Fr Michael White addresses delegates at Proclaim 2014 Conference

Proclaim 2014, 21 August 2014

On day one of Proclaim 2014, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference National Conference on Evangelisation, Fr Michael White and Thomas Corcoran delivered a keynote address on how to ‘Make Church Matter’.

Over a number of years these two men have worked together to rebuild the parish at the Church of the Nativity in Timonium, North Baltimore, USA.

In 2013, they co-authored a book called ‘Rebuilt: Awakening the Faithful, Reaching the Lost, and Making Church Matter’.

Prior to the call of Pope Francis to share the ‘Joy of the Gospel’, the Church of the Nativity embarked on a process “to grow disciples, develop a healthier parish community, and more intentionally and effectively serve the New Evangelisation”.

Thomas Corcoran speaks to delegates at Proclaim 2014

Fr White and Tom Corcoran shared the Church of the Nativity’s story, offering three key strategies that drove the transformation of the parish; the music, message and ministers.

The keynote speakers also offered delegates advice on how to make changes in their own parishes.