Catholic Mission is this year partnering with Catholic Religious Australia to present a diverse range of international and local speakers at their fifth edition of the biennial Mission: One Heart, Many Voices conference.
Last seen in 2019, this year’s conference will be held from 1 to 3 September 2021, with an additional day of creativity shaped by young people on 4 September. For the first time, the conference will be a virtual presentation.
“With the pandemic and all the difficulties of lockdown, this is the first time we’ve had to present the conference digitally,” says Catholic Mission National Director, Father Brian Lucas.
“The conference is an opportunity to learn, an opportunity to share and, it’s an opportunity when we come together to understand more about ourselves and what is required in the world of mission.”
Catholic Religious Australia, Province of Australia President Brother Peter Carroll, said the conference is critical because it “reflects our reality as church.”
Br Carroll explained that to follow and fulfill the mission of Jesus Christ, there are a “multitude of authentic responses.”
“The conference is designed to give us an opportunity to hear some of these many voices and to explore together the challenges of living the gospel and leading mission in Australia and globally,” Br Carroll said.
“This gathering is one expression of the longstanding and strong relationship we enjoy with Catholic Mission, and the response to this conference form participants, sponsors, and stakeholders has been most encouraging,” says Br Peter.
The online conference will offer 30 different specialist workshops over three days, as well as keynote presentations from activist, writer, social psychologist and researcher and author, Hugh Mackay, Ambassador of Australia to the Holy See Chiara Porro, and Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle.
Human rights activist, broadcaster and former Socceroo Craig Foster, Chief Executive Officer Australian Catholic Safeguarding Limited Ursula Stephens, and NSW Ageing and Disability Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald – will also present.
Senior Australian of the Year, Aboriginal elder from Nauiyu, renowned artist, activist, writer, and public speaker Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM, will deliver the conference welcome and opening prayer followed by her address focusing on Dadirri, an inner deep listening and quiet still awareness.
The conference will end with Sister of St Joseph Lyndall Brown, focusing on communal discernment.
“By opening our hearts and our minds during these few days we hope we will be able to learn how to do mission better, but also what needs to change within ourselves, so we are more open to that challenge of mission,” says Fr Brian.
To view the program and register for the conference visit www.mohmv.com.au