29 September 2020
The Arete Centre for Missionary Leadership this week launched its 2021 program and is open for enrolments.
After a successful inaugural year with a cohort of enthusiastic participants, the Arete Centre is presenting opportunities in 2021 for study that couples theological knowledge with dynamic and life changing encounters with the living God.
The Arete Centre aspires to form and equip pastoral and ministry leaders in servant leadership, to live up to their God-given potential to participate in the Church’s mission in the world today.
Rev Dr Chris Ryan MGL, the Centre’s Director identified the key market for potential students. “A missionary Church needs visionaries who can be key influencers in their fields,” said Fr Chris, “catalysts for change who can offer witness to true leadership, inspiring others to do the same”.
Participants this year included youth ministers, parish missionary workers, professionals, and diocesan employees, all with a common desire to advance the mission of the Church in Australia with innovation and efficiency.
Hazel Lim, a Mission Support Officer in the Diocese of Broken Bay’s Office for Evangelisation, shared how her Arete experience has given her a clearer purpose and greater motivation in her mission work. “I have a deeper love and trust in God,” said Hazel, “a bolder attitude in sharing Jesus to others and a more open heart to serve.”
In an effort to adapt to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Centre has designed an online structure for lectures in 2021, with provision to provide person to person encounters intrinsic to its program, through a number of intensives throughout the year.
“The blend of online learning and face-to-face intensives (COVID permitting) make it possible for students to undertake the Arete program from anywhere in the country,” explained Fr Chris. “The 2020 cohort includes students from Melbourne, Adelaide, and Nowra as well as metropolitan Sydney.”
The course is comprised of four units: the Spirituality of Missionary Leadership, the Theological Foundations of Mission in the Australian Context, the Theory and Practice of Missionary Leadership, and a practicum unit that allows students to specialise in youth ministry, adult evangelisation, or music ministry, as well as engage upon theological reflection in the light of their experience in ministry.
Arete is a work of the Missionaries of God’s Love (MGL) priests and brothers, a new religious congregation. The MGL’s share in the work of evangelisation in a collaborative way with lay people. They seek to empower people in their call to holiness and mission.
For more information see www.aretecentre.org