SCENE - Events - Workshops

Discover the Truth, Speak the Word and live the Faith

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Monday July 20
Tuesday July 21
Wednesday July 22
Thursday July 23
Friday July 35

MONDAY JULY 20

Discovering the Genius of Pope Paul VI: Evangelisation
The seminal document of Pope Paul VI, Evangelii nuntiandi (On Announcing the Gospel), caused a transformation from seeing 'mission' as something we do abroad in developing countries to being a challenge on our own doorsteps and in our own society. Come and discover the freshness of this document and what it has to teach us about the New Evangelisation today.

Fr Julian Green, Catholic Chaplain Birmingham University (UK), Theology lecturer specializing in Ecclesiology and Mariology at Birmingham Diocesan Seminary, St Mary’s College Oscott and the Maryvale Institute, and member of the Société Jean-Marie Vianney which promotes the spiritual formation of priests in fraternities.

Fr Richard Aladics has worked in parishes, schools, hospitals and prison chaplaincies in the Diocese of Leeds, UK. He gained a Licentiate in 2000 from the John Paul II Institute in Valencia, Spain, and has been involved in the youth evangelisation organisation "Youth 2000", being Chaplain to their Mission Team and developing their Formation Courses. He is a member of the St John Vianney Society, based in Ars, France, which seeks the renewal of the Diocesan Priesthood through fraternity, and is presently the chaplain of Campion College, Sydney, Australia. His focus as a priest is the evangelisation of young people, supporting families in the life of grace and the renewal of the Priesthood.

Sharing the Gospel Message Using Your Own Faith Story
Learn how to explain the essence of the Gospel Message (the kerygma) in a simple way, in the context of your own experience of living the faith, and in a way that invites a response from those you are sharing with.

Pat Kelly, Director, Catholic School of Evangelisation, a school formed for the purpose of developing a mission mentality within parishes by offering parish-based formation programmes. Their programmes have the three-fold aim of forming disciples (touching the heart), training evangelisers (providing the skills) and forming a parish evangelisation team.

Person-by-person, house-by-house, street-by-street ‘til we bring the whole world to God
At the Ascension and at the end of every Mass, we Catholics are commissioned to spread our Faith. This is not an optional extra; it is part of being a follower of Christ. During this workshop we will discuss ways of sharing our faith, and how to have a missionary heart. One saint once said, "No one goes to heaven alone, no one goes to hell alone." Let’s do our best to bring many souls to share the endless happiness of heaven with us!

Fr Casanova, is a priest in the Confraternity of Christ the Priest, a missionary fraternity of priests and brothers founded in Australia to reach out to the Churchless of Australia.

Using the Internet for Evangelisation
Email, website, blog, Facebook, Youtube? How do we make the best use of the internet to evangelise? Which issues raise awareness and elicit interest? How do you maximise resources with minimum costs and avoid impersonal contact?

Raymond de Souza, Founder and Director of Saint Gabriel Communications, Australia’s first international outreach promoting Catholic Apologetics, Chairman of the New Evangelization Office of the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (USA), and EWTN program host.

A Guide to Street Evangelisation
Is evangelisation to be reserved for some Christians or for all those who have come to know Jesus and are baptised in his name? Did Jesus say to his 12 apostles only: “Go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature…”(Mark16)? St Therese of the child Jesus said: “I want to know Jesus and to love him in order to make him known and loved”. In the same spirit of the great saints and enthused evangelisers of the past and of the present, we will first discover the spirit and the “secret” of evangelisation, as Pope Benedict said, and secondly, the particular ways we can reach out to people in the city and in the streets.

The St John Community, begun in France in 1975, is one of the new communities that have sprung up in our times. While monastic, the community has not sought a retired life. They see themselves as a presence among people and are oriented towards engaging with people in an evangelising way. They are “open contemplatives” wishing to share their charism with the society around them.

The Spiritual Battle of Evangelisation
This workshop will give the straight talk about the spiritual opposition we face when we evangelise. We will discuss the reality of the spiritual battle for souls and the weapons we have available through the Church and the Sacraments. This is a “how to” of living in the victory won by Jesus Christ’s death and Resurrection.

The Missionaries of God's Love Sisters (MGLs) are a vibrant new group of consecrated women seeking to bring the fire of God’s love to all people. MGLs choose a life of radical poverty, celibacy and obedience in imitation of Christ. With a commitment to a vigorous prayer life and living in community, the MGLs share in the work of evangelisation, in a collaborative way, with lay people. They always seek to empower the laity in their journey towards holiness and their mission to spread the good news. In return, they draw much strength and support from the lay community which is integral to their identity. The MGLs are a consecrated group within the charismatic Catholic Covenant community called the Disciples of Jesus.

Our Lady and the New Evangelisation
Salvation History and the coming of the Son of God was initiated with the words “Ave Maria!” Learn why She who is “Full of Grace” is the radiant star of the New Evangelisation and crucial for the renewal of faith in Christ and His Church.

Presented by Fr Joseph McShane. Fr McShane is the vocation director for the Franciscans of the Immaculate in Australia. He also assists in the Mass Media apostolate of the friars with a weekly radio show and a video apostolate for the internet.

Evangelising through the Blessed Sacrament
“The Church and the world have a great need of Eucharistic worship. Jesus waits for us in this sacrament of love.” (Pope John Paul II, Dominicae cenae, 3) The Emmanuel Community employs a powerful ministry of evangelisation known as “mercy nights” which have been held throughout the world with great success. These nights of invitation and street evangelisation are centred on adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In this workshop, members of the community will explain the efficacy of this form of evangelisation and the essential elements for holding a successful “Mercy Night”.

The Emmanuel Community, founded in 1976 in Paris, is an international association of Christ’s Faithful comprising Catholics in all states of life from lay people to men and women consecrated in celibacy and priests. The Emmanuel Community in Sydney has assisted the CREDO Office in conducting missions throughout the Sydney archdiocese. The Community conducts 5 international schools of formation for evangelisation. In Sydney they are currently running “Nightfever” – a monthly “Mercy Night” for young people.

Prayer of the Evangelist 1: Personal prayer and cooperation with the Holy Spirit
‘Heart-to-heart’ adj. (of a conversation) Candid, intimate. – n. a candid or personal conversation.
Does this describe your personal prayer? Would you like it to? In prayer ‘heart meets heart’- we encounter the love of God and come to know it in a life changing way. It’s only in the experience of this that we can then take His love out to others, drawing them into their own ‘heart to heart’ relationship with God. In this workshop, we’ll discover together ways we can deepen in our own ‘heart to heart’ encounters, as well as focussing on the role of the Holy Spirit as we embrace opportunities to share the Gospel with all whom we meet.

The Missionaries of God's Love Sisters (MGLs) are a vibrant new group of consecrated women seeking to bring the fire of God’s love to all people. MGLs choose a life of radical poverty, celibacy and obedience in imitation of Christ. With a commitment to a vigorous prayer life and living in community, the MGLs share in the work of evangelisation, in a collaborative way, with lay people. They always seek to empower the laity in their journey towards holiness and their mission to spread the good news. In return, they draw much strength and support from the lay community which is integral to their identity. The MGLs are a consecrated group within the charismatic Catholic Covenant community called the Disciples of Jesus.

What Catholics Can Learn from Evangelicals about Evangelisation
In this workshop, a convert to the Catholic Faith from Evangelical Protestantism will discuss what we Catholics can learn from, or rather, be reminded of, by our separated brethren in relation to our responsibility to evangelise on the personal and Parish levels. The workshop will focus on the nature of the "kerygma" (proclamation of the Good News) and the missionary role of the baptised Catholic and the Catholic Parish. Often our separated brethren "out-do" Catholics in these areas and as a result, many non-Christians come to faith in Our Lord through the evangelical tradition. In an ever increasing secular country where many Australians do not know Jesus or His saving work on the Cross, it's time that we Catholics got serious about the missionary mandate of the Church.

Thomas Waugh, Convenor, Catholic Chaplaincy, University of Sydney and University of Technology, Sydney. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from Sydney University. He was admitted as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of NSW in July 2003 and practised law until January 2009 specialising in insurance litigation. He was an evangelical (Low Church) Anglican until 15 September 2004 whereupon he entered the Catholic Church. At his Anglican Parish, he led bible studies, gained experience in Natural and Christian Apologetics, biblical theology, systematic theology, exegesis and soteriology and participated in outreach events to non-Christians. He was an active member of the Evangelical Union (“EU”) during his years of study. During this time he engaged in the proclamation of the Gospel and organised and participated in outreach missions to the secular/atheistic university students. He has a passion for teaching the Catholic Faith to Catholics and evangelising non-Catholics and an interest in theology, philosophy and history. He has arranged and led Bible Studies and other forms of catechesis at his local parish.

TUESDAY JULY 21

Open the Doors to Christ: Parish missions in the New Evangelisation
For the last five years Bishop Porteous has been involved in conducting Parish Missions entitled "Open the Doors to Christ". These missions have involved priests, seminarians and lay people working with a parish. The particular focus of each mission is to take the Gospel out into the market place. Bishop Porteous will present the theory and methods behind this important new expression of parish mission.

Bishop Julian Porteous, Auxiliary Bishop and Episcopal Vicar for Renewal and Evangelisation, Archdiocese of Sydney

The New Evangelisation and Catechesis
Ever heard it said, "Protestants evangelise, Catholics catechise"?
Ever wondered what the relationship is between evangelisation and catechesis?
Come and hear about how to implement evangelisation into our catechesis.

Christine Wood, currently studying a PhD in Theology at Marquette University, Milwaukee (USA), worked with CREDO in implementing “Called to Communion” to bring inactive Catholics back to the Church, and has participated in catechetical/ mission work in Belize, Jamaica, Sydney and the USA.

“If you see charity, you see the Trinity” (Saint Augustine)
Caritas Australia, the International Aid and Development Agency of the Catholic Church, explores the dynamic role social justice plays in being a witness to the Gospel. Drawing upon the insights of Pope Benedict XVI’s first encyclical Deus Caritas Est and the work of Caritas confronting poverty around the globe, this workshop will explore how our faith must be a faith that does justice. Come see how an encounter with Christ changes not only yourself, but the very world you live in.

Education Team, Caritas Australia

A Guide to Street Evangelisation
Is evangelisation to be reserved for some Christians or for all those who have come to know Jesus and are baptised in his name? Did Jesus say to his 12 apostles only: “Go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature…”(Mark16)? St Therese of the child Jesus said: “I want to know Jesus and to love him in order to make him known and loved”. In the same spirit of the great saints and enthused evangelisers of the past and of the present, we will first discover the spirit and the “secret” of evangelisation, as Pope Benedict said, and secondly, the particular ways we can reach out to people in the city and in the streets.

St John Community, begun in France in 1975, it is one of the new communities that have sprung up in our times. While monastic, the community has not sought a retired life. They see themselves as a presence among people and are oriented towards engaging with people in an evangelising way. They are “open contemplatives” wishing to share their charism with the society around them.

Children of Hope: Evangelising children through Adoration
“I urge priests, religious and lay people to…redouble their efforts to teach the younger generations the meaning and value of Eucharistic adoration and devotion.” (Pope John Paul II, 28 May, 1996) In 1997 Father Antoine was asked by some mothers in France to lead their children in Adoration. After the success of this venture, Father Antoine developed a program that enables others to lead children into the mystery of the real presence of the Eucharist through Adoration. The program, named Children of Hope, has been used successfully throughout the world. Children and parents far and wide have given testimony to Children of Hope saying that Adoration has deepened their faith and given children a love for the Mass. In this workshop, Fr Antoine will present the steps to beginning this program in your parish or with your children.

Fr Antoine Thomas, Community of St John. The Community of St John, begun in France in 1975, is one of the new communities that have sprung up in our times. While monastic, the community has not sought a retired life. They see themselves as a presence among people and are oriented towards engaging with people in an evangelising way. They are “open contemplatives” wishing to share their charism with the society around them.

Leading Groups in Prayer
There are many times when we can be called on to lead a group in prayer, e.g. the opening of a parish meeting, in a prayer group, a youth group, in the classroom or with our family. What do we say? What do we do? A shared prayer can provide the conditions for a true encounter with our Creator or…not. How can we take advantage of the opportunity to work with the Holy Spirit in gathering people’s hearts together and turning them to God?

Cathy Martorana is currently completing her MA in Theology at the Broken Bay Institute. She is the Co-founder and Coordinator of Worship in the City, a monthly event for Parish youth groups and young adults, held in St Mary's Cathedral Crypt, Sydney.

The Reasonableness of Faith
Some people think Catholic faith is not reasonable—and some think it’s not necessary. We will talk about both of these claims and about the deep importance for Catholics of having a mind and building the mind. We will also do a little work on using the mind!

Hayden Ramsay has held academic positions as lecturer in philosophy in many universities and colleges, both Catholic and secular. He has also worked closely since 1999 with Archbishop George Pell. He is currently Deputy Vice Chancellor and Provost of the University of Notre Dame Australia, based in Sydney. He is also Professor of Philosophy and Ethics in the University.

The History of Evangelisation in the Church
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed and announce that the time has come when the Lord will serve his people.” (Lk. 4: 18-19) It was the reading of the passage from the Prophet Isaiah (61: 1-2) which marked the beginning of the ‘evangelical mission’ of Jesus and set in motion a process that would have far reaching consequences for all those who followed in his footsteps. Evangelisation represents the heart and soul of Christianity and has played an important role in the transformation of individual lives and of entire cultures through time. This workshop will explore the propagation of Christianity from its early, impromptu beginnings, following the great commission, to our understanding of evangelisation today.

Dr. Susanna G. Rizzo (B.A Hons; MA; PhD) is lecturer in history and Latin at Campion College Australia and Vice-Dean of Studies. Her research interests and publications are in the field of religious studies; ancient and medieval history; epistemology and hermeneutics.

How to Witness as You Teach Religion
“Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” (Pope Paul VI, Address to the members of the Consilium de Laicis, 1974) When in search of a benchmark for teaching religion, it can be easy to concentrate on what can be measured. Do the children know about the Church and the scriptures? Do they know the traditional prayers? However, if we produce children who know all about the faith but do not know God’s love for them, and how to respond to his love, then we have failed. How can we achieve this while teaching the necessary facts of our faith? How can we help Christ become real to students so that their knowledge becomes relevant and alive? In this workshop we will explore these questions together.

Cathy Kennedy, Catholic primary school teacher, catechist, experienced parish youth leader, missionary to secondary students and pastoral trainer in evangelisation.

WEDNESDAY JULY 21

Beauty Ever Ancient, Ever New: Consecrated Life and the New EvangelisationFrom the earliest days of the Church, the Holy Spirit has called forth men and women in countless, creative ways to respond to the needs of a particular time and place. The consecrated life, at once universal, particular, and uniquely Catholic has answered the call to witness to Christ and serve others in all times and seasons, including our own. What is the Holy Spirit doing these days? How are consecrated men and women once again answering the call to serve in the New Evangelisation? How can consecrated persons be certain that the work they choose to undertake is truly the work of the Holy Spirit? What are the options for someone discerning a vocation? What inherent challenges do consecrated persons face as they are entrusted with the task of evangelisation in the modern world?

Sr Mary Sarah, OP, a Dominican Sister for over 20 years, has a biology undergrad, and masters degrees in educational administration and medieval intellectual history. She is currently working in the doctoral program at the University of Sydney in the history of philosophy and science. Sr Mary Sarah is part of the Catholic Chaplaincy Team at the University of Sydney and has presented at I -Witness, Reasons for Hope and Urban Theology.

The Priesthood at the heart of the New Evangelisation
In this workshop we will look at the image of the priest put before us by Vatican II and demonstrate that the commitment to the mission of the Church by lay people and priests, and vocations to the priesthood go hand in hand.

Fr Julian Green, Catholic Chaplain Birmingham University (UK), Theology lecturer specializing in Ecclesiology and Mariology at Birmingham Diocesan Seminary, St Mary’s College Oscott and the Maryvale Institute, and member of the Société Jean-Marie Vianney which promotes the spiritual formation of priests in fraternities.

Encountering the Holy Spirit
“It must be said that the Holy Spirit is the principal agent of evangelization: it is He who impels each individual to proclaim the Gospel, and it is He who in the depths of consciences causes the word of salvation to be accepted and understood.” (Pope Paul VI, Evangelii nuntiandi, 75). This workshop explores the role of the Holy Spirit, who He is, how He acts and how to respond to his action in our lives. It is also presents an opportunity to deepen your personal relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Lucy Grasso, Coordinator, Catholic School of Evangelisation (Sydney), a school formed for the purpose of developing a mission mentality within parishes by offering parish-based formation programmes. Their programmes have the three-fold aim of forming disciples (touching the heart), training evangelisers (providing the skills) and forming a parish evangelisation team.

The “Why” and the “How” of a Parish Mission
What is the role of a parish for Christians? What are the great needs and fruits of a parish mission, for the parish and for families? Is the success of a parish mission dependent on the charism of the preacher only? What are the ways a whole parish can make a parish mission an extraordinary moment of grace for all members of the parish? In this workshop the St John Community will try to respond to these questions in the context of their successful experiences in order to foster hope in priests and parishioners.

Brothers of the Community of St John. The Community of St John, begun in France in 1975, is one of the new communities that have sprung up in our times. While monastic, the community has not sought a retired life. They see themselves as a presence among people and are oriented towards engaging with people in an evangelising way. They are “open contemplatives” wishing to share their charism with the society around them.

Witnessing to Sacramental Empowerment in Everyday Life
As members of the Church, we have received sacramental graces and gifts. How many of us are conscious of calling on the supernatural life within us to respond to the challenges of daily life? Just as people “work out” to build up physical stamina and fitness we can “work out” by exercising those graces and gifts that can transform moments into experiences of empowerment. Sister Moira will draw on magesterial documents to remind us of these realities.

Sr Moira Debono, Sister of Mercy of Alma, Michigan, has been in Australia for one year helping to begin their first foundation in Australia. She is a lecturer in theology at the University of Notre Dame-Sydney. Her theological study was completed in Rome, Italy with a specialisation in the sacrament of Matrimony.

Awakening the faith of Sydney’s Youth
The Christian Life Movement has been holding successful Congresses for Catholic youth in South America since 1977. Their approach is to propose a theme and challenge the youth to reflect on the Gospel message in relation to issues that affect the society of today. The aim is to enable the participants to come up with answers to the challenges that our culture faces through reflection based on an encounter with Christ. Throughout the weekend there are discussion groups, prayer, mass, games, talks, short films, theatre and more. In this workshop members of the Marian Community of Reconciliation (Fraternas), who lead the Christian Life Movement here in Sydney, will share successful methods and techniques from their experience of these Congresses.

Marian Community of Reconciliation (Fraternas), the Christian Life Movement is an international ecclesial movement founded in Lima, Peru, in 1985. It is led by the Fraternas (Marian Community of Reconciliation). It was approved by the Holy See in 1994 as an International Association of Christian Faithful of Pontifical Right. It is active in several countries throughout the five continents.

Bringing Christ to the Streets
Have you ever found it difficult to share your faith? Whether with family, friends or even people on the street, it can be difficult to know what to say or do. As a Catholic, how do we share our faith with people in an authentic way?
The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal are a religious order founded in the Bronx, New York, twenty-two years ago as a reform arm of the Capuchin Franciscan order. The friars devote themselves to evangelising and fostering a strong prayer and community life while renewing their dedication to poverty, chastity and obedience. Members own no personal possessions and beg even for their food. Nonetheless, the order’s 10 friaries are bursting with recruits.

Prayer of the Evangelist 2: Praying as a team and intercessory prayer
Prayer is at the heart of all evangelisation. While it is important that as individuals we maintain a regular prayer life, it is essential for the work of evangelisation that we pray together as a team and that there are people interceding for this work. If you are looking to be equipped in either of these areas, this is the workshop for you. The MGL sisters will share their insights on team prayer and intercessory prayer and their application for effective evangelisation today.

The Missionaries of God's Love Sisters (MGLs) are a vibrant new group of consecrated women seeking to bring the fire of God’s love to all people. MGLs choose a life of radical poverty, celibacy and obedience in imitation of Christ. With a commitment to a vigorous prayer life and living in community, the MGLs share in the work of evangelisation, in a collaborative way, with lay people. They always seek to empower the laity in their journey towards holiness and their mission to spread the good news. In return, they draw much strength and support from the lay community which is integral to their identity. The MGLs are a consecrated group within the charismatic Catholic Covenant community called the Disciples of Jesus.

Evangelising through the Blessed Sacrament
“The Church and the world have a great need of Eucharistic worship. Jesus waits for us in this sacrament of love.” (Pope John Paul II, Dominicae cenae, 3) The Emmanuel Community employs a powerful ministry of evangelisation known as “mercy nights” which have been held throughout the world with great success. These nights of invitation and street evangelisation are centred on adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In this workshop members of the community will explain the efficacy of this form of evangelisation and the essential elements for holding a successful “Mercy Night”.

The Emmanuel Community, founded in 1976 in Paris, is an international association of Christ’s Faithful comprising Catholics in all states of life from lay people to men and women consecrated in celibacy and priests. The Emmanuel Community in Sydney has assisted the CREDO Office in conducting missions throughout the Sydney archdiocese. The Community conducts 5 international schools of formation for evangelisation. In Sydney they are currently running “Nightfever” – a monthly “Mercy Night” for young people.

THURSDAY JULY 23

From Social Youth Group to Youth Ministry: Take the journey of conversion
Get to the core of effective and sustainable youth ministry. Go beyond the "youth group" mentality. Draw young people into a true relationship with Christ and deepen their Catholic faith. Find out how you can develop, expand and sustain your youth ministry. This workshop will help show you how to have fun while teaching and sharing our faith. It will show you practical ways to evangelise and catechise your teens. "Youth Ministry must be one of the primary concerns of pastors and parish communities" Pope John Paul II

Sean Finucane has a MA (Theology) from ACU and a BA Dip Ed from Macquarie. He has taught in both secondary and primary schools in both the Catholic and State systems. He has 10 years experience working full time in youth ministry. Sean is currently Director of Catholic Youth Services for the Archdiocese of Sydney.

The Postmodern Hunger of the Heart: A Gospel response to the needs and desires of people today
When Pope John Paul II called for a new evangelisation he asked that it be new in methods, expression and fervour. The postmodern times that we now live in call for new methods and expressions of the Gospel in order to engage with the deep needs and desires of people today. If we are to proclaim Jesus Christ as 'Beauty ever-ancient, ever-new' to the people of this time, then what opportunities and challenges does our postmodern culture present? And how should we respond?

Fr Chris Ryan, is a priest with the Missionaries of God’s Love (MGL), an emerging congregation founded in Australia in 1986. He is currently the Rector of the MGL Seminary and formation program in Melbourne. He has been the parish priest of St Benedict's, Narrabundah and director of the St Benedict's Eucharistic Centre in the ACT. During 2006-2008, he was the coordinator of the pilgrimage of the World Youth Day Cross and Icon throughout Australia in preparation for WYD08. Fr Chris is very interested in the dialogue between faith and culture. He has worked extensively in youth ministry, and is a passionate preacher and popular speaker for youth and young adults. 'In the Light of the Cross', his book of reflections on the Journey of the World Youth Day Cross and Icon will be released later in the year.

Now and at the Hour: Evangelising the Elderly
“I am going now to prepare a place for you” (Jn 14:2). Ageing and its associated losses of health, loved ones and independence is often seen as a negative experience. Yet each one of us goes through small daily deaths that we can choose to use for our own growth in holiness. Thus the process of ageing or loss presents a most powerful opportunity for the fulfilment of the Gospel message. How can we walk with the elderly person on our journey towards eternity? The Little Sisters of the Poor will share from their extensive experience in this area of ministry.
Little Sisters of the Poor

The New Evangelisation through the Mass Media
Learn why St. Maximilian Kolbe and Pope John Paull II recognised that mastery of the Mass Media is a critical tool for the New Evangelisation.

Presented by Fr Joseph McShane. Fr McShane is the vocation director for the Franciscans of the Immaculate in Australia. He also assists in the Mass Media apostolate of the friars with a weekly radio show and a video apostolate for the internet.

Tips and Techniques for Parish Missions
Strategy B2 of the Pastoral Plan of the Archdiocese of Sydney states that “every five years each parish (is) to conduct a parish mission focussed on evangelisation”. This is an exciting goal but how do you put on a parish mission? Fr Pat Keenan has been preaching at, and assisting parishes to hold, parish missions for the last 40 years. He will share tips and techniques that are tried and true.
Fr Pat Keenan, C.ss.R (Redemptorist)

Simple and Practical Ways to Evangelise
We are all called to evangelise. We know that. But how? It’s easier that you think. Is there a God? Is Christ God? Did he establish the Catholic Church? The answers are: Yes, yes, and yes! Br Patrick Darcey, from the Mother of God Brothers Community, will share the ordinary and achievable ways the Community has found of spreading this positive message.

Br Patrick Darcey, Mother of God Brothers Community. The Mother of God Brothers Community was founded in New Zealand in 1976 with the purpose of evangelisation. The apostolate of the Community includes parish visitations, catachetics and street evangelisation.

Priests and Laity in the work of Evangelisation
"The Church exists in order to evangelise" said Pope Paul VI, and Pope John Paul II added that evangelisation is the first priority for the Church in Oceania. If the Church is to fulfill this vital mission, the lay faithful will have to be at the forefront. But priests are absolutely essential too. This workshop will explore how priests and laity can work together to proclaim Jesus Christ to the world.

Fr John Flader, BA, DCL, was ordained a priest of Opus Dei in 1967. He has a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University and a Doctorate in Canon Law from the University of Navarre. He has been in Australia since 1968 working first as chaplain of Warrane College at the University of NSW, then as chaplain of the University of Tasmania in Hobart and RMIT University in Melbourne before taking up his present position as Director of the Catholic Adult Education Centre of the Archdiocese of Sydney in 2002. His book “Question Time”, containing the first 150 of his weekly columns in The Catholic Weekly, was published in 2008.

Telling your story of conversion: Hone your ultimate evangelisation tool!
One of the most powerful ways that God draws people to himself is through personal testimony. God can seem so distant to those who seek Him. Yet when we openly share our encounter with the love of God, God’s love for them becomes more present and real. It cuts to the heart in a way that logic can’t – facts and theories, even values, can be disputed, but your personal experience cannot. This “hands-on” workshop will present some of the important things you need to know about sharing your story of conversion and then help you to hone your ultimate evangelisation tool.

Youth Mission Team (YMT) Australia is a peer to peer youth ministry about empowering young people to live life to the full through personal relationship with God and a revelation of their own value. Focused on the character and faith development of teenagers, YMT facilitates powerful, energetic programs for schools and parishes, as well as weekly youth groups and weekend camps. Beginning in 1986, it is widely recognised as one of the most experienced, successful Catholic youth evangelisation organisations ever produced in this country. Over the last 23 years, YMT has ministered to more than 150,000 young people and trained more than 250 individuals, comprising over 50 Teams. Current Teams are operating in Melbourne, Perth, Sydney and Wollongong.

How to Witness as You Teach Religion
“Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” (Pope Paul VI, Address to the members of the Consilium de Laicis, 1974) When in search of a benchmark for teaching religion, it can be easy to concentrate on what can be measured. Do the children know about the Church and the scriptures? Do they know the traditional prayers? However, if we produce children who know all about the faith but do not know God’s love for them, and how to respond to his love, then we have failed. How can we achieve this while teaching the necessary facts of our faith? How can we help Christ become real to students so that their knowledge becomes relevant and alive? In this workshop we will explore these questions together.

Cathy Kennedy, Catholic primary school teacher, catechist, former parish youth leader, missionary and pastoral trainer in evangelisation.

Music and the New Evangelisation
Music can be a powerful tool for evangelisation – especially for youth. By infusing this art form with the Gospel, we can propose Christ using a language that people of the 21st century understand. In this workshop, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (Catholic Underground), along with Aaron Reefman and Michael Elias (DJ Atomic), will explore how we can use music to showcase our faith, establish relationships and atmosphere, and ultimately, proclaim Christ.

The Catholic Underground is a monthly event that encompasses a holy hour of prayer and song and an ensuing music festival with a coffee shop atmosphere. It is the creation of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and attracts hundreds of young people each month.

FRIDAY JULY 24

Faith in Action: Using the media to raise awareness of Catholic issues
Two proactive Sydney Catholic girls share personal experiences and advice on how young people can use the media to bring the faith to the public square. Judi and Jess have spoken and engaged with the media regarding issues of sexual integrity and human dignity, providing mainstream media with an alternative and truthful depiction on controversial issues. Judi has had direct experience in fronting a campaign to raise awareness and gather signatures on a petition to ban sexualised ads in public spaces. The focus of the workshop is "If we don't speak up, who will"? In this workshop, we'll equip you with the necessary skills and techniques to be a voice of truth in today's society. Learn how to speak to the media, write letters to newspapers and ultimately be a representative of truth.

Jessica Langrell and Judi Limbers

New Evangelisation - a New Vision: How three popes began building the New Evangelisation
This workshop will look at the New Evangelisation from a historical perspective and show how Paul VI, JPII and Benedict XVI have contributed to the vision for a new era of evangelisation.

Fr Richard Aladics has worked in parishes, schools, hospitals and prison chaplaincies in the Diocese of Leeds, UK. He gained a Licentiate in 2000 from the John Paul II Institute in Valencia, Spain, and has been involved in the youth evangelisation organisation "Youth 2000", being Chaplain to their Mission Team and developing their Formation Courses. He is a member of the St John Vianney Society, based in Ars, France, which seeks the renewal of the Diocesan Priesthood through fraternity, and is presently the chaplain of Campion College, Sydney, Australia. His focus as a priest is the evangelisation of young people, supporting families in the life of grace and the renewal of the Priesthood.

The “Why” and the “How” of a Parish Mission
What is the role of a parish for Christians? What are the great needs and fruits of a parish mission, for the parish and for families? Is the success of a parish mission dependent on the charism of the preacher only? What are the ways a whole parish can make a parish mission an extraordinary moment of grace for all members of the parish? In this workshop the St John Community will try to respond to these questions in the context of their successful experiences in order to foster hope in priests and parishioners.

The Community of St John, begun in France in 1975, is one of the new communities that have sprung up in our times. While monastic, the community has not sought a retired life. They see themselves as a presence among people and are oriented towards engaging with people in an evangelising way. They are “open contemplatives” wishing to share their charism with the society around them.

Catholics Come Home: Using the media to invite
The Catholics Come Home organisation has become a phenomenon in the United States. Thousands of Catholics have returned to the Church (92,000 in one diocese!) as a result of their television advertisement campaign and interactive website. What is the secret to their success? How can we learn the language of invitation that makes this campaign such a wonderful example of the New Evangelisation? During this workshop these questions will be explored and Joy Enriquez will share from her own experience as a journalist and young professional, especially as Sydney seeks to bear fruit from World Youth Day 2008.

Joy Enriquez holds a B Media and is currently completing her MA, Publishing at the University of Sydney. She has ten years of youth ministry experience in Sydney parishes, high schools and youth movements and after her involvement in the preparations for World Youth Day 2008, was given the MC role at the Opening Celebrations, Papal Arrival and Final Mass. Joy is passionate about encouraging young adults to embrace their faith in both their personal and professional life. She is hoping to kick-start projects that bring together young journalists, designers, photographers and artists to utilise media in a way that encourages youth to encounter the liberating and profound love of Christ.