Stirring the Soul of Catholic Education: Formation for Mission is the fifth volume in the Exploratory Series of the Mission and Education project. The book grapples with the question of how to frame a re-imagined understanding of formation for the Catholic educator and leader. In doing so, it explores a new model of formation for Catholic educators, a model responsive to our time and place. "This is a very fine work. A teacher in a Catholic school is not just a teacher. He or she is a witness to gospel values and attitudes within a culture that often has a very different drift. In these pages, seasoned educator Jill Gowdie reflects creatively and profoundly on how teachers can open themselves up to formation that inspires them to answer the call to become 'missionary disciples'. These are reflections tailored to fit the Australian Catholic school context, but they will be helpful and inspiring for Catholic school teachers everywhere. " Stephen Bevans SVD Louis J. Luzbetak SVD, Professor Emeritus of Mission and Culture Catholic Theological Union in Chicago "In this book, we see the rare distillation of experience, scholarship and insight across diverse disciplines in order to re-imagine a fresh and incisive approach to what formation may mean in the Catholic educator in today's schools. Jill's style is inviting and comprehensive, reflecting a broad-ranging mind and a passionate heart that is visionary, passionate and deeply authentic. Dr Mary McDonald SGS Director Emeritus of Catholic Education, Diocese of Townsville After many years of stirring the souls of Catholic educators, Jill Gowdie gathers her wisdom 'from the heat of the day' into this very fine text. For Catholic education, no one is more insightful on the vital exchange between faith and culture than Jill Gowdie." Thomas Groome Professor of Theology and Religious Education Boston College "Written with verve and elegance and strongly rooted in school realities, this book shows how the Catholic school serves many young people and adults as 'the face and place of the Church'. Jill Gowdie provides a constructive and wise contribution to the literature on Catholic teacher formation in this powerful interdisciplinary, penetrating yet succinct study. A special strength is the way that ecclesial, psychological, cultural and educational factors are shown to interact in processes of spiritual formation and her demonstration of how they can be blended harmoniously. We are offered privileged insights into many aspects of spiritual growth and formation that can take place in a vocational context. True to living tradition and utterly contemporary, Gowdie lays out a roadmap to inspire and guide Catholic educators as they approach the third decade of the 21st century." John Sullivan Emeritus Professor of Christian Education Liverpool Hope University Dr Jill Gowdie is well known as a writer, speaker and teacher in the areas of spirituality, leadership formation and Catholic education. She is currently PEO for Identity, Mission and Religious Education Services for Brisbane Catholic Education.