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ACU colloquium debates Catholic mission and identity in Australia
Melbourne, 12 April 2007: Australian Catholic University (ACU) is playing host to a cross- section of Catholic organisations and their representatives this week to discuss and debate contemporary issues facing Catholic agencies in Australia.
“Church-based organisations throughout the education, health care, welfare, youth work and other sectors face scrutiny about their Catholic identity and fulfilment of their mission, particularly in our increasingly secular society,” Professor McMullen said. “It is important that this Catholic identity is maintained, strengthened and celebrated, to ensure agencies remain viable and stay true to their mission of serving the Church and the wider community, particularly the option for the poor.”
Currently underway at ACU’s Melbourne Campus (St Patrick’s), the colloquium’s theme is ‘Mission and Identity in Church-based Organisations”. The event is co-sponsored by the University and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC); Catholic Health Australia ; the Catholic Institute of Sydney; Catholic Religious Australia (CRA); Catholic Social Services Australia (CSSA); and the National Catholic Education Commission. More than 30 agencies and 100 individuals are participating in the event.
Topics to be covered range from how to engage more diversity in the mission of Catholic agencies, to how to plan for future generational change in the sectors. Speakers include the Bishop of Townsville Most Reverend Michael Putney DD, Mr Frank Quinlan, CSSA Executive Director, Very Reverend Mark Raper SJ, CRA President and ACU Institute of Theology, Philosophy and Religious Education Director, Professor Neil Ormerod. ABC radio broadcaster Margaret Coffey will chair the panel bringing together cross-sectoral perspectives. The ACBC President Archbishop Phillip Wilson DD is also participating as principal celebrant at the colloquium liturgy.
Also taking place at ACU’s Melbourne Campus this week is the ICUSTA (International Council of Universities of St Thomas) conference, a meeting of more than 30 Catholic universities from around the world. It is the first time the conference has been held in Australia.
Australian Catholic University (ACU) – established as Australia’s only Catholic, national, publicly funded university – is open to all. The University empowers its students and staff with a strong sense of social responsibility and concern for the moral and ethical dimensions of their study and their professional and personal lives.
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