Handing on the baton: Next generation Catholic leaders

Who will carry the Australian church’s mission into the future? And how will the next generation of lay Catholics be accompanied to lead the church’s vital education, health, social and spiritual ministries, especially in regional and rural communities? ‘Lay people are running on empty when it comes to the critical decision making they’re being called into in 2025,’ says Virginia Ryan. She's inaugural CEO of the Catholic Leadership Foundation, recently launched by the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in response to the call of Australia’s Plenary Council and the global synod for lay Catholics to be formed for mission in a church which has prioritised the formation of ordained and consecrated members. Mentioned in this episode: Article on Cardinal McElroy Synod final document summary in The Tablet, 2 Nov 2024, and whole document on synod website Cardinal Grech’s letter on the accompaniment process of the implementation phase of the synod Enquiries about the Catholic Leadership Foundation can be emailed to [email protected]. Follow Plenary Matters on Facebook, and stay tuned for our new name – and look – still to come!