We are very pleased to offer you a wonderful range of workshops from which to choose. As you will see from the Conference Program, we have three blocks in the program for workshops. Some workshops will be available at each session time and others may only be available once or twice. As you peruse the options, keep in mind your preferences and we will strive to provide for you as best we can. The number of participants at each workshop will be limited, so first in best dressed!
Workshops and presenters
Evangelising Complex Parishes: Strategies for Disciples on Mission
– Daniel Ang, NPPN
Our parishes are complex, with a variety of persons, backgrounds, expectations and experiences of faith. In the midst of this complexity, how might we evangelise our parishes to awaken the personal faith of our people as disciples on mission? Pastoral planning is an invaluable tool that can assist us accompany a range of people – nominal Catholics, those who have gradually slipped away from belief, those merely ‘sacramentalised’ but not yet active in their faith, as well as those already committed, towards a deeper relationship with and embrace of Jesus Christ. This workshop will share processes for such a renewed and fruitful future in our parishes, including the stewardship of change at its heart.
Daniel Ang is Director of the Office for Evangelisation in the Diocese of Broken Bay. He is Chair of the National Pastoral Planners Network (NPPN) and a member of the Australian Catholic Council for Pastoral Research. He holds a Bachelor of Arts/Commerce from the University of Sydney and a Master of Divinity from the Sydney College of Divinity (SCD), undertaken at the Catholic Institute of Sydney. He is a married layman with two children.
Parishes in Transitions
– Carlo David (NZ), NPPN
Our parishes are often at the forefront in facing the challenges of the modern age. As community of disciples of the risen Christ, our parishes are called to adopt and manage the changes that are impose by circumstances outside our own choosing. The increasing secularity in our communities, migration, the privatization of faith, and decreasing number of clergy are only some of the day-to-day challenges that ordinary parishes in Australia and New Zealand face. The workshop will demonstrate different ways for parishes manage these transitions such as, changes in demographics, changes in parish leadership and diocesan structures, effects of natural disasters (e.g. earthquake), decreasing number of priests. Examples of ways to manage the transitions are: space and time for Ethnic Chaplaincies, formation and training for lay leaders, and creation of pastoral areas.
Carlo ‘C.J’ David is the Associate Coordinator for the Pastoral and Evangelisation Office of the Catholic Diocese of Auckland, New Zealand. C.J supports the Pastoral and Evangelisation Office’s mission to provide a wide range of information, resources and support for parish and ethnic communities in the diocese regarding pastoral planning in general and the current Diocesan Pastoral Plan- Fit For Mission. C.J has a Bachelor’s degree in Theology and a Masters in International Relations and Human Rights.
Music helping us to belong
– Beth Doherty
This workshop will look at music in the liturgy, how it is used pastorally during the celebration of the mass, for worship, and in other pastoral contexts. The presenter has been a liturgical musician in a large number of parishes since the age of 15, and enjoys combining modern workshop music with the beautiful musical history of the Church. She will share some anecdotes, stories, and ideas gleaned from her own experience. Her recently published book “Sing It Out” will be given in either electronic form, PDF or hard copy to each participant, as well as some of her own compositions that can potentially be used in the liturgy. Most importantly, there will be an opportunity to sing together, share stories, and reimagine ways that music can be used in pastoral contexts.
Beth Doherty is a musician, writer, journalist and Catholic school teacher living in Canberra, ACT. She has worked as a journalist for most of her career for a number of church organisations and NGOs, and recently began teaching religious education and English. Beth is the author of two books, Tweet others as you would wish to be tweeted (a social media guide for the Church); and Sing it Out: Finding your rhythm, Staying in Tune, Creating Your playlist and Writing your Song. She has two Christian music CDs that are available on her website ijoyfullysing.com, iTunes and Spotify. She is passionate about using music for social justice and plays regularly in a number of parishes in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn. While not making plans to take off to unusual destinations such as Paraguay and Nicaragua, she can be found in Canberra with her cat.
Light in the Darkness: The Invitation to ‘Do Something’
– Shane Dwyer, NPPN
The workshop will address the core of the Catholic baptismal vocation: the call that each of us has to be renewed Christ. From there we learn to live and proclaim our faith.
Taking the Parable of the Talents as a starting point, the seminar will commence by reflecting on the implications of having received the mandate to ‘do something’ from the Master, as well as the significance of ‘doing nothing’. A discussion will be entered into concerning ‘doing something’ in the contemporary environment. The seminar concludes by reflecting on the account of Jesus and Peter walking on the water, and its implications for mission and evangelisation today.
An experienced teacher, lecturer and mentor. Shane’s background includes the creation of adult faith formation resources, writing and delivering theological courses at tertiary and vocational levels, and leading faith formation seminars, reflection days, and retreats. A trained spiritual director and pastoral ministry supervisor, he was appointed Director of the National Centre for Evangelisation in August 2016.
Refreshing and Re-energising Through the Gospel
– Jill Gallio and Deacon Tim Grauel, NPPN
This workshop will outline the Archdiocese of Adelaide’s approach to diocesan renewal, which is about renewing our parishes and communities by inspiring ourselves and them in the fundamental task of the Gospel. The eight marks of renewal outlined in the “Renewing Parishes document” are primarily drawn from the Gospel and the tradition. They are not additional burdens added to our ordinary life and duties, but just a focused way of articulating them.
The Office for Renewing Parishes was established in early 2016. In this time, every Parish Pastoral Council has been visited and a diocese-wide gathering of parish leadership teams was held in October 2016, the first in over 30 years. The focus this year for the Office is for Tim and Jill to promote stronger School/Parish partnerships by visiting every Catholic school in the diocese (i.e. school boards, parents and friends). Through collaboration, they hope to develop a set of agreed values supporting a healthy, vibrant and renewing School/Parent relationship.
Tim Grauel is a deacon in the Adelaide Archdiocese and is Director of the Office for Renewing Parishes. Prior to being employed by the Archdiocese in early 2016, Tim worked for ACH Group (a large aged-care provider based in South Australia) for 11 years. Serving in various senior management roles, Tim has experience in implementing organizational-wide systems. His expertise is in managing change aligned with improved business processes, ever mindful of the impact on people. Tim holds a Master of Social Science (Counselling) and a Master of Theology.
Jill Gallio has worked in the Archdiocese of Adelaide for 12 years and has worked in various roles. Jill is now a member of the Office for Renewing Parishes team and also Manager of the Catholic Communities Office and works closely with Parishes and in particular with Pastoral Associates and Parish Pastoral Councils. Jill was previously a Pastoral Associate in two Adelaide parishes. Jill holds a Masters in Theological Studies and a Degree in Adult and Vocational Education
Parish and School Collaboration for Youth Discipleship
– Kelly Paget, NPPN
With declining numbers of young people present in our parish pews on the weekend, the evangelising role of the school has come into great focus and importance. This has resulted in greater investment in school-based ministry programs in the last decade. However, are we making the most of these resources to draw young people into parish communities and to build authentic and seamless links between the parish and school communities? This presentation will showcase models of parish-school partnerships that are beginning to bear great fruit and look at ways of encouraging these sometimes difficult but essential partnerships for the sake of evangelisation.
Kelly has been Youth Minister for Gosford Parish and WYD coordinator for Salvatorians Australia for several years before taking up her current role as Team Leader, Catholic Youth Broken Bay in September 2012. Prior to this Kelly was also the Youth Ministry Coordinator at MacKillop Catholic College, Warnervale, where she worked for seven years, sharing her passion for education, formation, and evangelisation. Kelly is also blessed to share her ministry with her husband Chris and their two boys, Dennie and Samson. Kelly holds a Bachelor of Teaching (secondary) and a Bachelor of Arts (Technology/Theology) as well as a Master in Theology.
Do we really look like that? The Catholic Church in Australia today: a reliable snapshot
– Stephen Reid, NPPN
A snapshot of the Catholic Church in Australia using recently released data from the 2016 Australian Census, 2016 National Church Life Survey and the 2016 ACBC National Count of Attendance.
Stephen is married with three children. He has worked as a Researcher at the Australian Catholic Bishops Pastoral Research Office for just over ten years and since the start of this year has been the Acting Director. He is also employed as a Researcher with the Christian Research Association. He is currently one-third the way through a Doctor of Ministry, investigating the effectiveness of sports chaplaincy in Australia.
Pastoral Applications: What Does it Mean for the Church to be a School of Discipleship?
– Dr Richard R. Gaillardetz
In the keynote address we explored why, in the midst of church scandal, ecclesial belonging still matters. In this workshop we will unpack some of the pastoral implications of that claim. We will consider, in particular, pastoral practices that hold particular promise for shaping Catholic ecclesial identity in an open and dialogical key.
Dr. Richard R. Gaillardetz is the Joseph Professor of Catholic Systematic Theology at Boston College and is currently the chair of the theology department. He received his Ph.D. in systematic theology from the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Gaillardetz has published numerous articles and has authored or edited 13 books. Some of his more recent books include: Go into the Streets! The Welcoming Church of Pope Francis (Paulist Press, 2016) and An Unfinished Council: Vatican II, Pope Francis, and the Renewal of Catholicism (Liturgical Press, 2015).
In 2000 he received the Sophia Award from the faculty of the Washington Theological Union in recognition of “theological excellence in service to ministry,” and he has received numerous awards from both the Catholic Press Association and the Association of Catholic Publishers for his writing.
Dr. Gaillardetz was a delegate on the U.S. Catholic—Methodist Ecumenical Dialogue from 2001 to 2005 and served as president of the Catholic Theological Society of America in 2013-14. He is married to Diana Gaillardetz and they are the parents of four boys.
Belonging Together: how different faiths actually do belong together, and can support and enhance each other
– Sherene Hassan
Sherene comes to this discussion from her experience as a Muslim woman in Australia, engaged in dialogue and friendship, with hope and faith.
Sherene Hassan is a director of the Islamic Museum of Australia. She served as vice president, and executive committee member of the Islamic Council of Victoria for eight years. To date she has conducted over 1000 information sessions on Islam to diverse audiences ranging from the Flying Fruit Fly Circus School to the Australian Federal Police. Sherene has been involved in interfaith dialogue since 2001 and is passionate about building bridges with the wider community. In December 2007, Sherene was selected by the Age newspaper as one of Melbourne’s 100 Most Influential people. In 2016, Sherene was selected as ‘Muslim Woman of the Year’ at the Australian Muslim Achievement Awards (AMAA). Formerly a chemistry and physics teacher, Sherene is married with four children.
The Richness of Belonging to a Multi-cultural Parish
– Frs John Healy and Brian Collins
Ministering in multi-cultural parishes Rev Frs John Healy and Brian Collins will share their experience and engage in conversation looking at what helps people to belong. Looking at what structures, facilities and personal are needed to enable this to happen.
Rev Frs John Healy (pictured) and Brian Collins are Melbourne parish priests working on opposites sides of the Melbourne Archdiocese.
Abiding in Jesus: Exploring the Australian religious dimension in the light of John 15:5
– Cathy Jenkins
… the religious dimension of life is expressed by different lifestyles, daily rhythms linked to places and people. (Evangelii Gaudium n.72)
This workshop will explore how approaches to evangelisation can respond to the ways in which we search for meaning in the contemporary world. In other words, how do we maintain a Christo-centric approach to building community?
Cathy Jenkins is the Director of the Archbishop’s Office for Evangelisation (Melbourne). She has degrees in Arts and Theology, postgraduate qualifications in education, religious education and Leadership and Management. She has a background in teaching and publishing and extensive experience in parish leadership.
Eucharistic Symbiosis: how rituals bind Parish and School communities
– Clare Johnson
Parish and school communities can tend to exist in isolation from each other within some Catholic parishes. Effective and thoughtfully prepared Eucharistic liturgies can draw these two groups together and highlight their obligatory symbiotic relationship as varying aspects of the larger entity called ‘Church’. This workshop will explore strategies for nurturing positive relations between parish and school, including: bidirectional hospitality, premeditated mutual respect and intentional inclusiveness. Participants will focus on and discuss practical issues associated with the parish-school relationship and generate usable strategies for enhancing this relationship through Eucharistic celebrations that strengthen ties between parish and school and engender a unified positive corporate identity among all those gathered.
Clare V. Johnson [B.Mus (Hons), B. Theol (Hons), A.Mus.A., M.A. (Theol), GCHE, Ph.D.] is Director of the ACU Centre for Liturgy and Professor of Liturgical Studies and Sacramental Theology at Australian Catholic University. Clare has taught liturgical studies, sacramental theology, preaching, liturgical music and introductory theology at the University of Notre Dame (USA), Michigan State University (USA), the University of Notre Dame Australia (Fremantle) and Australian Catholic University. She has received several awards for teaching excellence and is an experienced presenter of interactive online learning. Clare supervises higher degree research students in liturgical studies and sacramental theology. Her academic research in liturgy, liturgical music, ritual studies, liturgical theology and liturgical inculturation has been widely published. Clare chairs the National Liturgical Music Board and is a member of the National Liturgical Council advising the Australian Catholic Bishops Commission for Liturgy. She holds a Mandatum to teach Catholic theological disciplines.
The Vine and Branches: Exploring the Gospel through Ecological Eyes
– Sr Veronica Lawson
This workshop will invite participants to bring Earth Bible principles and interpretive processes to John 15:5, “I am the vine, you are the branches.” The cry of the Earth as the “cry of our poor” (LS 2) will interweave with the claim of the Johannine Jesus. Participants will have the opportunity to provide creative responses to the gospel invitation.
Veronica Lawson PhD is a Sister of Mercy who taught biblical studies at the Australian Catholic University and its predecessor institutions for 26 years. She has been a guest lecturer in every Australian state and territory, in Tonga, Western Samoa, Fiji, PNG, Pakistan, New Zealand, Kenya, Timor Leste, Ireland and France. She was the first woman to be elected to the presidency of the Australian Catholic Biblical Association (1988-89) and is probably best known for her online Sunday Gospel Reflections and study tours of bible lands. Her recent publication, The Blessing of Mercy: Bible Perspectives and Ecological Challenges (Morning Star Publishing, 2015), has been widely acclaimed as a significant resource for ecological reflection on the gospel.
Owning the Mystery in a Disenchanted World
– Rev Dr. Kevin Lenehan
Catholic identity is grounded in the mystery of Christ—incarnate, crucified, and exalted—who is present in creation and human existence. Belonging to this mystery leads us to participate in the world in response to the presence of Christ to us. This workshop explores some types of the disenchantment with religion that characterizes Australian society, and asks what it means to own the mystery of Christ in this context.
Rev Dr Kevin Lenehan is a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Ballarat in Victoria, ordained in 1993. He is Senior Lecturer and Associate Dean (Postgraduate & Research) at Catholic Theology College Melbourne, a college of the University of Divinity. He holds degrees from Monash University, Melbourne College of Divinity, and the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium. He teaches and researches in the areas of fundamental theology, theological anthropology, René Girard’s mimetic theory, and Bonhoeffer studies. He is a regular contributor in faith formation and adult religious education, as well as liturgical ministry in parishes. He has previously held appointments in youth ministry, pastoral ministry, and leadership in Catholic Education.
Planning for Discipleship: Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing
– Lorraine McCarthy, NPLP
Jesus commanded us to “go and make disciples” – yet we can struggle to create strategies in our Parish which intentionally invite and nurture the formation of missionary disciples. It involves the decision to say ‘no’ to good things in order to choose the ‘best’ things, so that the Parish is freed to pursue a strong vision beyond maintenance to planned and deliberate mission. St Benedicts Parish in Halifax, pastored by Fr James Mallon, author of “Divine Renovation”, have shaped a discipleship process called “The Game Plan”. This workshop will examine “The Game Plan” as a strategy for keeping the ‘main thing’ – making disciples – central to all the Parish does.
Lorraine McCarthy is passionate about effectively re-energising and growing Parishes through strong pastoral vision and adult faith formation. She has worked as a Pastoral Associate in the Archdiocese of Melbourne, has a degree in Theology and a Post-Graduate Diploma specialising in Adult Faith Formation. She is a Spiritual Director trained at the Heart of Life Contemplative Spirituality Centre. She teaches the Catherine of Siena Institute Called and Gifted Workshop. As Alpha in a Catholic Context Co-ordinator in Australia, Lorraine hosted Fr James Mallon during his visit to Australia in 2016 and has visited his Parish in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
A Church that is not being called out of itself to serve the poor is dying
– Fr John Petrulis and Carmel Treacy
Pope Francis urges us to take up a “missionary impulse” … to go forth to everyone without exception. But to whom should we go first .. Today and always the poor are the privileged recipients of the Gospel … We have to state, without mincing words,that there is an inseparable bond between our faith and the poor. May we never abandon them”. Pope Francis ‘Evangelii Gaudium pg 48
This workshop will explore the gift of being raised to life by service to the poor in our local community. In particular we will be reflecting on the spirit and life of the Sacred Heart Mission that grew out of a parish in need of renewal.
We will explore questions:
What helps and hinders the service of those living in poverty in our parishes?
Are we structured too much for maintenance and not enough for mission?
Are we in contact with our own poverty so that we can have compassion for those that are poor?
The workshop will consist of opportunity for personal reflection and discussion, woven in with some visual presentation around these questions.
Fr John Petrulis has been a Diocesan Priest with the Archdiocese of Melbourne for over 30 years. He has been parish priest at Sacred Heart and St Columba (St Kilda & Elwood) Parish for the last 10 years. Sacred Heart Mission was formed out of Sacred Heart St Kilda Parish in 1982 and John continues to work collaboratively with the Mission and the parish’s pastoral care team to support and enhance the lives of those most marginalised in our community. In his ministry John draws inspiration from several sources including Dorothy Day from the Catholic Worker Movement, the life of Thomas Merton and The L’Arche Community – a community committed to living with and supporting those who live with an intellectual disability.
Carmel Treacy is currently the Pastoral Care Worker at Sacred Heart Mission. In this work she is actively engaged in connecting with and attending to the brokenness of people who are marginalised, also sharing their joys, hopes and celebrations. Carmel has spent over 20 years working in community mental health, starting work at Larundel in the early 1990’s. Carmel reconnected with her faith about 8 years ago and is an active member of the community at St Joseph’s and St Mark’s Springvale. One of Carmel’s inspirations is Henri Nouwen, author of “The Wounded Healer” who speaks of the reciprocal nature of healing through connection with people we meet who are wounded.
Engaging with the Hopes of Parishes
– Rev Dr. Brendan Reed
Using models can be a way of throwing light on the present. The Engaging with the Hopes of Parishes workshop will present theological and pastoral models of parishes. This workshop will explore the gap between the actual and the ideal parish. It will also look at the correlation between parish types and cognitive believing styles of parishioners.
Brendan Reed is currently Parish Priest of the Parishes of Deepdene & Balwyn and Camberwell, in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. In 2015 he completed a PhD in Pastoral Theology at Catholic University Leuven, Belgium in the area of Catholic Parish Identity. This work aimed at throwing light on the diverse understandings and hopes for parish life today. Brendan is a member of the steering group for the Enhancing Catholic School Identity Project being undertaken at the Catholic University of Leuven as commissioned by the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria. In 2016 he taught in a new unit called Institutional Identity at Catholic Theology College, East Melbourne. His particular interest is in emerging Catholic identities in contemporary culture. He has been a diocesan priest in the Archdiocese of Melbourne since 1990.
Vatican II: Vine and Branches for the Church and the World
– Rev Dr. Max Vodola
This workshop will explore some of the key themes of the Second Vatican Council including the universal call to holiness of all the baptised, the essentially missionary nature of the Church and the call to dialogue with modern culture. The workshop will also explore some of the key themes of the landmark document Gaudium et Spes in terms of the leadership of Pope Francis continuing to live the grace and spirit of the Council.
Max Vodola is a priest of the Archdiocese of Melbourne ordained in 1997 and currently responsible for All Saints’ Parish, Fitzroy. Max lectures full-time in Church History at Catholic Theological College, East Melbourne. He completed his Ph.D at Monash University where he analysed Angelo Roncalli’s research on the Council of Trent and the reforming work of St Charles Borromeo which was critical in shaping John XXIII’s decision to summon Vatican II and to give it a predominantly ‘pastoral’ orientation. Max is the author of A Friendly Guide to Vatican II.
The Catholic Church as an employer in Australia
– Terry Wilson
The Catholic Church, through its many agencies, is one of Australia’s largest employers, with about 2.0% of the Australian workforce spread across a range of dioceses, congregations and agencies. The Catholic Church, as an employer, underpins its approach to the employment process on a theology of work and a rich history of Catholic social teaching. Work in a Catholic workplace must be purposeful. Unlike many employers, the Church success as an employer cannot be limited by measures of economic efficiency. The Church’s interest in employment goes further than this: it extends to its relationship with its workers. Workers in Catholic employment cannot be regarded as resources for delivering outcomes; they are not human resources.
Employment in Catholic organisations should acknowledge and manifest the Church’s teachings on work and employment, in particular. Good employment relations do not just happen. If the aspirations of workers and the expectations of employers are to coincide, mission and values have to be accompanied by practical skills and hard work. Church employment provides the opportunity for many workers to be of service to others and to find satisfaction from doing that work well. The Church’s workplaces must promote the interests of those we seek to serve and, above all, they must protect and support vulnerable children and adults who depend upon our care.
Terry was involved in Catholic education for 34 years as a teacher and administrator in secondary schools and as a consultant and industrial advocate in Catholic Education offices and other Church organisations. He was Assistant Director of the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia for 11 years before being appointed the Chief Operations Officer for the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth, a position he has held for the past 10 years. Currently he is also the Vicar for Social Outreach in the Archdiocese of Perth. Terry has a strong interest in the Catholic Church’s teachings in social justice.
Vine and branches: yearning to belong 