Areté Centre introduces collaborative training for priests and laypeople

The Areté Centre for Missionary Leadership has introduced a new collaborative formation model by enrolling three priests alongside lay participants in its Foundations of Missionary Leadership Program. This approach aims to foster unity and shared purpose within parishes by having clergy and lay leaders learn, pray, and discern together rather than through separate training tracks.

The initiative is supported by the Archdiocese of Sydney, with the Sydney Centre for Evangelisation providing subsidies, lecturers, and mentors. This development follows recommendations from the recent archdiocesan Synod for increased collaboration between clergy and lay leaders in mission work.

Now in its eighth year, the program integrates theological and spiritual formation with practical leadership skills tailored to the Australian context. The 2026 cohort includes various participants, such as parish volunteers, educators, and ministry practitioners. Notable participants include Fr Vince Casey from the Diocese of Broken Bay and Fr Trung Nguyen and Fr Vince Onesi from the Palmerston North Diocese in New Zealand.