La Salle Academy

The La Salle Academy is part of the Australian Catholic University (ACU). ACU is committed to teaching excellence and the La Salle Academy has been established to support and enhance the preparation of teachers and leaders by utilising the capacity, skills and commitment of those engaged in the ministry of Catholic education.

All ACU academics who teach in the areas of faith formation and religious education for teachers and leaders of Catholic schools are part of the La Salle Academy.

The La Salle Academy was established in response to the passionate desire of Catholic education authorities to ensure that teachers and leaders of Catholic schools are well informed for the critical task of realising the aspirations of the New Evangelisation, which calls upon us to deepen our faith, believe in the Gospel message and go forth to proclaim it.

There are many contemporary challenges facing the Church in Australia, and indeed the western world. Among these, the La Salle Academy wants to ensure that it responds to the following realities in relation to our more secularised, pluralistic world:

• Many seekers of the Spirit have left ecclesial practice
• The mode of exercising Church magisterium is being challenged and there is a call to find new ways
• The content of moral teaching is also under challenge and there is a desire for more dialogue
• There is a more explicit pluralism of spiritualities within the Catholic tradition

1. ACU Undergraduate Education Programs and Graduate Certificate in Religious Education
   Ensuring that ACU programs for primary Catholic school teachers and secondary school teachers of Religious Education are designed and delivered in a way that prepares  participants well for employment in contemporary Catholic schools.
2. Catholic practice and spiritual formation
   Providing ACU undergraduate students preparing for teaching in Catholic schools with a range of formally recognised opportunities with regard to Catholic practice, spiritual formation and social justice activities.
3. ACU Postgraduate Programs: Master of Educational Leadership, Master of Professional Studies in Theology, Master of Religious Education, Graduate Certificate in Catholic Studies
   Ensuring that the Postgraduate programs for leaders in Catholic schools continue to respond to contemporary needs and have the content and flexibility to achieve this.
4. Catholic School Teachers: Catholic School Readiness
   Designing and delivering programs for teachers with no formal study of religious education  to ensure they are well credentialed to teach in a Catholic school.
5. Partnerships with Catholic school authorities and providers
   Working with Catholic Education Offices and other Catholic school authorities to provide the range of activities—from professional development through to doctoral studies—that can ensure the sustainable, effective, efficient and economic delivery of services
6. Developing ecclesial leaders
   Revising current programs and delivering new ones so as to ensure that leaders of the future have the necessary theological knowledge and understandings to be effective ecclesial leaders.
7. Resources in faith formation and religious education
   Providing a journal(s) and other resource material, particularly web-based, for national and international academics and school professionals in the areas of faith formation and religious education.
8. Research
   Collaborating with Catholic school authorities and other Catholic Church entities to  undertake research in the areas of faith formation, religious education, and Catholic school identity and mission.
9. Catholic parishes and other ecclesial entities
   Exploring the possibility of programs that support the development of those who minister in parishes and other Church communities and agencies.
10. International partnerships
    Engaging academics from international Catholic universities in the work of the Academy and attracting international students into ACU programs in the areas of faith formation, religious education and leadership.
11. Academy Members: Support and Development
    Providing opportunities for Academy members to develop the skills required to design and deliver programs capable of ensuring that teachers and leaders can help realise the  aspirations of the New Evangelisation.

The Dean of La Salle Academy, working collaboratively with the Deputy Dean, is responsible to the Academy Senior Management Committee which is the governing body of the Academy. The Committee comprises:

• Dean, La Salle Academy
• Executive Dean, Faculty of Education and Arts
• Executive Dean, Faculty of Theology and Philosophy
• Director, Directorate of Identity and Mission
• Nominee of the Vice-Chancellor
• Nominee of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference

The Dean is also advised by an Academy Advisory Board comprised of a Deputy Dean, two academics representing Academy members, a representative from Campus Ministry and five people from Catholic school stakeholders with expertise reflecting the strategic priorities of the Academy.

A particular focus of the New Evangelisation is to ‘re-propose’ the Gospel to those who no longer participate in the life of a faith community, and to inspire them to reconsider their journey as a person of faith. It is about inviting people to embrace the opportunities and responsibilities of Christian baptism.

The New Evangelisation is about re-proposing the Gospel to a world that no longer sees it as relevant or important. It is not, though, simply ‘re-evangelising’, it is about forging new paths in response to the changing circumstances and conditions facing the Church in her call to proclaim and live the Gospel today. During this time of the papacy of Pope Francis it is as much about inspiration as it is about exhortation.