Archbishop's Office for Evangelisation

Plenary Council 2020

The last time the Catholic Church in Australia held a Plenary Council was in 1937. It has been more than 80 years since we gathered all of the Church together and much has changed. In 2020, we will have a Plenary Council about the future of the Catholic Church in Australia. What are we called to do? Who are we called to be? How do we need to change?

Christian Leadership in the 21st Century

Wednesdays 9, 16, 23, 30 May --- The Archbishop’s Office for Evangelisation Melbourne is hosting a four-week lecture series on Christian leadership for the 21st-century context. Explore scripture, church history, pastoral research and the joys and challenges of leading in a changing environment. Speakers include Dr Trudy Dantis, Ms Cathy Jenkins, Rev. Dr Kevin Lenehan, Rev. Dr Francis Moloney SDB and Rev. Dr Max Vodola.

Sparks of Beauty Program 2018

In his message at the annual meeting of Pontifical Academies, Pope Francis spoke of ‘sparks of beauty and love’ as necessary to heal and mend humanity. In dialogue with speakers from a variety of fields – art, science, music, literature, sport – the Sparks of Beauty series seeks to encourage a new imagining to Catholic spirituality in 21st century Australia. In 2018, the Sparks of Beauty program has taken place in some of Melbourne's most notable locations – the purpose of which is to encourage conversations about spirituality and faith outside of the usual spaces and 'in the marketplace'.

Resurrection Thinking

Director's message (April 2018): "This is a sacred story that ends with us moving on. This is a story of an empty tomb, a story that tells us not to remain with the death and darkness but to look toward life. And so, on Easter night, we lit our candles from the Paschal candle and gradually filled our darkened church with light; where we had brought our lives to the cross, we now brought our lives to the font of blessed water and we moved back into life as Easter people."

Resources for Parish Leaders

Parish Pastoral Councils are gathered by various means and in various forms in Catholic Parishes throughout Australia. They all have the single purpose of ensuring that the local church community, from among which they are called, has every possible opportunity to carry forward the mission of Jesus Christ. View this list of helpful resources for PPCs >

Sparks of Beauty kicks off at the NGV

Saturday 10 February --- The Sparks of Beauty series kicked off at the National Gallery of Victoria, with David Menzies noting that for some, art galleries are 'the cathedrals of the modern world'... These spaces provide a portal into the spiritual world too, as they offer an entry point to pondering the great mysteries of life.

Lent – the heart of it all

Director's reflection (February 2018): "We are offered an invitation to actively re-orientate ourselves to God: because for Christians, God and the one who was so loved, Jesus, is the heart and the soul of life. We are offered this gracious time when we can reflect on what has formed us since we tread last year’s Lenten path. And we are offered beautifully ancient tools to assist us with entering into this time."

Professional Development opportunities for Lay Ecclesial Ministers

Lay Ecclesial Ministers, just like the ordained, need and deserve formation of high standards that will provide them with the necessary skills and resources to adequately minister to the community they serve within. These professional development days and retreats cover a range of topics including responding to family violence, praying with the psalms, developing a spirituality of encounter and accompanying those on a journey of grief and loss.

Project Compassion 2018: For a Just Future

For over 50 years, Caritas has, through the generosity of Australians, been able to sponsor aid and development and emergency relief programs in over 35 countries. In 2018, as Caritas Diocesan Director Deacon Jim Curtain shares, the focus is on young people.

Pastoral Notes and Prayers for Parish Communities

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) has proclaimed the days from Ash Wednesday until the Saturday after Ash Wednesday 2018 as days of fasting and reparation in sorrow for child sexual abuse and for the healing of victims. To support parishes, the following resources have been prepared and may be adapted according to the needs of the local community. They include sample penitential liturgies, prayers, litanies and prayer sheets.

Plenary Council 2020

Christian Leadership in the 21st Century

Sparks of Beauty Program 2018

Resurrection Thinking

Resources for Parish Leaders

Sparks of Beauty kicks off at the NGV

Lent – the heart of it all

Professional Development opportunities for Lay Ecclesial Ministers

Project Compassion 2018: For a Just Future

Pastoral Notes and Prayers for Parish Communities

Accreditation

Plenary2020: Exploring communal discernment

Exploring the practicalities and possibilities of RCIA in your parish/school

Everyone Leads: A seminar for parish pastoral leaders

The gift of the Johannine Spirit-Paraclete