2005

Friday 21st October 2005
Newcastle hosts national conference on Church pastoral planning
Clergy, religious and lay people, about 50 in number, from Catholic dioceses across Australia and New Zealand, will gather in Newcastle, NSW, this Sunday (23 rd October) for a three-day conference that organisers say will “explore some of the issues, trends and signs of hope in Church life as the Church seeks to become more relevant in people's lives now and into the future.”

The Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle will host the ninth Conference of the National Pastoral Planning Network with the theme: Signs of hope in an emerging Church . The Conference will be held at Newcastle 's Bimet Executive Lodge from October 23 to 25.

The National Pastoral Planning Network promotes pastoral planning across the Australian Catholic Church and facilitates the exchange of knowledge and skills among pastoral planners so that the quality of professional service in this field is continually enhanced.

“Pastoral planning happens at national, diocesan and parish levels”, explains Mr Paul O'Bryan of the Maitland-Newcastle Diocesan Pastoral Support Unit. “It's the process by which the faith community, with a deep appreciation of its past and an understanding of its present strengths and weaknesses, seeks to respond to the spiritual and pastoral needs of people within and beyond the community to further the Kingdom of God .”

Speaking on behalf of the Conference Organising Committee, Mr O'Bryan said, “We hope that the conference will facilitate an exchange between keynote speakers who research and reflect theologically on people's experience of Church today, and those who come with the local experience of pastoral planning and a view to gaining deeper insights and a better appreciation of the ‘signs of hope' – the things that are working effectively for the building-up of the Church in today's world.

“Participants will be involved in processes that help them pray together; read the signs of the times; share initiatives, insights and experiences from around Australia and New Zealand ; and reflect on material presented by keynote speakers,” Mr O'Bryan said.

Keynote speakers include the Reverend Dr Richard Lennan, a Catholic theologian and lecturer at the Catholic Institute of Sydney and the Reverend Dr Scott Cowdell, a Canberra-based Anglican Pastor and lecturer in theology at Charles Sturt University .

There will also be a variety of presentations from conference participants who will outline projects making a difference in dioceses across Australia .

The National Pastoral Planning Network is facilitated by an Executive Committee elected at each National Conference. The Network has its own website at www.nppnetwork.org, produces a Quarterly Bulletin and facilitates a national conference every 18 months. Through its constitution and membership it is closely linked to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, the Pastoral Projects Office and National Church Life Survey research.

The National Pastoral Planning Network Executive Committee includes:
• Mr Michael Brady, Chairperson (Archdiocese of Adelaide)
• Mr Paul O'Bryan, Secretary (Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle)
• Mr Peter O'Reilly (Diocese of Broken Bay)
• Sr Carmel Pattinson (Diocese of Toowoomba)

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