Catholic Religious Australia will hold its National Assembly online this month, exploring the theme, ‘Embracing Mission – Interculturality and Prophetic Leadership’.
Keynote speakers will include Sr Teresa Maya CCVI, from the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, USA, and Fr Kevin O’Neill SSC, an Australian Columban priest.
CRA National Executive Director, Anne Walker, said the theme of the National Assembly recognises the rich mosaic that different intercultural experiences and viewpoints create within congregations and what that means for leadership in them.
“The focus of the theme is on religious life within a Church and society comprised of diverse people, not only of different cultures, but also different ages, beliefs, countries of origin, theologies, genders, ordained and lay,” she said.
“The theme calls us to be open to God who created diversity and who calls us into this diversity in communion.
“Interculturality must be mission-purposed. The speakers will explore the question: ‘How can we broaden our vision so that interculturality is a positive force in our congregational lives and in the service of the mission?’”
Both speakers have been engaged in intercultural dimensions of religious life for many years. Teresa has been a member of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio since 1994. Her ministry has been in education. She has a passion for the formation of ministers for Hispanics/Latinos in the United States. Teresa served as president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious from 2016-2019 and is currently serving as Congregational Leader for her Congregation.
Kevin grew up in Geelong, Victoria, and joined the Missionary Society of St Columban in 1984 and was ordained in 1992. He has spent almost 30 years overseas, including 10 years in Taiwan followed by six years in Ireland as a Councillor on the Columban General Council. From there he went to China for five years followed by six years in Hong Kong as Superior General. Kevin returned to Australia this year and is currently a member of the Peace, Ecology and Justice team at the Columban Mission Centre in Melbourne.
Other than the fact the Assembly will be held online this year, there are a few other new features. The two days of the program when the keynote speakers present the theme, Embracing Mission – Interculturality and Prophetic Leadership, will be opened up to all Religious in member congregations. As interculturality is an important area of leadership at every level and formation, this open format allows all to share in the knowledge and spirit of the theme, bringing ‘interculturality’ to life and enabling the on-going conversation in every congregation.
An inaugural CRA New Leaders’ session dedicated to leaders and leadership team members will be held. This session will have eight current leaders sharing their experience and insight into leadership through a rich program of presentations and a panel discussion.
Another new feature is the Plenary Council Reflection, which will be held to consider and explore the leadership role that may be being called forth from CRA members after the first assembly of the Plenary Council.
Elections will be held online this year and the new National Council for 2022 will be announced during the Business session of the Assembly on Thursday morning, November 25.
All Religious will also be invited to attend the Thursday afternoon session, during which a number of organisations will have the opportunity to address Religious about various topics including Sr Adele Howard RSM on Laudato Si’, the Association of Ministerial PJPs, ACRATH, Australian Catholic Safeguarding Limited, the Victorian Archives group, and Emerging Futures Collaborative Limited.
For more information or to download the program, click here.