St Augustine’s Course on Christian Leadership

by Erin Carelse · April 25, 2019

South Africa’s Catholic university will be offering a short course in Christian business leadership (CBL) based on the teachings, philosophy and pedagogy of Fr Joseph Kentenich, applied to the world of business as an appropriate leadership style.

The Johannesburg-based St Augustine College course is the fruit of a long-standing dialogue with business leaders in Johannesburg.

It has been conducted since 1982 in South Africa, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Ecuador, Spain, Switzerland, and Germany. Hundreds of business leaders have taken part.

The programme, consisting of ten units, aims to apply Christian social teaching to the concrete situations of countries, with their socio-political, multinational and multicultural problems, and to find appropriate solutions.

CBL explores five themes in the teachings of Fr Kentenich, linking them to challenging areas in the business environment:

Organism (structure and function)
Organisation (coordination of functions and groups)
Authority and power (leadership, conflict management)
Pedagogy of values (morale and job satisfaction)
Divine providence (personal development, spirituality of leadership, strategic planning).

The Christian business leadership course will be presented in two weekend-seminars on July 13-14 and July 27-28, from 9:00 till 16:30.

The CBL course was designed by Professor Sr Edith Raidt, a Schoenstatt Sister, and draws from the teachings of Fr Kentenich, who founded the Schoenstatt movement.

German Pallottine Fr Kentenich, who died in 1968, was a theologian, educator and pioneer of a Catholic response to several modern issues.

The seminar will be presented by clinical psychologist Tony de Gouveia and human resources professional Francis Graham.

The cost is R1800, which includes course material, notes, lunches, and tea.

For more details, contact Helen Hartwig on or call 011 380-9000.