INTERNATIONALLY known United States liturgist and writer Fr Paul Turner will be a guest speaker in Brisbane archdiocese in August.
He will be keynote speaker at the Australian Catechumenate Network national conference in Townsville from August 7-10 and then will visit Brisbane from August 11-13.
Fr Turner is pastor of a Kansas City parish and author of numerous publications and hundreds of bulletin inserts for Ministry and Liturgy journal. His publications include “Celebrating Initiation: a Guide for Priests” and “At the Supper of the Lamb”.
He is a member of Societas Liturgica and the Catholic Academy of Liturgy, is a former president of the North American Academy of Liturgy, and serves as a facilitator for the International Commission on English in the Liturgy.
Liturgy Brisbane education officer and Catholic Leader columnist Elizabeth Harrington said Fr Turner’s presentations in Brisbane would be beneficial not just because of his academic background but also because of his practical experience.
“He’s got an academic background … but he’s a pastor. He’s been a pastor of busy parishes in the United States,” Mrs Harrington said.
“He’s at the coalface.”
Mrs Harrington said Fr Turner was known as a good teacher.
“He’s a person who can bring what’s in the books and then enflesh it in the parishes,” she said.
“He’s well respected across the world because he has that balance. He’s not just an academic.”
Fr Turner will speak on “Theology of Sacraments of Initiation; Journeying with young adults, teenagers and children who seek to become Catholic” at Sacred Heart Church, Clear Island Waters, on August 11 from 4-5.30pm.
He will also speak on “Issues in Initiation” at Clear Island Waters on August 11 (7-9pm); Aspinall Centre, Upper Mt Gravatt, on August 12 (7-9pm); and St Mary’s Parish Centre, Ipswich, on August 13 (10am-12.30pm).
In the “Issues in Initiation” presentation, Fr Turner will address topics such as “Who is welcome and how do we welcome them?”, “Initiation of children, teenagers, young adults, whole families, young people from non-Catholic families, Orthodox and Eastern Rite Christians” and “Organising the year-round Catechumenate”.
The presentation will also include a Q&A session.
To book or for more details phone Liturgy Brisbane on 3336 9444.
