SHOWING THE WAY TO GOD
By Jennie Hickey, Formation and Education Officer, Jesuit Education Australasia
The Ignatian Leadership for Mission (ILfM) program, introduced in February 2024, has been designed as a unique leadership program that draws on the richness of Ignatian spirituality and the distinctiveness this brings to being a leader. It utilises the expertise and wisdom of those with an intricate knowledge of Ignatian spirituality and experience in leadership within Jesuit and Ignatian organisations.
In addition, it explores through various means the role of discernment in leadership and uses the best in contemporary Ignatian pedagogy in the learning experiences. It enables practical application of the learnings to each participants’ particular context. The offering of modules over a two-year period, with the opportunity for individual exploration and companionship during this time, is specifically designed for busy leaders in schools with many day-to-day responsibilities. This first cohort began their journey in February 2024 and will conclude the program in November of 2025.
Session 1 was held in Sydney in February 2024. Module 1, on Ignatian spirituality, was facilitated by Fr Ross Jones SJ, Rector of St Aloysius’ College Sydney. He focused on the foundational insights of Ignatian spirituality and how they define personal and professional identity. Module 2, Leadership for Mission, was explored in a variety of ways by three different presenters – Fr Jose Mesa SJ (JESEDU Secretary of Jesuit Education); Fr Chris Gleeson SJ and Barbara Watkins, the Executive Director of JEA.
Session 2 was held at the Catholic Leadership Centre in Melbourne in November. Module 3 focused on the Spiritual Exercises and the Enneagram personality types and was facilitated by Bill Hobbs from Cleveland in the United States. Bill explained the structure of the Spiritual Exercises and the nine personality profiles of the Enneagram, explaining how Ignatian leadership can be enhanced by both. Bill, a former Jesuit and current Director of the Ignatian Retreat Centre, Cleveland, has been accompanying the JEA and Saint Ignatius’ College Riverview team that has been delivering the Seminars in Ignatian Leadership since 2017.
Module 4 involved Julie Edwards, CEO of Jesuit Social Services, who gave her input on the distinctiveness of how a Jesuit organisation can operate when informed by the Jesuit tradition and Ignatian Spirituality. This input was based on the research and insights gained from her PhD. Barbara Watkins also presented on how Jesuit organisations stay true to their values and are distinct in their identity.
During these two days, each participant presented the action project of personal interest relevant to their college context that had been inspired by the input provided during Session 1. The projects demonstrated the varied ways that the input from Session 1 had relevance and meaning for the participants.
Session 3 was held in March 2025 at the Mary MacKillop Place in Sydney. Fr Michael Smith SJ facilitated the first day. The day focused on ‘The Discerning Leader’. Michael challenged participants to gaze on our Institutions as being “instruments of grace” and to take up the task of needing to be a leader who is a storyteller of the myth and mission of our school. He explored four frames by which we can contemplate our schools – Structural, Human Resources, Political and Symbolic.
Fr Johnny Go SJ facilitated the second day, focusing on ‘The Learning Leader’. He reminded us that leaders “bring the weather” and that we are leading in times of superficiality, polarities, increased prevalence of AI and competing understandings of what it means to be human and excellent. He challenged us to be leaders who can navigate polarities with a “both/and mindset” grounded in discernment through a lens of values core to our mission of Catholic Education in the Ignatian tradition. The need for leaders to have self-care and self-awareness was emphasised.
We look forward to our final session to be held in Melbourne in November.
This photo was taken at Mary MacKillop Place in Sydney, the venue for Session 3 in March. Fr Michael Smith SJ (standing, back row, second from left) facilitated the first day. Fr Johnny Go SJ (standing, back row, third from left) facilitated the second day. All photos: Jesuit Education Australasia.