Welcome
to the
Areté Centre
for Missionary Leadership
At the Areté Centre...
We are dedicated to forming and equipping laypeople for missionary leadership leadership in the Catholic Church. Our program provides comprehensive personal, practical, theological, and spiritual formation to individuals seeking to deepen their commitment to serving the Church and its mission.
Enrolments for 2026 are NOW OPEN!
Join the 2026 cohort and be part of a generation rising up to lead with courage, conviction, and a heart for evangelisation.
Click to enlarge
FREE EVENT: Areté Centre Virtual Open Night: Tailor Made for Mission
Forming missionary leaders for the change of era.
Explore Our Program
Discover our flagship course, the Foundations of Missionary Leadership Program. There is no other course that provides such an in-depth and holistic approach to formation. Our program is designed to bring about profound human, spiritual, and intellectual growth in students. It achieves this through a combination of weekly online lectures and four immersive weekend retreats held throughout the year. Choose between earning an Areté Certificate, our internal award, or a Graduate Certificate through the university of Notre Dame Sydney, and embark on a journey of personal and spiritual growth.
Encounter Formation Mission.
Our Philosophy
At the heart of our program are three foundational pillars: encounter, formation, and mission. We believe that true transformation begins with encounter – encountering Christ, encountering others, and encountering oneself. Through immersive experiences, prayerful reflection, and community engagement, participants are invited to deepen their relationship with God and discover their unique calling.
Our comprehensive formation process encompasses human development, theological study, spiritual development, and practical skills training, which equips individuals with the knowledge, tools, and confidence needed for effective missionary leadership. Finally, rooted in the rich tradition of Catholic mission, our program empowers participants to go forth and proclaim the Gospel with courage and conviction, embracing their role as ambassadors of Christ in the world.
What do our friends say about us?
Velis et Remis e-magazine
Click to enlarge
The motto of the Areté Centre is ‘Velis et Remis’ which is Latin for ‘Sails and Oars’. It refers to the need for missionary disciples to use ‘oars’ – to use the gifts that the Lord has given us to build up the Church for the sake of the world. Like a ship, though, we also must rely on the ‘wind’ – the power of the Holy Spirit to fill our sails and propel us towards our destination of a renewed Church capable of transforming the world.
