Podcast explores formation efforts in Catholic schools

Peter Woods, director of teacher formation at the La Salle Academy at the Australian Catholic University, spoke about the impact of such formation on the latest episode of the Catholic Kiwi Podcast.

Mr Woods spends a lot of time traveling to all parts of the world, speaking to teachers and sharing his vision for how schools might best invite and accompany young people to truly encounter Christ in the course of their education.

On the podcast, he explained to host Joanna Kearney how the La Salle Academy in Australia was tasked with the formation of Catholic school teachers and leaders.

“We went ahead to start to develop some of the programmes around the issue of forming teachers and leaders to be able to lead formation within our Catholic schools. And the [Catholic Schools Youth Ministry International] model looks into teacher formation, of course, but also peer-to-peer ministry with our students.”

A lot of the RE curriculums, particularly in Australia, are very good, Mr Woods said. But religious education needed to be broken open, especially in the secondary school context, so a youth ministry programme was developed within senior religious education.

Mr Woods spoke about students undergoing a retreat experience, leading retreats for younger students themselves and youth ministry teams being formed. This resulted in a change in culture in schools – it was peer-to-peer and not just the teacher delivering the formation. Bringing a youth ministry coordinator into the schools provides a conduit from the school to the parish for youth activity.

Mr Woods also discussed a formation programme called Spiritus and a Youth Ministry Equipping School, which have been run in New Zealand.

“We’re very excited about what’s happening in New Zealand,” he said.

Asked if he has a sense that the Holy Spirit really is moving within young people in particular at this time, Mr Woods concurred.

“Yeah, there’s a deep hunger in the young people. And it seems to me that there is a new moment as well that’s happening, that the Spirit’s opening up doors that have been closed in the past in new ways.

“So it seems like there is a renewal coming, particularly with our Catholic schools and our young people at this point in time. So . . . we’ve just got to be geared up and ready and available to help that happen.”

Other subjects Mr Woods discussed in the podcast included his Catholic upbringing, losing his father at a young age, having a transformational encounter with Christ and being called into Catholic education.

FULL STORY

Catholic Kiwi Podcast: Season 2, Episode 8 – Peter Woods (YouTube)