Spiritus Leader Formation

"SPIRITUS, guided by the Holy Spirit, is renewing Catholic education worldwide. It offers a feasible and practical approach to transform Catholic schools into powerhouses of evangelisation."

Fr Friedrich Bechina, Undersecretary for Congregation for Catholic Education, 2013 - 2022

Vision and Aims

Spiritus Leader Formation envisions a Spirit-led renewal of Catholic education by forming educators and school leaders in faith, theology, and mission. This vision is grounded in the conviction that Catholic education is renewed to the extent that it is animated by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Under the stewardship of ACU’s La Salle Academy, this stream ensures that the "whole educational enterprise" is built upon a living encounter with Jesus Christ.

Spiritus Leader Formation aims to provide faith formation programs, system-wide school renewal and networking for education and other Church ministry leaders, equipping them for evangelisation in today’s world.

As one of the two primary formation streams of the broader Spiritus movement, its specific purpose is to:

  • Equip Educators: Provide sustained theological formation and spiritual renewal so that teachers and leaders can articulate Catholic identity clearly.

  • Animate Schools: Prepare leaders to animate their school communities as centres of evangelisation, recognizing the school as a primary instrument of the Church’s missionary life.

  • Deepen Baptismal Identity: Help educators rediscover their baptismal identity as evangelisers who witness to Christ and accompany others in faith.

  • Embed Mission Strategy: Integrate evangelisation as a defining dimension of professional standards and leadership pathways within Catholic education systems.

Overview

Spiritus Leader Formation equips Catholic educators and school leaders to renew their schools as vibrant centres of evangelisation.

Stewarded by the ACU La Salle Academy, this initiative provides the theological depth and spiritual renewal necessary for leaders to articulate Catholic identity and animate mission within their communities.

The program is built on the conviction that Catholic education is an evangelising work, successful only when animated by the Holy Spirit. By engaging with the Church’s magisterial teachings and undergoing sustained formation, educators rediscover their baptismal identity as evangelisers—those who witness to Christ and accompany others into discipleship.

Key Features

Spiritus Leader Formation is designed to renew Catholic schools as vibrant centres of evangelisation. Stewarded by ACU’s La Salle Academy, it provides educators with the theological depth and spiritual renewal necessary to articulate Catholic identity and animate mission within their communities.

  • Missionary Identity: Forms leaders to view Catholic schools as instruments of the Church’s missionary life, rather than just educational institutions.

  • Staged Pathways: Delivered through a structured sequence (Parts 1–3) available as professional learning or accredited postgraduate units.

  • Individual Accreditation: Authorizes leaders who demonstrate the competency to lead evangelisation within licensed contexts.

  • Strategic Culture Change: Utilizes the Schools Evangelisation Assessment (SEA) tool to help systems track long-term mission renewal.

  • Global Networking: Connects participants to the Spiritus Leaders Network for collegial support and intercultural prayer.

By integrating with Spiritus Youth Ministry, this stream supports a "whole-school" approach that aligns adult leadership with student faith formation.

A fruitful partnership between ACU La Salle Academy and Spiritus Youth Ministry International

The partnership between ACU’s La Salle Academy and Spiritus Youth Ministry International (SYMI) is the foundational collaboration that drives the Spiritus movement. Established in 2016, this relationship integrates youth ministry initiatives with educator and leader formation to create a "whole-school" approach to evangelisation.

Under this shared vision, both entities operate through a Dual Accountability Framework. ACU’s La Salle Academy governs Spiritus Leader Formation, ensuring academic rigor and theological depth for educators. Meanwhile, the SYMI Board governs Spiritus Youth Ministry, building on the legacy of the CSYMI model to form young missionary disciples. While maintaining distinct operational and financial responsibilities, the two bodies collaborate closely to safeguard the unity of the Spiritus charism. Together, they offer a coordinated strategy that aligns adult leadership with peer-to-peer student ministry to renew Catholic schools as centers of faith.

Spiritus Leader Formation PROGRAMS

Spiritus Leader Formation Programs are designed for Catholic school leaders and teachers, including Religious Education classroom teachers. It is also designed for Church leaders, youth ministers or others who educate and form young people. For a video introduction click here.

The Programs provide opportunities for faith formation and leadership development in evangelisation and the skills and understanding to be able to apply this practically in Catholic schools and other Church ministry contexts.

SPIRITUS Leader Formation Programs can be undertaken as a professional learning program or units of academic study. Within Australia, they can be undertaken at Master’s level – AQF Level 8 providing pathways into Masters of Religious Education, Educational Leadership and Theology. It is presented by experienced and contemporary lecturers in the field either face to face or online.

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The SPIRITUS programs include:

Part 1: Faith Formation and the New Evangelisation (EDNE600) Learn more

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Part 2: Creating Centres of the New Evangelisation: Catholic Schools, Parishes and Church Ministries (EDNE601) Learn more

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A retreat experience called Porta Fidei. Click here for video introduction.

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Extensions

Part 3: Leading Evangelisation. Leading staff and student formation strategies as high-impact strategies in the renewal of schools as centres of evangelisation.

Part 4: Mission Experience in Church Ministry (EDNE602)
Explores the Church's evangelising mission through participation in a ministry project with others in a ministry team or as an individual. Learn more

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Several Australian dioceses recognise SPIRITUS Leader Formation Programs as contributing to gaining and maintaining accreditation to lead, teach Religious Education and teach in a Catholic school.

SPIRITUS Programs can and has been offered in various modes.

  • In person with leaders and staff gathering at a suitable venue

  • Online using a video conferencing software and the program resource platform which contains outlines, course notes, worksheets and multimedia resources.

  • Online using a video conferencing software and the program resource platform at clfn.org which contains outlines, course notes, worksheets and multimedia resources.

  • Integrated within an international study tour including studies and formation in London, Rome and Assisi. View a sample program here.

SPIRITUS Programs have been evaluated highly as a most significant, indeed transformative learning and formation experience. To view testimonials click here .

Other formation programs and resources

Whilst SPIRITUS Programs have been highly evaluated by participants, in order to realise its full potential, it needs to be explicity connected and embedded within school and system-wide strategic Catholic identity and mission development plans. Spiritus Diocesan Implementation is a strategic Catholic school mission renewal program and formation program. It seeks to build the confidence and capacity of leaders and educators to lead the renewal of Catholic schools as centres of evangelisation. It can include system-wide implementation.

SPIRITUS Diocesan Implementation is built around the two high impact strategies of leader and teacher formation for mission and student formation for peer-to-peer youth ministry. It consists of three interrelated phases implemented over a three to four-year period aimed at renewing the faith community, culture and curriculum of a Catholic school and Catholic school system.

SPIRITUS Diocesan Implementation

The three phases would typically be implemented sequentially. However, where SPIRITUS Programs have been offered to school leaders over recent years and where Catholic School Youth Ministry International has been implemented over several years, the phases could be actioned simultaneously.

Phase 1:Leader Formation Learn more

  • Project planning and briefing

  • Initial Formation - Spiritus International Programs Parts 1 and 2

Phase 2: Leading Evangelisation     Learn more

  • Ongoing Formation - Spiritus Part 3, Spiritus International Leaders Network, Oceania Evangelisation Program

  • Formation of students for ministry

  • Post school youth ministers

Phase 3: Training & Licensing Learn more

SPIRITUS Program graduates are trained to be able to present SPIRITUS Program Parts 1-2 as professional learning and to lead and facilitate school and system planning and implementation. Licensing arrangements enable dioceses to run the program themselves with ACU support.

Graduates of SPIRITUS Programs may apply for recognition and certification as a Spiritus Leader of Evangelisation and Catholic School Youth Ministry International (CSYMI) Educator.

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SPIRITUS Leaders Network

The SPIRITUS Leaders Network (SLN) is a professional learning and formation network for leaders in Catholic schools, parishes, dioceses and other Church organisations engaged in evangelisation. Schools implementing Catholic Schools Youth Ministry International (CSYMI) are members of the Network.

The Network is a fruit of the partnership between Catholic Schools Youth Ministry International (CSYMI) and the Australian Catholic University’s La Salle Academy. The SILN is managed by Catholic Schools Youth Ministry International.

The SPIRITUS Leaders Network brings together Catholic leaders, educators, and others for prayer, learning, formation, and sharing with peers in similar ministries and roles so that they can more effectively evangelise. It is a response to recognition at all levels of Church leadership that formation for Church leaders is critical to the Church’s mission into the future. Despite new forms of social media and communication, Church leaders rarely enjoy the spiritual nourishment and fellowship of journeying with other Church leaders. The SILN is open to all church leaders and membership does not require completion of a Spiritus Program.

Small groups meetings are arranged each term providing opportunities for prayer, conversation and sharing mission initiatives with other school and Church leaders.

Through completing SPIRITUS and with access to the resources of CSYMI and the Network, SLN members will be equipped to lead the following programs in their school and Church context.

  • Porta Fidei retreat experience

  • The Forming Leaders Series (Called and Essentials for Faith Leadership)

  • CSYMI Junior (Primary) and the Youth Ministry Programs (Secondary)

Members of the SPIRITUS Leaders Network also have access to discounted Catholic education conferences such as A Current of Grace (2024) and the annual Oceania Evangelisation Program

Pricing

Membership of the Spiritus Leaders Network is free for leaders and teachers in schools implementing Spiritus Youth Formation.

Membership is free for those leaders and teachers who have completed Spiritus Parts 1,2 or 3.

Evaluations and Testimonials

Spiritus Leader Formation Programs have been extensively evaluated.

Reports

  • 2026 Spiritus International Rome Italy. Click here for full report.

  • 2026 National Spiritus Program in Canberra Australia. Click here for full report.

  • 2026 East Africa Spiritus Program. Click here for full report.

  • 2026 The rollout of Spiritus Part 3 in the Diocese of Broken Bay, Sydney, Australia met with a remarkable 98–100% approval rating from 87 school leaders. Click here for full report.

  • 2025 With 93% agreeing that Spiritus helped them grow in their vocation, the program has equipped our leaders to return to their kura (schools) in Christchurch New Zealand with renewed confidence. Click here for full report.

Clik onthe arrow in the section below to read some quotes from past participants

  • "As the leader of the evangelisation team at Catholic Schools Broken Bay, I sought a program to develop staff into faith leaders. Spiritus was the perfect fit, offering high-quality lectures on Church documents, discussions on the role of schools in evangelisation, fellowship with like-minded colleagues, and a retreat experience called 'Porta Fidei' that included prayer and the sacraments. It has proven to be a powerful faith experience, and we are now implementing it system-wide with Principals, RECs, and emerging faith leaders."

    Simon Hyland, Deputy Workstream Lead Evangelisation, Catholic Schools Broken Bay, Australia.

  • "The program covered a wide range of essential topics for Catholic educators. I gained valuable insights into the New Evangelisation and the role schools play in the Church's mission of spreading the Gospel. It was inspiring to see the diverse and practical ways Catholic education leaders can be formed through the Spiritus program. Catholic Schools Youth Ministry International (CSYMI) is a transformative initiative and vital for ensuring that the Church will have dedicated disciples and young people actively engaged in the mission of evangelisation."

    Nicholas Kisu Muasya, National Executive Secretary, Commission for Education & Religious Education, Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops – General Secretariat.

  • "It was a fantastic few days together, seeing where the Holy Spirit is leading us in the New Evangelisation today. Speaking about kerygmatic Catholicism that enlivens young people and draws their faith out in full measure. Learning about how youth can evangelise youth. Learning about what it means to be a chief evangeliser in your school. I want to personally endorse this, I learnt so much and made some contributions and I came back full of hope and aware that God is doing something new. I think this Program is on the cutting edge that the Holy Spirit is doing in the Catholic world at the moment. Why don’t you think about joining the next Spiritus Program?"

    Archbishop Christopher Prowse, Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, Australia.

  • "Did Spiritus Roma 2024 draw participants into a deeper engagement with the life and mission of the Catholic Faith? Absolutely. We were invited to critically explore the Church's vision of Catholic schools as centres of evangelisation, examining key Church documents on the New Evangelisation. We engaged in meaningful reflection on student formation and ministry within Catholic schools. The experience was nothing short of transformative—rewarding, educative, inspiring, and profoundly prayerful."

    Chris Cully, Principal, St Jerome’s Primary School Western Australia.

  • "Once again, Spiritus 2024 provided a superb mix of spiritual nourishment, academic learning and leadership inspiration uniting Catholic education leaders from different cultural contexts and educational systems. The structure facilitated those new to Catholic school leadership and those further on in their leadership journey. Underpinning the whole event was an enriching time of prayer and worship in sacramental and retreat opportunities. I returned home with a well-resourced action plan for the further development of evangelisation in my school and with a re-energised focus on the faith leadership role in my community."

    Paul Neves, Headteacher, John F. Kennedy Catholic School, Hollybush Lane, England.

  • "Spiritus 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.