Speakers and topics continue to be confirmed for the upcoming national evangelisation conference, dubbed “Evangelise”, to be hosted by the Bishops Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry.
Brisbane’s Clare Schwantes (Liturgical Formation of the People of God), Perth’s Derek Boylen (Marriage and Family), Parramatta’s Qwayne Guevara (Young Ministry Post-COVID) and Wilcannia-Forbes’ Sr Elizabeth Young RSM (Rural and Remote Community Ministry) will all host keynote presentations during the online conference from October 20 to 22.
The conference will feature three Perth keynote speakers, Fr George Kolodziej SDS, Derek Boylen and Mario Borg.
Fr Kolodziej, Congregational leader of the Salvatorians in Australia and Chaplain at Catholic Education WA, will speak on the topic of ‘Joy-filled missionary disciples’ on Friday, October 21.
The presentation will focus on wellbeing from a spiritual perspective, utilising Fr Kolodziej’s experience as a clinical psychotherapist who has worked with recovering drug addicts and alcoholics.
Fr Kolodziej has Master’s degrees in Theology and in Psychotherapy and Pastoral Care, and has previously served as chaplain at Chisholm College in Bedford.
Derek Boylen, a counsellor and Director of the Archdiocese of Perth’s Centre for Life, Marriage and Family, will address the topic, ‘Building an effective marriage and family catechumenate’.
A father of nine children with wife Karen, Mr Boylen’s keynote session will explore the Vatican’s recent pastoral guidelines endorsed by Pope Francis, which outlines how marriage formation should be based on the baptismal catechumenate.
Mr Boylen will seek to explain what a marriage catechumenate is, and how parish communities can implement sustainable initiatives that call and equip couples and families to be a cornerstone for evangelisation in the world.
Mr Boylen is member of the Australian Catholic Life, Marriage and Family Council, serves on the board of Fertility Education Australia, and is a sessional lecturer at the University of Notre Dame in the discipline of counselling.
His keynote session will be held on Saturday, October 22, the final day of the conference.
Mario Borg, coordinator of Perth’s Disciples of Jesus Covenant Community, will present a keynote session on Friday, October 21, titled ‘Sustaining ecclesial movements as evangelising forces’.
Mr Borg’s presentation will explore some of the common characteristics of ecclesial movements and how they can be a force for evangelisation in the life of the Church, with reference to Pope John Paul II’s “criteria of ecclesiality” proposed in the 1988 apostolic exhortation, Christifideles Laici.
As the director of 24:7 Youth Ministry and lecturer at Acts 2 College of Mission and Evangelisation, Mr Borg has extensive experience presenting and working with young people in parish, school and youth group settings.
Director of the National Centre for Evangelisation Malcolm Hart said all Catholics were invited to participate in Evangelise, which will feature some of Australia’s leading theologians, ministers, missionaries and pastoral leaders.
“Evangelise brings current and inspirational formation to all Catholics via its online format,” he said.
“Evangelise has been made affordable for all through a generous donation which will subsidise the conference. Individual registrations are $25 each or a community can purchase five registrations for $100, allowing a combined local experience for a variety of local ministries.
“Best encountered in a community setting with local dialogue, the conference also allows individuals and families to be a part of the experience with afternoon and evening sessions online.”
For more information about the conference, including details of presenters and an outline of the event program, and to register, visit www.evangelisation.catholic.org.au