Building Communities of Belonging
“People are not looking to join institutions.
They are looking for meaning, belonging and purpose.”— Rev. Dr Brendan Reed
How can we expand the capacity of our parishes to assist people to find purpose and feel they truly belong? And why is this important?
These questions will be explored at the Diocesan Formation Gathering at Notre Dame College, Shepparton, on Saturday, 11 October 2025, 9.00 a.m.- 4.00 p.m.
The gathering aims to enrich our capacity to build belonging and foster community across parishes, schools and ministries, advancing Strategic Direction 2 of the Sandhurst Strategic Mission and Pastoral Goals.
“‘Building communities of belonging’ is the focus for two reasons," says Geoff Gowdie, Assistant Director of Mission and Pastoral Life:
- "The theme emerged strongly in consultations across the Diocese in recent years and in the Diocesan Assembly.
- A community of belonging provides the ‘platform’ and ‘fuel’ for the missionary outreach into which Jesus calls us with him.”
The gathering will feature keynote presentations, interparish conversations; practical workshops, prayer and a chance to reconnect with others across parishes and ministries.
It’s an important opportunity for parish, school and community members to reflect deeply on belonging and explore practical ways to build welcoming and the sense of belonging at the heart of our Gospel-centred communities.
All priests, parishes and school leaders are strongly encouraged to invite and accompany members of their community. Attending with others means you can bounce ideas off each other and better implement strategies inspired by the day.
As successive Popes have taught: The Church exists to evangelise. Jesus’ Great Commission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), is an enduring Christian mandate. Being missionary is about witnessing to Christ through love, joy, justice and service in daily life. Thriving parishes support this mission by being places where faith is nourished, community is built, and disciples are sent forth into the world.
How do we build thriving parishes where people feel they belong and live with purpose? Formation is an essential part of the ‘how’.
Formation deepens a people’s relationship with Christ and equips them to serve within their parish with confidence. Well-formed people help create vibrant parishes marked by participation, hospitality, prayer and service; fertile ground for missionary discipleship.
Formation is also something people in our Diocese have told us they want.
“It emerged very clearly in diocesan consultations and the Assembly 2023 that the People of God in our Diocese wanted more opportunities for formation – to grow in faith, deepen their understanding, and walk more confidently as disciples of Jesus,” says Dr Chris Cotter, Director of Mission and Pastoral Life.
In response, through the work of the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council (SMPC), ten Strategic Mission and Pastoral Goals, grouped under three Strategic Directions, and were promulgated by Bishop Shane at the end of 2024. One of these Directions is ‘Life-giving and empowering formation’.
To support this goal, a Diocesan Formation Support Plan was developed in consultation with the SMPC and the Council of Priests. It outlines ten practical formation projects for implementation in 2025-2026. The Formation Gathering on 11 October is Project 4.
“The Formation Support Plan is about equipping and supporting the People of God to embark on the discipleship paths that have been discerned,” adds Geoff. “The Diocese has now moved to a different phase of the renewal cycle – implementation. Regular formation gatherings will play a vital role in strengthening and supporting us to be missionary disciples. For that reason, we plan to hold one every year, with the next scheduled for July 2026.”
“As Pope Francis reminded us, ‘missionary disciples are not born, they are formed’ (Evangelii Gaudium nn.160-173).”
The Formation Support Plan will be an important part of Bishop Shane Mackinlay’s legacy in the Diocese:
“I am confident that our efforts to engage in formation across the Diocese – both as individuals and in our parishes, schools and ministry groups – will inform, encourage, and inspire us to walk more closely with Jesus as his disciples and to respond purposefully to his great commission: ‘Go, make disciples’ (Matthew 28:19)."
Registration
A link to register will be available 1 September 2025
All registrations are to be completed by 29 September 2025.
The Gathering will commence at 9:00 a.m.for a 9:30 .a.m. start, and conclude at 4:00 pm.
Saturday 11 October 2025
Notre Dame College, Shepparton.
For inquiries, please contact Leslie at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Download the pdf 'Save the Date' Flyer (1.12 MB) .
