From 16 to 18 November, the inaugural Archdiocesan gathering Proclaim 2023 will offer participants three days of prayer, praise, formation and inspiring keynote speakers. An initiative of Proclaim: The Office for Mission Renewal, the conference seeks to engage and equip Catholics to bring the joy of the Gospel to their own local communities.
In his encyclical Evangelii gaudium, Pope Francis asked, ‘For if we have received the love which restores meaning to our lives, how can we fail to share that love with others?’ (§8). Inspired by the Pope’s vision of missionary discipleship and the Take the Way of the Gospel vision outlined by Archbishop Peter A Comensoli, the Proclaim 2023 gathering will be a unique opportunity to enjoy fellowship with other leaders from across the Archdiocese and to inspire each other to renew the Church’s mission in our own day.
Keynote speakers for the three-day event include Archbishop Comensoli; Karen Doyle, founder of the Genius Project and co-founder, with her husband, of Choicez Media; Ron Huntley, author of Unlocking Your Parish; Steve Lawrence; and Kym Keady, Director of Ignite Youth.
The gathering will begin on Thursday 16 November, with a time of adoration and worship led by Fr Rob Galea, before Archbishop Comensoli gives the opening address, reflecting on what it means to encounter Christ and live the way of the Gospel in Melbourne today.
Sessions on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 November will include keynote addresses and a number of workshops designed to engage Catholics and equip them with the vision and practical tools to be missionary disciples in their communities.
Topics that will be explored across the three days include:
- Ron Huntley—Flourishing Catholic Identity: making the mission fruitful, looking at why a faith-filled dream for your community is so important, and what strategies can transform our thinking and drive effective outcomes
- Kym Keady—Maximising Your Life and Leadership, exploring the ‘Warrior, King and Sage’ stages of leadership and how everyone has a role to play in serving the mission
- Steve Lawrence—Fanning the Flame of Faith, drawing on his many years of experience as a leader in evangelisation to help teachers better communicate their mission and purpose at school
- Leaders from St Francis of Assisi, Mill Park, and Royden D’Souza—Cells of Evangelisation: a working model of grassroots experience, welcoming you to discover and explore with leaders from Mill Park how parish cells of evangelisation have renewed and transformed their parish over the last 25 years
- Peter Gabauer—Engaging Men Where They Are at, looking at how to engage men, bring them together, renew their faith and inspire them to become an active force of renewal in the Church.
All of this and more!
The conference will take place at the Catholic Leadership Centre in East Melbourne, with Holy Hour on Thursday night at St John the Evangelist Catholic Church, right next door. Tickets are still available.
Please visit the Proclaim website for a look at what keynote speakers and workshops are available. You can register for the conference here.
