The Chancery was a hub of activity on Tuesday 20 August with the arrival of Parish Administration Staff to the Parish Administration Conference. Facilitated by the Chancery, this is the ninth of such conferences which are growing stronger every year thanks to the insightful feedback from attendees.
The conference aims to provide comprehensive support to parish staff by enhancing their knowledge and skills in administration, finance and compliance through educational sessions. It also provides opportunities for parish staff to build connections with their counterparts in other parishes and meet Chancery staff in person.
This year, eight new parish staff members attended the Conference for the first time; so ice-breaking activities were scheduled early on Day 1. A ‘Speed Dating’ session proved very successful, creating a fun way for participants to ‘pair up’ with someone they had not met before and ask (and answer) a set of questionsAt ‘Show and Tell’ participants were invited to talk about the significance of an item they had brought with them and how it helps to tell the story of their parish. These items had been previously offered up for display during the morning prayer session. It became clear that each parish has contributed to the legacy of the Dioceses, each with a distinct character, but all with a shared vision and purpose.
A highlight of the conference was a Q & A Session with Bishop Shane Mackinlay. This allowed parish staff to raise questions and discuss matters directly with Bishop Shane, further fostering a spirit of collaboration and unity within the Diocese.
Throughout the conference participants attended educational sessions where they had the opportunity to meet and ask questions of Chancery Staff. The series of sessions included: “Employment Hero” presented by Human Resources Coordinator, Garry Dewhurst; “Looking After Ourselves” presented by CatholicCare; “Digging the Archives”, presented by Diocesan Archivist, Donna Bailey; “From the Finance Office” presented by Finance Team Members, Debbie Lambert and Win Butler; Catholic Risk and Insurance Services, presented by Diocesan Business Manager, Cameron Fraser; “General Counsel Reporting” presented by Legal Counsel, Greg Westbrook.
Participants prayed together at the Opening Prayer in the Chancery on Tuesday and at a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Shane at St Kilian’s Church on Wednesday morning. This was followed by an impromptu visit to St Kilian’s Community Garden and Café.
Towards the end of Day 2, participants read out their ‘parish reports’, outlining the challenges and accomplishments of their parish over the last twelve months. These reports were insightful, relevant and together painted a fuller picture of the Diocese.
As the conference concluded, participants expressed their appreciation for the event, noting that it not only equipped them with essential skills, but also strengthened their connection to the wider diocesan family.
This year, as every year, many commented that they find the networking to be invaluable for ongoing support. “We cannot underestimate the value of networking, sharing ideas and building connections,” wrote one attendee.
“It makes such a difference to chat with each other and know we have similar questions and it’s great to meet face-to-face with the Chancery Staff who we are familiar with over the phone but might not have met in person,” said another attendee.
Diocesan Business Manager, Cameron Fraser said, “This conference is a tremendous opportunity for us to build our relationships with parish staff, and to show appreciation and encouragement for the very valuable role which they play across our Diocese.”
The Chancery’s Sally Holmes has already gathered feedback which will help to inform the tenth annual Parish Administration Conference to be held in 2025; promising to be better than ever!
