Fr Chris Ryan MGL will preach at the Youth Rally during PROCLAIM 2012

Parishes, youth leaders, Church employees, priests, religious, volunteers, and musicians are all among those who have signed on for what promises to be one of the signature events of the Year of Grace, the PROCLAIM 2012 Conference on the New Evangelisation.

PROCLAIM 2012, to be held from August 9-11 at the Concourse in Chatswood, Sydney is the first ever national conference on the New Evangelisation and is open to everyone who is interested in learning more about their faith and how to share it with others. It is being organised by the Office for Evangelisation and Catholic Mission on behalf of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC).

Director of the National Office for Evangelisation, Marita Winters, said the response from right across the Church has been outstanding.

“We have been delighted with the range and variety of people, groups and organisations who have signed on for PROCLAIM 2012,” she said. “The strong response is a sign that people are looking for an injection of fresh energy, enthusiasm and skills for engaging in evangelisation and we’re working hard to ensure that PROCLAIM 2012 will provide all of that and more.”

She said registrations are filling fast, but can still be obtained, simply by visiting www.proclaimconference.com.au.

The ACBC delegate for PROCLAIM 2012, Bishop Michael Putney, said the event will be a vital shot in the arm for individual Catholics, parishes, Church organisations, both in the development of personal faith and the sharing of that faith with the wider community.

“If the Church does not evangelise it will cease to be truly the Church,” Bishop Putney said. “In Australia we need to learn how to do this in a new way and with a new passion.   The PROCLAIM Conference has been organised to help make this possible.”

PROCLAIM 2012 will feature a range of top international and local speakers, including keynote speaker, Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, President of the Vatican’s newly formed Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation.

Martha Fernandez Sardina

Also delivering a keynote address will be international guest Martha Fernandez-Sardina, from the Archdiocese of San Antonio in the United States, who will speak on the importance of personal conversion in evangelisation. An extensive array of seminar sessions will be hosted by some of the most thoughtful and energetic laypeople, priests and bishops in the Church in Australia.

PROCLAIM 2012 will be more than just a conference though, with hundreds of young people expected to celebrate their faith at the Proclaim Youth Rally. The Rally will feature great music by the Harvest Band, multimedia, drama, and an inspirational address by Fr Chris Ryan mgl. The event is free, but registration is essential. The program also features a concert, open to all, featuring featuring Chris Pidcock, Cellist with the Sydney Symphony, and Evgeny Ukhanov, international concert pianist. They will be performing works by Sergei Rachmaninov and Cesar Franck. Special guest will opera singer, and ordained priest, Fr Paul Catchlove.

For more information on PROCLAIM 2012 and to register please, visit www.proclaimconference.com.au.

For more information about Proclaim 2012, or to arrange an interview about the event, please contact Media Relations Volunteer David McGovern on 0431 481 731.