SECOND ASSEMBLY OF THE PLENARY COUNCIL 3-9 JULY 2022
Sunday 3 July 2022
day 1
expectations
PANEL
John Warhurst (PC Member)
John Warhurst AO is Chair of Concerned Catholics Canberra Goulburn, a Plenary Council Member and Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the Australian National University
Francis Sullivan (PC Member)
Francis Sullivan AO is Chair of Catholic Social Services Australia and the Mater Group of hospitals. He was CEO of the Catholic Church’s Truth Justice and Healing Council.
Catherine McAleer (PC Member)
Catherine McAleer is a primary school teacher, now working with teachers in Religious Education and Catechesis. She has worked in three Dioceses across QLD and Northern NSW. Catherine has also worked for Caritas Australia. She is passionate about sharing education with those who haven’t had the same opportunities that she has been blessed with.
Eleanor Flynn
Dr Eleanor Flynn is a medical graduate with theology degrees. She co- founded Women’s Wisdom in the Church (WWITCH) and is the co-convenor of ACCCR.
Richard Curtain
Richard, and his wife Jan, organised the consultations for the Plenary Council for their parish, St Carthage, Parkville, Melbourne and has been involved in the subsequent consultations initiated by the Sense of the Faithful. Richard, by trade, is an academic researcher, specialising in public policy issues related to Pacific and Timor-Leste migration to Australia.
MODERATOR
Paul Bongiorno
Paul Bongiorno AM is a 34-year veteran of the Federal parliamentary press gallery in Canberra. A columnist and commentator on national affairs. Paul is a founding member of Concerned Catholics Canberra and Goulburn. A father and grandfather. He has a masters degree in theology from the Urban University in Rome.
Plenary Insights - Day 1 (John Warhurst Blog)
Plenary Tracker - Day 1 (Webinar)
monday 4 july 2022
Day 2
Reconciliation
child sex abuse
John Lochowiak (PC Member)
John Lochowiak is Manager of Aboriginal Services at Centacare in Adelaide, head of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry in South Australia and Chair of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council. John is a Wati man from South Australia and comes from a large Catholic family. He has been involved with the church from a very young age.
Frank Brennan
Fr Frank Brennan SJ AO is a Jesuit priest and Rector of Newman College at the University of Melbourne. He is a peritus at the Plenary Council. He chaired the National Human Rights Consultation for the Rudd Government and was a member of the Turnbull Government’s expert panel which conducted the Religious Freedom Review. The Morrison Government appointed him to the Voice Co-Design Senior Advisory Group to help guide the Co-Design process to develop options for an Indigenous voice to government.
Rachel McLean
Family has formed who and how Rachel is in the world. She studied Arts/Law where her desire to learn about justice was sated before embracing education as her vocation. Currently, Rachel works in Catholic Education Services Cairns as a Leader of Formation working in the areas of Faith Formation, Religious Education, Outreach, Truth-telling, Healing and Reconciliation.
Francis Sullivan (PC Member)
Francis Sullivan AO is Chair of Catholic Social Services Australia and the Mater Group of hospitals. He was CEO of the Catholic Church’s Truth Justice and Healing Council.
Rosie Joyce
Dr Rosie Joyce csb is a canon lawyer and lectures in canon law at the Yarra Theological Union, the University of Divinity. She is a Judge on the Marriage Tribunal for Victoria and Tasmania and works as an adviser on canonical issues. Rosie has served as the Provincial Leader of her Brigidine Congregation and is a past President of Catholic Religious Australia.
MODERATOR
Mark Metherell
Mark is a foundation member of Concerned Catholics Canberra Goulburn and a former Journalist and communications adviser in health policy.
Plenary Insights - Day 2 (John Warhurst Blog)
Plenary Tracker - Day 2 (Webinar)
Tuesday 5 july 2022
Day 3
Missionary Call
inclusion
Claire Victory (PC Member)
Claire Victory is National President of the St Vincent de Paul Society. She has a background in private legal practice and now works as an industrial officer for a union. She lives on Kaurna land (Adelaide).
Andrew Hamilton
Andrew Hamilton SJ is a Jesuit priest, who has taught theology and church history for thirty years. He has more recently been a writer with Jesuit Communications and Jesuit Social Services with some engagement with refugee issues and communities. He likes cycling and gardening.
Ian Cameron (PC Member)
Ian Cameron is a Plenary Council Member from the Archdiocese of Adelaide. He is a former member of the SA police and has been actively engaged in parish activities for the past 25 years. He is deeply committed to honesty and ethics, both personally and institutionally and believes no one has the right to silence another. He acknowledges that the Adelaide Diocesan Assembly consultation and reporting has been very authentic.
Tracy McEwan
Dr Tracy McEwan is a theologian and sociologist of religion who is involved in research, teaching, and activism. Her recent projects include the podcast “Australian Women Preach” and an International Survey of Catholic Women for the Synod, “For a Synodal Church”. Tracy is the current vice president of WATAC.
Benjamin Oh
Benjamin Oh is the founder and Co-Chair of Rainbow Catholics InterAgency Australia (the umbrella body for Catholic LGBTIQ Ministries in Australia), he was the founding secretary of the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics.
MODERATOR
Elisabeth Doherty
Beth Doherty is a journalist, teacher, musician and author and Diocesan Director for Caritas Australia in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn. She is the author of "All the beautiful things: Finding truth, beauty and goodness in a fractured church" published in 2020.
Plenary Insights - Day 3 (John Warhurst Blog)
Plenary Tracker - Day 3 (Webinar)
wednesday 6 july 2022
Day 4
Liturgical, Spiritual and Sacramental Life
formation
Mark Copland (PC Member)
Dr Mark Copland has lived and worked the majority of his life in remote and regional Australia. He currently is Mission Executive for St Vincent’s Hospital, Toowoomba. He was the inaugural Executive Officer for the Social Justice Commission for the Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba and worked in this role for 16 years.
Clare Condon
Sr Clare Condon sgs was the leader of the Good Samaritan of the Order of St Benedict between 2005-2017. During her leadership she supported the Sisters’ important humanitarian work in Australia, the Pacific and South-East Asia. She was also president of Catholic Religious Australia between 2008 and 2010. In 2013 she was awarded the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Human Rights Medal. She is Plenary Council Peritus (advisesr).
Mary Coloe
Professor Mary Coloe pbvm is a Presentation sister, holds a doctorate in theology and is a Professor within the University of Divinity. For 7 years she worked on a Dialogue for the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity.
Plenary Insights - Day 4 (John Warhurst Blog)
Plenary Tracker - Day 4 (Webinar)
thursday 7 july 2022
Day 5
Governance
ecology
Virginia Bourke
Virginia Bourke is a lawyer and consultant. She is Chair of Mercy Health and a Director of Caritas Australia, the Mater Group and Catholic Health Australia.
Jacqui Remon
Dr Jacqui Remond is Co-Founder of the Laudato Si’ Movement (formerly known as the Global Catholic Climate Movement): Co-Coordinator of the Vatican Ecology Taskforce and Leader, Integral Ecology at the Australian Catholic University.
Patricia Hindmarsh
Dr Trish Hindmarsh, BA Melb., B.Ed. Monash, M. Theol Sydney, Ed D. ACU. Trish is a retired teacher and leader in Catholic Education across Australia. She has a lifelong interest in justice, peace and ecology and has just published ‘Ecological Spirituality: Caring for our Common Home’ for Garratt Publications’ Faith Today series. Trish is an active member of Burnie Catholic parish, a life member of Women and the Australian Church (WATAC) and co-founder of ‘Concerned Catholics Tasmania’.
Plenary Insights - Day 5 (John Warhurst Blog)
Plenary Tracker - Day 5 (Webinar)
friday 8 july 2022
Day 6
Wrap up
John Warhurst
John Warhurst AO is Chair of Concerned Catholics Canberra Goulburn, a Plenary Council Member and Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the Australian National University
Sr Patty Fawkner sgs
Sr Patty Fawkner is the Congregational Leader of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan and member of the Plenary Council Steering Committee. She is an adult educator, writer and facilitator with formal tertiary qualifications in arts, education, theology and spirituality. Patty is interested in exploring what wisdom the Christian tradition has for contemporary issues. She has an abiding interest in questions of justice and spirituality.
Sr Melissa Dwyer
Sr Mel Dwyer is a Plenary Council Member and Delegation Leader of the Canossian Daughters of Charity in Australia. Her work as Principal of a Secondary School in rural Africa for 7 years during which time she promoted access to education earned her an honorary doctorate from the ACU in 2022. In addition to Religious leadership she works for the Brisbane Archdiocesan Vocations Office and is Spiritual Advisor to both the St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland and Ozcare Queensland.
Tracy McEwan
Dr Tracy McEwan is a theologian and sociologist of religion who is involved in research, teaching, and activism. Her recent projects include the podcast “Australian Women Preach” and an International Survey of Catholic Women for the Synod, “For a Synodal Church”. Tracy is the current vice president of WATAC.
FIRST ASSEMBLY OF THE PLENARY COUNCIL 3-10 OCTOBER 2021
Sunday 3 October 2021
DAY 1
EXPECTATIONS
PANEL
John Warhurst (PC Member)
John Warhurst is Chair of Concerned Catholics Canberra Goulburn, a Plenary Council Member and Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the Australian National University.
Eleanor Flynn
Dr Eleanor Flynn is a medical graduate with theology degrees. She co-founded Women’s Wisdom in the Church (WWITCH) and is the co-convenor of ACCCR.
Terry Fewtrell
Terry Fewtrell is a long-term Canberra resident and Catholic - ‘active and assertive’ as encouraged by Pope Francis and wants a church that has some relevance in the lives of his grandchildren. He is a writer and published author.
MODERATOR
Tracy McEwan
Tracy McEwan is undertaking a PhD in theology and sociology. Her research investigates generations, women’s experience and participation in Catholicism. She is vice president of WATAC.
Monday 4 October 2021
DAY 2
SPIRITUALITY AND THE EARTH
PANEL
Toni Janke (PC Member)
Toni Janke is a Wuthathi and Meriam woman. She grew up in Cairns and Canberra. Toni works for Centacare Family & Relationship Services in Brisbane.
Shirley Quaresimin (PC Member)
Shirley Quaresimin is the NATSICC Deputy Chairperson. Shirley is a Nyikina person, was inspired by her Grandmother Emily who taught her how to understand her Aboriginal spirituality and Catholic faith.
Patricia Hindmarsh
Dr Trish Hindmarsh is a Catholic educator from Tasmania. God's evolving creation and a commitment to justice for all inspire her involvement in Church and society.
MODERATOR
Jacqui Remond
Jacqui Rémond is Co-Founder of the Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) and the former Director of Catholic Earthcare Australia.
Tuesday 5 October 2021
DAY 3
THE ROYAL COMMISSION
PANEL
Francis Sullivan (PC Member)
Francis Sullivan is Chair of Catholic Social Services Australia and the Mater Group of hospitals. He was CEO of the Catholic Church’s Truth Justice and Healing Council.
Anne Walker
Anne Walker is the National Executive Director of Catholic Religious Australia and with a background in law was former Chancellor of the Diocese of Broken Bay.
Kathleen McPhillips
Kathleen McPhillips is a sociologist of religion at the University of Newcastle with research expertise in the sociology of religious institutions, child sexual abuse and the Royal Commission.
MODERATOR
Danielle Lynch
Danielle is a teacher and musician, Head of Religion in a Catholic secondary school, and sessional lecturer in theology at ACU.
Wednesday 6 October 2021
DAY 4
GOVERNANCE
PANEL
Helen Belcher (PC Member)
Helen Belcher is Co-chair of the Council for Mission and a member of the Synod Working Party in the Diocese Maitland-Newcastle. She is a retired academic and former councillor on the Council for Australian Catholic women.
Mary Coloe
Mary Coloe is a Presentation sister, holds a doctorate in theology and is a Professor within the University of Divinity. For 7 years she worked on a Dialogue for the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity.
Peter Johnstone
Co-Convener of ACCCR. He gave public evidence on Church governance to the Royal Commission on Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
MODERATOR
Andrea Dean
Andrea Dean is president of WATAC, Women and the Australian Church, and formerly worked in national offices for Lay Pastoral Ministry and the Participation of Women.
Thursday 7 October 2021
DAY 5
THE CHURCH AND THE PUBLIC SPHERE
PANEL
Nimmi Candappa (PC Member)
Nimmi Candappa is a Melbourne writer, Plenary Council member and Academic who has a deep interest in bringing faith into our everyday lives.
Fatima Measham
Fatima Measham is a Filipino Catholic writer based in Wadawurrung Country. She was formerly a consulting editor, columnist and podcast producer for Eureka Street
Fr Frank Brennan
Frank Brennan is a Jesuit priest and Rector of Newman College at the University of Melbourne. He is a peritus at the plenary council and has published widely on Indigenous rights and the rights of asylum seekers and refugees. He is doubly vaccinated.
MODERATOR
Danielle Lynch
Danielle is a teacher and musician, Head of Religion in a Catholic secondary school, and sessional lecturer in theology at ACU.
Friday 8 October 2021
DAY 6
INCLUSION - WOMEN
PANEL
Virginia Bourke (PC Member)
Virginia is a lawyer and consultant. She is Chair of Mercy Health and a Director of Caritas Australia, the Mater Group and Catholic Health Australia.
Andrea Dean
Andrea Dean is president of WATAC, Women and the Australian Church, and formerly worked in national offices for Lay Pastoral Ministry and the Participation of Women.
Pip McIlroy
Pip was a participant in the Young Catholic Women’s Interfaith Fellowship (now 'Leadership for Mission') in 2014 and has completed a Master of Theology. She works for St Vincent's Health Australia.
MODERATOR
Tracy McEwan
Tracy McEwan is undertaking a PhD in theology and sociology. Her research investigates generations, women’s experience and participation in Catholicism. She is vice president of WATAC.
Saturday 9 October 2021
DAY 7
INCLUSION - LGBTQI+
PANEL
Claire Victory (PC Member)
Claire is National President of the St Vincent de Paul Society. She works as a solicitor and lives on Kaurna land (Adelaide).
Benjamin Oh
Benjamin Oh is the founder and Co-Chair of Rainbow Catholics InterAgency Australia (the umbrella body for Catholic LGBTIQ Ministries in Australia), he was the founding secretary of the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics.
Judith Norris
Dr Judith Norris is a lecturer/researcher at Australian Catholic University. She identifies as LGTBQI+ with a support role for students and staff within this community, across the university sector in ACT.
MODERATOR
Tracy McEwan
Tracy McEwan is undertaking a PhD in theology and sociology. Her research investigates generations, women’s experience and participation in Catholicism. She is vice president of WATAC.
Sunday 10 October 2021
DAY 8
WRAP-UP
PANEL
John Warhurst (PC Member)
John Warhurst is Chair of Concerned Catholics Canberra Goulburn, a Plenary Council Member and Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the Australian National University
Paul Collins
Paul Collins, church historian, writer and broadcaster, has been involved in church renewal for 45 years.
Geraldine Doogue
Geraldine Doogue is an ABC journalist and broadcaster who's also produced her own podcast Plenary Matters throughout the Council. She was awarded an AO for service on issues involving ethics, values, religion and social change.
MODERATOR
Tracy McEwan
Tracy McEwan is undertaking a PhD in theology and sociology. Her research investigates generations, women’s experience and participation in Catholicism. She is vice president of WATAC.