Registrations are now open for Evangelise, a national online conference for Catholics set to be held from 20 to 22 October.
Hosted by the Bishops Commission for Evangelisation, Laity and Ministry, Evangelise will promote understanding and explore practices of evangelisation in Australia through encounters with Christ, formation in discipleship, and mission in the world.
The conference will be hosted in different locations around Australia, opening on the evening of 20 October with a live plenary session from the Diocese of Sandhurst, where Bishop Shane Mackinlay will discuss the future for the Church after the Plenary Council.
The following morning, Commission chair Archbishop Christopher Prowse will host the second plenary session, where he will explore evangelisation in a synodal way for contemporary Australia, followed by testimonies and dialogue between local leaders.
After each live plenary session, participants will select from a variety of live keynote addresses, featuring more in-depth formation and dialogue.
Several keynote speakers and topics have been confirmed, including the following:
• Clare Schwantes (Liturgical Formation of the People of God)
• Derek Boylen (Marriage and Family)
• Qwayne Guevara (Young Ministry Post-COVID)
• Sr Elizabeth Young RSM (Rural and Remote Community Ministry)
• Daniel Ang (Missionary Leadership)
• Mario Borg (Ecclesial Communities)
• Monica Doumit (Public Life and Witness)
• Fr George Kolodziej SDS (Spiritual Care of those in Ministry)
• Lorraine McCarthy (Discipleship for Mission)
• Sr Grace Roclawska CSFN (Disciples: A lifelong relationship with Christ)
• Dr Christine Wood (RCIA)
Archbishop Prowse said the conference would be a major follow-up to the recent Plenary Council, where evangelisation was identified as a vital step forward for the Church in Australia.
“It’s important for us to renew our understanding that bishops, priests, and all baptised laity, especially lay leaders, are to see their role as chief evangelisers in the world,” he said.
“All the baptised are called to evangelise. This is done in a particular manner. The more recent teachings of the Popes have insisted that regarding evangelisation we are to propose and never impose our proclamation on people.
“This includes evangelising individuals to a personal relationship with Jesus, but it is also evangelisation of social structures, so they reflect the Gospel and the dignity of the human person.”
Individual registration costs $25 or a community can purchase five registrations for $100. The conference content will be available on demand for registered participants after the event, so groups can gather at alternative times to reflect upon the presentations.
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