Media release, 22 July 2014
PROCLAIM 2014, a conference on the new evangelisation, will awaken delegates to the challenges facing the Church in Australian to revitalise parish life.
The three-day conference from 21-23 August 2014 takes place at The Concourse, Chatswood, Sydney.
The conference theme, “Living the Joy of the Gospel in Parishes,” applies Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter Evangelii Gaudium to the parish scene. Keynote addresses include: “Make Church Matter”; “What’s Working in Other Churches” and “Moving Members from Consumers to Contributors.”
Practical suggestions adopted from the book ‘Rebuilt: Awakening the Faithful, Reaching the Lost, Making Church Matter’ will help delegates involved in parishes across Australia to live their missionary call and in doing so transform the parish.
Conference delegates will be inspired and motivated by keynote speakers, US-based authors of the book Rebuilt, Fr Michael White and Mr Tom Corcoranwho worked together to bring their parish back to life at Timonium, North Baltimore, United States.
Archbishop of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan described Rebuilt as one of the most important books for parish ministry in our generation.
Dr Ruth Powell, Director of National Church Life Survey (NCLS) Research and an Associate Professor at the Australian Catholic University, will also deliver a keynote address.
Australian Catholic Bishops Commission for Evangelisation Chairman Bishop Peter Ingham described the upcoming conference as “an incredible opportunity for bishops, priests and parishioners to understand the successes and challenges in parish life from the authors of Rebuilt”.
Bishop Ingham said: “Proclaim 2014 is about helping Catholics respond to the call to the new evangelisation, helping to build our parishes as faith communities full of disciples and missionary in outlook.”
Director of the National Office for Evangelisation Mrs Marita Winters said: “There are a number of parishes sending small groups to the conference to find out how their parish can be more effective in making disciples, drawing inspiration from Rebuilt. I encourage many more parishes to see this as a great opportunity to do the same.”
The three-day conference is organised on behalf of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Commission for Evangelisation by its National Office for Evangelisation.
The first conference, Proclaim 2012, attracted over 400 participants daily. Registration for Proclaim 2014 already exceeds the 2012 figure.
Further information available at: www.proclaimconference.com.au
Media enquiries, please contact Aoife Connors: 0450 348 597 or media@catholic.org.au