CHURCH data expert Dr Trudy Dantis wants Brisbane’s clergy not to be afraid of looking at the numbers.
Dr Dantis, who is director of the National Centre of Pastoral Research, spoke to more than 130 priests and deacons from Brisbane archdiocese at the Convention Centre this week (August 7 and 8).
Dr Dantis’ work builds upon census data to provide the Church with “Diocesan Social Profiles”, and analysis she says directly links to ministry.
“Our work means we look at the Catholic Community in Brisbane and really unpack all the demographics and topics from the census,” she said.
“I think it is really important to know the people in your community so you can decide what kind of services they need and what kind of programs they might like to set up.”
Dr Dantis said people should not be afraid of looking at this type of data, encouraging the priests and deacons to “have fun” with exploring what makes up their communities.
“Sometimes it seems like all Catholic research is bad news – aging populations, declining Mass attendances, things like that,” she said.
“But it is really understanding why things are the way they are and trying to make them better, working from the inside to be a part of the change, and I think that is a really great opportunity.”
Dr Dantis said the changing landscape of the Church in Australia meant understanding Diocesan Social Profiles were more important than ever.
“With young people and different types of ministries, especially in the digital environment now… there are opportunities for growth and change and I think that is a positive,” she said.
Dr Dantis hoped the clergy could use Brisbane’s Diocesan Social Profile to help strengthen their ministry and communities.
The Annual Clergy Convocation is a rare opportunity for nearly all the archdiocese’s priests and deacons to gather as one, and is a time for spiritual renewal.
Brisbane Archbishop Mark Coleridge addressed the convocation for what could be his last time as leader of the archdiocese, and made it clear that the event was much more than an opportunity to talk shop.
“This is not a business meeting, this is a spiritual meeting,” he said.
Helping lead the proceedings was director of Clergy Life and Ministry Fr David Pascoe, who said the days were a chance for clergy to regroup and put words into actions.
“It is a bit of a combination of getting to know each other and catching up, which is really important, but also sharing knowledge and a sort of creativity about who we can be as a church together,” Fr Pascoe said.
“Particularly with the synod coming up… it is a time to focus on where we come from as well as where we are going to.”
Fr Pascoe said it was above all a time for praying together and “encouragement to move with the Holy Spirit into the future, strengthening the bonds of who we are.”
