PRIESTS and Catholic school principals in Brisbane archdiocese discussed the common mission of parish and school in evangelisation at four in-service days from August 2-5.
The in-service sessions also helped promote the sharing of pastoral and theological perspectives between parishes and schools.
The theme was “Partnership in Hope”.
The majority of pastors and principals covering 137 systemic schools in the archdiocese came together for sessions at Cornubia, Annerley, Wilston and Caloundra.
Sydney’s Aquinas Academy director, Marist Father Michael Whelan, facilitated the sessions.
Fr Whelan, who lectures in spirituality at Aquinas Academy, encouraged participants to challenge themselves as to what is the Good News?
He said Catholic leaders should ask themselves: “What do I bring to the world that is essentially Christian?”
He reminded participants of the philosophy that “we are all in this together”.
“The only way to avoid polarisation is to find ways of connecting and keeping conversation going,” Fr Whelan said.
In sessions that focused on the principles of good conversation, Fr Whelan said the connection and interaction found in the process of communication was the only formative way to live.
“We are constituted in and through our relationship with others,” he said.
“As Catholics we need to be agents of cohesion and community building.
“The Catholic vision is all embracing and as Catholic schools and Church we need to move into a public space where there is an acknowledgment of community relationships,” Fr Whelan said.
Brisbane Catholic Education executive director David Hutton said the sessions were extremely worthwhile and provided fresh perspectives on the partnership between parish and school.
“Both schools and parishes and their respective leaders play a crucial role in communicating the mission of the Church to our young people and their families,” he said.
“With numerous changes in both the education sector and local parishes, now is a significant opportunity to gather and discuss the challenges we are confronting on this shared journey,” Mr Hutton said.
