumental in shaping this vision, especially its focus on inclusion of rural and remote communities that often lack access to formation opportunities.
Virginia Ryan explains that the program is much more than a training course — it is a mission of formation, rooted in the Catholic spiritual tradition and guided by Pope Francis’ call to create missionary disciples. It seeks to deepen participants’ understanding of their baptismal vocation and to help them discern how to live that vocation in leadership roles. Lay Catholics today, she notes, often step into positions of responsibility without the long periods of spiritual and theological formation once common for priests, brothers, and sisters. The Foundation therefore seeks to address this gap, offering a structured pathway for lay leaders to grow spiritually, intellectually, and pastorally. This effort reflects the changing nature of the Church — moving from a top-down institution toward a synodal Church, one that listens, discerns, and acts together as the People of God.
The program, titled “Into the Deep”, takes inspiration from Luke’s Gospel, where Jesus calls Peter to trust and cast his nets again. This symbol of going deeper — both spiritually and communally — captures the program’s purpose. Virginia Ryan emphasizes that the Foundation’s formation process mirrors the synodal spirit: listening deeply, discerning together, and responding to the movement of the Holy Spirit. The program begins with an adapted Ignatian Spiritual Exercises retreat designed for busy laypeople, combining an opening two-day retreat with a guided four-week journey of prayer and reflection. Participants are accompanied by experienced spiritual directors, ensuring that formation is not done in isolation but in community and mutual support.
Subsequent phases of the program include developing a mature prayer life, exploring practices like Lectio Divina (prayerful reading of Scripture) and the Awareness Examen, both central to Ignatian spirituality. These practices help participants recognize how God is already present in their daily lives. Another phase introduces a theological grounding using the book Theology for Ministry by U.S. theologian Edward Hahnenberg, helping participants understand their work and service as genuine ministries of the Church. Virginia Ryan describes this part as a kind of “book club for theology,” where participants discuss and reflect together with mentors. The final component focuses on the call to holiness and baptismal mission, inviting each participant to write a personal mission plan — discerning how the Spirit is calling them to serve, whether in parish, education, health, or governance contexts.
The CLF program is designed for gradual growth, beginning with 30 participants in its first cohort, focusing on rural engagement. Numbers will expand each year as capacity builds and online components are added for accessibility. The Foundation’s board consists of six members, including lay leaders and deacons, chosen for their diverse expertise in ministry, health, and governance. Among them is Dr. Michael Tan, whose medical and formation background adds richness to the board’s perspective. Virginia Ryan stresses that the Foundation aims to reach beyond the traditional Catholic education sector to include Catholics in all walks of life who feel called to leadership and service but have not previously had access to structured formation opportunities.
A core principle of the program is accompaniment. Virginia Ryan and Geradline Doogue reflect on Jesus sending his disciples out “two by two,” highlighting that authentic ministry is never solitary. Experienced Catholic leaders will mentor and walk alongside participants, offering encouragement, wisdom, and accountability. Virginia Ryan envisions older generations of leaders “passing the baton” by accompanying younger Catholics discerning their own mission. This relational model ensures that leadership formation is rooted in community, humility, and shared faith rather than individual ambition. Ultimately, the Catholic Leadership Foundation seeks to form a new generation of lay leaders ready to embody the spirit of synodality — people who listen deeply, pray sincerely, serve generously, and lead collaboratively, ensuring that the Church’s mission flourishes well into the future.
Journal and reflect on the following1. A New Era of Leadership How does the Catholic Leadership Foundation represent a shift from religious-led leadership to lay-led leadership within the Australian Church, and why is this transition significant today?
2. The Spirit of Missionary Discipleship Pope Francis calls for all Catholics to become “missionary disciples.” What does this mean in practice, and how might the Foundation’s program help participants live this calling more fully?
3. Formation and the Plenary Council Why is adult formation so essential for lay Catholics in light of the Plenary Council and Synod on Synodality, and what gaps is this program trying to fill?
4. Into the Deep The program takes its name from Jesus’ invitation to Peter to “put out into the deep.” How does this metaphor capture the challenge of faith and leadership in today’s Church?
5. Ignatian Spirituality and Prayer How might the use of Ignatian practices such as Lectio Divina and the Awareness Examen help Catholic leaders grow in self-awareness, discernment, and connection with God?
6. Accompaniment and Mentorship Virginia Ryan stresses that formation and ministry should never be done alone. Why is accompaniment so vital in leadership development, and how can experienced Catholics help form future leaders?
7. The Future of the Australian Church If this program succeeds, what kind of Church might we see emerging in Australia — one shaped by lay leadership, synodal listening, and shared mission?Discuss
Song - Spirit Lead Me
Final Prayer Gracious and ever-living God,we thank You for the vision shared by Virginia Ryan and all who dream of a renewed Church — one that listens deeply to Your Spirit and empowers lay people to lead with faith and courage. As the baton of leadership passes from religious congregations to lay hands, fill us with the same missionary zeal that inspired the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. May we, too, be willing to “go beyond the Great Divide,” reaching those in rural, remote, and often-forgotten places with compassion, presence, and hope. Help us to recognise that leadership is not about prestige or position, but about humble service and collaboration in building Your Kingdom.
Lord, deepen within us the call to “go into the deep,” as Jesus invited Peter — to trust Your voice when the familiar ways no longer yield results. Give us the courage to explore new depths of faith, discernment, and understanding, so that our leadership may be shaped by prayer, reflection, and the guidance of Your Spirit. Through practices of awareness, gratitude, and listening, may we discover how You are already moving in our lives and communities. Form us into leaders who are contemplative in action — who discern before deciding, pray before planning, and love before leading.
Finally, we pray that the Catholic Leadership Foundation’s mission bears fruit in a new generation of lay leaders — men and women who live their baptismal call with joy, creativity, and faithfulness. May they be companions on the journey, walking with others as mentors and fellow disciples, building a Church that is truly synodal — inclusive, listening, and alive in the Spirit. Bless all who give of themselves in this mission of renewal, and may their work help the Australian Church reflect ever more clearly the heart of Christ, who leads by serving and loves without limits. Amen.
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