Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year In Review 2020
Contact Details Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst chancery@sandhurst.catholic.org.au www.sandhurst.catholic.org.au PO Box 201 (172-174 McCrae Street) BENDIGO CENTRAL VIC 3552 Ph: 03 5445 3601 Catholic Education Sandhurst director@ceosand.catholic.edu.au www.ceosand.catholic.edu.au Bendigo Office PO Box 477 (120 Hargreaves Street) BENDIGO CENTRAL VIC 3552 Ph: 03 5443 2377 Wangaratta Office PO Box 1181 (71 Ryley Street) WANGARATTA VIC 3677 Ph: 03 5723 0000 Tatura Office 74 Hogan St TATURA VIC 3616 Ph: 03 5831 3811 CatholicCare Sandhurst email@ccds.org.au www.ccds.org.au Bendigo Office PO Box 255 (176 McCrae Street) BENDIGO CENTRAL VIC 3552 Ph: 03 5438 1300 Shepparton Office Family Relationship Centre 68 Wyndham Street SHEPPARTON VIC 3630 Ph: 03 5820 0444 Diocesan Development Fund PO Box 201 (172-174 McCrae Street) BENDIGO CENTRAL VIC 3552 Ph: 03 5445 3606 Email: ddf@sandhurst.catholic.org.au The Diocese of Sandhurst acknowledges all Nations within our land and Diocese of Sandhurst. We acknowledge the people of the North Eastern regions of our Diocese, Djilmathang, Minjajambuta, Duduroa, Waywurru. We acknowledge the people of the Southern regions of our Diocese, Dja Dja Wurrung, Jaara and the Taungerung We acknowledge the people of the Northern regions of our Diocese, the Yorta Yorta Nation. We acknowledge the people of the Western regions of our Diocese, the Baraparapa peoples. We respectfully honour and acknowledge their ongoing custodianship and their connections to the land, waters and animals. We pay our respects to their culture, their Elders past and present and honour their contributions and commit to actively working alongside First Nations people for healing, reconciliation and justice. Echuca Office 13 Percy St ECHUCA VIC 3630 Ph: 03 5820 0444 Acknowledgement of Country
Year in Review 2020 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 3 Contents 4 Our Organisation 7 Bishop’s Message 8 Business Manager’s Report 10 Director of Catholic Education’s Report 12 Director of CatholicCare Sandhurst’s Report 14 ‘Go Forth’ Review of the Diocese 16 Child Protection and Child Safe Standards 18 Plenary 2020 Continuing the Journey 20 Clergy Life and Ministry 26 From the Seminary 28 Vocations 30 Adult Faith Education 32 Sandhurst Youth Ministry 34 Fires of Black Summer 36 Global Pandemic 38 Virtual Solidarity, Ingenuity and Resilience 40 Business As Usual 42 Mr John Hogan retires after 40 years 44 Social Justice 48 In Memory - Bishop Joseph Grech 50 In Memory - Sr Cathy Dean, Sr Anne Clooney 51 In Memory - Fr John Naughton 52 Financials
4 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2020 93,000+ Catholics in the region 40 Parishes 48 Clergy 10 Religious Congregations 45 Religious 3013 Employees 220 Diocesan Development Fund Account Holders 1 Hospital 4 Homes for Aged 56 Schools 19, 401 Students Ministries Of The Diocesan Church • Bishop’s Office • Diocesan Archives • Vocations Ministry • Social Justice Committee • Marriage Preparation • Roman Catholic Trusts Corporation for the Diocese of Sandhurst • Sacred Music • Clergy Health and Wellbeing • Sandhurst Catholic Education Council • Youth Ministry • Priests’ Retirement Foundation • Finance Office • Marriage Tribunal • Media and Communications Office • Adult Faith Education • Catholic Education Office • CatholicCare Social Services • Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) • Caritas Australia • Catholic Mission • Clergy Life and Ministry • Council of Priests • College of Consultors • Diocesan Development Fund • Diocesan Finance Council • Safeguarding Committee • Plenary Council Committee • Sandpiper and e-News Parish Ministries • Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults • Pastoral Associates Network • Baptism Preparation • Sacramental Programs • Marriage Preparation Outreach • Bereavement Ministry • Catholic Women’s League • Knights of the Southern Cross • Youth Ministry Groups • Legion of Mary • Special Religious Education (SRE) • Children’s Liturgy of the Word • Child Safety Officers • Faith Formation • Anointing Mass • Communion to the Sick and Aged • Home Visitation Groups • St Vincent de Paul Conferences • Hospitality, Catering and Welcoming Groups • MenALIVE • Home Masses • Fundraising Groups • Music Team/Choir • School Masses • Social Groups • Pastoral Care Teams • Rosary Groups • Prayer Groups • Prison Chaplaincy • Teams of Our Lady • Serra Club • Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction • Lenten and Advent Groups • E-conferences • Spirituality in the Pub • Divine Will • Catholic Charismatic Renewal Our Organisation
Year in Review 2020 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 5 The Diocese Victoria Australia The territory of the Diocese of Sandhurst was excised from the Diocese of Melbourne and erected as a diocese in 1874. When the ecclesiastical Province of Melbourne was established in 1887 it became a suffragan diocese of the Metropolitan See of Melbourne. Its geographical area is 45,196 square kilometres. The diocese has 40 parishes organised into 3 deaneries. Our Diocese’s vision is ‘that every person’s heart be inflamed by the love of God’. We welcome all who would like to join our communities or be guided by the principles and teachings of Christ.
6 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2020
Year in Review 2020 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 7 Bishop’s Message Most Rev. Shane Mackinlay DD PhD Bishop of Sandhurst In March 2020, I joined the other Victorian bishops in making an announcement none of us had ever anticipated: that our churches would be closed and public liturgies would be suspended. That continued to be the situation throughout most of the year, as we went in and out of lockdown, with gradually easing restrictions through spring and early summer. Eventually, by Christmas, we were able to gather in large numbers again, though with many more outdoor Christmas Masses than usual. For all of us, our experience of the coronavirus pandemic was the defining context of life in 2020. We have learnt that all our arrangements are provisional, with new restrictions possible at any time. Completing the vaccination rollout will take many months and a return to overseas travel is looking increasingly remote. The economic impact on businesses and families has been dramatic, both here in Australia and even more so in other parts of the world, including places where many priests and people in the Diocese have close connections to family and friends. This has presented an extraordinary challenge for us, especially with so many months where we were unable to gather or connect with others as we would want to. We have had to become flexible and creative in developing new ways of praying – and also of working, schooling, socialising, exercising and shopping. Early on in lockdown we were reminded that, while our church doors were shut, the Church itself never closes. This reflects a profound theological truth: the Church is not limited to any particular gathering or building. The Church is founded by Jesus and unites people from all times and places, who are led by him as the head of the body, animated by the Holy Spirit and gathered around the Father. In another sense which is much more concrete and much closer to home, the Church of this Diocese remained open. Although we were forced to close Church doors, the life of our Diocesan Church and our parish communities continued. Throughout 2020, I have been encouraged and inspired by the efforts and adaptability of communities throughout the Diocese, who have shown great commitment and resilience in expressing and nourishing our Christian identity and mission as God’s Church. This commitment has happened liturgically, through online and outdoor Masses, prayers, meditations, faith sharing and video reflections. It has also happened practically, through phone calls; systems for notice sheet drop-off and email; care for the isolated and those in need; help with shopping and online parish meetings. Despite the challenges of 2020, we have continued to pursue the mission entrusted to us. This is clear in the welcome extended in our parishes to those enquiring about joining the Catholic Church. It is evident too in the contributions made by many to the review of the strategic, consultative and administrative structures of the Diocese, which led to the Go Forth report, including recommendations for establishing a Diocesan Pastoral Council and appointing a Director of Mission and Pastoral Life. Other significant developments in mechanisms for broader sharing in governance and decision-making responsibilities have happened in 2020 through the establishment of three new companies: Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd to take responsibility for the schools of the Diocese, Sandhurst Catholic Early Childhood Education and Care to operate and develop kindergartens, and CatholicCare Victoria to bring together the social service agencies of the four dioceses of Victoria. The contribution of those who worked towards the establishment of these companies, and the calibre of their new boards, can give us great confidence that our mission in schools, early learning settings and social services is in good hands. There are many ways in which we might be tempted to ‘shake the dust from our sandals’ as we move on from 2020. However, we can also look back with thanks for the work of the Holy Spirit amongst us over the last year, and for so many signs of the adaptability, resilience and faith of the people in our communities. “We can look back with thanks for the work of the Holy Spirit amongst us over the last year, and for so many signs of the adaptability, resilience and faith of the people in our communities.”
8 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2020 Business Manager’s Report 2020 saw the completion of significant projects: • The review of the strategic, consultative and administrative structures of the Diocese, which took into account the observations and suggestions of targeted and invested clergy, pastoral associates, board members and leaders of the Diocese, and built on the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and the recommendations of the Light from the Southern Cross report. • The creation of two new incorporated entities, Catholic Education Sandhurst Ltd to oversee the governance of Catholic schools in the Diocese, and Sandhurst Early Childhood Education and Care Ltd, to oversee the provision of pre-school education and care to meet an identified growing demand. • The merger of CatholicCare Sandhurst into a new state-wide entity, CatholicCare Victoria. Throughout 2020 people in our parishes continued to participate in Plenary Council forums and sessions, supported by the Sandhurst Plenary Committee, diocesan Adult Faith Education and Sandhurst Youth Ministry. 2020 was a year dominated by change and new work activity. During government COVID-19 restrictions, we overcame new challenges; finding ways to work from home; keeping in touch and continuing to pray and worship. Our priests, parish secretaries and chancery team worked tirelessly to keep us connected, establish COVID-safe plans, and ensure the financial viability of parishes throughout lockdown. Parish secretaries met online to share their newfound hightech methods for parishioners to make a booking for Mass; to implement the state required use of QR codes and low-tech solutions, such as checking in with parishioners by phone; while the Chancery Finance department navigated the maze of JobKeeper documentation. The challenges of lockdown did not hinder the progress of diocesan projects. The good works of the Diocesan Development Fund continued with strong loan growth to undertake capital works. Loans totalling $9.3m were approved during the calendar year. We have been assisting parishes to purchase new land for school expansion in growth areas such as Echuca and Huntly and have looked to consolidate land which is under-utilised or could be repurposed to meet community need. For example, social housing in Mooroopna or a residential land subdivision in Numurkah. At Sacred Heart Cathedral, important upgrade works were completed on the fire detection systems, roof and guttering repairs and a new LED light installed at the top of the spire. Those fortunate to scale the 86 metres to the top of the spire wonder if there could be a way to make access safe and accessible for all, as it would be a tremendous attraction. We anticipate that the Sandhurst Crest subdivision will benefit from the Victorian lockdown as there is now growing recognition of the great lifestyle regional Victoria affords, driven by new acceptance of working remotely and government initiatives to support migration to the regions during the pandemic. We expect that all lots of the final subdivision of Sandhurst Crest will be sold in the first half of 2021. Throughout the year there has been continued interest in the Diocesan Archives from those seeking to contribute material and those seeking to draw on the collection. The research phase of the Faith of the Goldfields linkage grant, in partnership with the Aspire Foundation, City of Greater Bendigo and La Trobe University, was completed in 2020 and will conclude in 2021. It will provide an interesting window into the early days of the Diocese and people of the 1850s. Reflecting on the past year, in which we were humbled by circumstances beyond our control, yet forged a strong foundation for the future of the Diocese, I am reminded of the Romero Prayer*, and I quote an excerpt here: I am quietly confident that in years to come, historians will deem 2020 a pivotal year for the activation of global civil society and the Catholic Church in Australia. 2020 was an extraordinary year for us, at first glance characterised by the global pandemic, the bushfire crisis, and the Black Lives Matter movement. In the Diocese of Sandhurst, we worked hard towards fundamental shifts in the way we manage, govern and care for people in our parish, school and work communities. In that sense, 2020 was a watershed year in which we laid a strong foundation for the future mission of the Diocese. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their hard work and support of each other during a year of challenge and change. I am enormously proud of the people of our Diocese.” REPORTS
Year in Review 2020 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 9 We lay foundations that will need further development. We provide yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities. We cannot do everything, And there is a sense of liberation in realising that. This enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are workers not master builders; Ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future that is not our own. *written in 1979 by Most Rev. Ken Untener, the late Bishop of Saginaw, Michigan. We should all feel a great sense of achievement as we look back on the past year. We have kept our faith and supported one another whilst juggling our work and personal lives in difficult circumstances. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their hard work and support of each other during a year of challenge and change. I am enormously proud of the people of our Diocese. Mr Cameron Fraser Business Manager Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst REPORTS The Chancery, Bendigo
10 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2020 Director Of Catholic Education’s Report For many reasons, parents choose Catholic schooling for their children in ever-increasing numbers. These reasons most likely include an education in the Faith, tradition, quality curriculum and opportunities, skilled educators, structure and many others. As 2020 commenced, some of our communities experienced the threat of the most destructive bushfires in the nation’s history. Corryong, Myrtleford, Tallangatta and Wodonga were on high alert as schools prepared to open for Term 1. As is always the case in the face of recovery from such an emergency, ensuring children could go to school was a priority of the authorities and most certainly, of Catholic Education Sandhurst. March saw the Nation, and indeed the world, enter a remarkable period as the impact of COVID-19 hit. In March, schools were closed across Victoria and students undertook their learning remotely. With very little notice, Sandhurst educators developed programs that could be delivered online or via hard copy, while teachers and parents were called upon to work together to ensure no child was ‘left behind’ and that good learning continued. Schools and families are to be commended for the creativity and effort that was devoted to ensuring each student was in no way disadvantaged. What could have been a disaster, proved to be manageable. By State Government edict, the three unincorporated Victorian Catholic education systems – Sandhurst, Ballarat and Melbourne were to develop and implement new governance models by 1 January 2021. For more than sixteen decades, canonical administration of Catholic schools had been in the hands of the Parish Priest. Bishop Mackinlay established a working party, comprised of expert stakeholders from across the country, to explore the most suitable model for the Diocese of Sandhurst. In little more than 12 months, a proposed new model was submitted to the Bishop and then to the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority. A company limited by guarantee was formed to oversee the delivery of education in all diocesan primary and secondary environments – Catholic Education Sandhurst Limited. An era which had witnessed the extraordinary growth in the number and quality of educational environments, had come to an end. Homage must be paid to those Priests and parishioners who did so much to ensure the families of the Diocese of Sandhurst enjoyed an affordable, robust system of learning and pastoral care. The lives enhanced by their deep commitment to the education of our young can never be measured. Today, Sandhurst schools are thriving places of contemporary learning, where the Faith is celebrated and the child is at the heart of every endeavour. Across the Diocese, more than 19,300 boys and girls are enrolled in our forty-two primary schools and fourteen secondary colleges, which include three specialist settings. 9,540 children attend our Primary Schools and 9,761 are in our Secondary Colleges and three Specialist Settings. We continue to cater for the educational needs of all families who seek our support, from the smallest school in St Patrick’s Primary School in Pyramid Hill (16 students), to our largest in Notre Dame College in Shepparton (1,655 students). Throughout 2020, we worked closely with Catholic Services Victoria (formerly CatholicCare) and personnel from the Diocese of Sandhurst to develop a pathway towards a broader introduction of Early Childhood Learning and Care. With the support of the Victorian State Government, Sandhurst will soon see a greater number of kindergartens and early childhood care facilities in our Primary Schools. REPORTS “Homage must be paid to those Priests and parishioners who did so much to ensure the families of our Diocese enjoyed an affordable, robust system of learning and pastoral care.” The history of Catholic schools within the Diocese of Sandhurst spans 167 years. Over the decades, the network of schools has made a unique contribution to the life, faith practice, spirit and culture of Parishes throughout this region. Sandhurst Catholic schools are part of a long tradition of Catholic education in Australia. Countless thousands of young people have benefited from the experiences they had and the skills they acquired in Catholic learning environments. From humble origins on the Bendigo Goldfields in 1853, Catholic education has grown dramatically.
Year in Review 2020 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 11 Mr Paul Desmond Director of Catholic Education Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst This initiative has the specific aim of supporting parents and offering quality learning prior to enrolment at school. The Sandhurst Catholic Education Council has been the principal consultative and advisory body in matters concerning education in the Sandhurst Diocese. Under the leadership of the Episcopal Vicar for Education, the Very Reverend Dr Brian Boyle, the Council’s role in bringing to life the mission of Catholic education is enlivened by the deep desire to provide the very best in learning experiences for our young. As we look to the future, this Council has concluded its service to Sandhurst, and I commend all who have so faithfully served education via membership. Similarly, the Catholic Education Office is an entity committed to the best in educational opportunities and outcomes for the students entrusted to our schools. In our work, we seek courageous renewal and the promotion of the human person through the provision of stewardship and leadership that are credible, contemporary, accountable, sustainable and transparent. We believe that education is not simply a profession, but also an attitude, a way of being. Our Catholicity and our relationship with God remains central to our work. We look to a service model, where all persons are valued and empowered to be their best. We have worked to be faithful to a model based on the guiding principles of Mission, Stewardship, Dialogue, Subsidiarity and Coresponsibility. Excellence, equity and evangelisation are what we strive to provide for every student. Catholic Education is proudly one key player in the life of the Church in Sandhurst. We see the school as the focus of all our aspirations. It is our goal to support Sandhurst schools as they improve young lives, developing in each a sense of purpose and hope, nurturing a belief in the future and their role within it. Those who graduate from Sandhurst Catholic schools should carry with them a lifelong commitment to improving the lives of others and a desire to leave the world a better place. As educators, we believed this focus would serve to remind us daily that our Ministry within the Faith must always be dynamic, outward-looking, ever ready to serve, to challenge, to uplift, to enhance and to improve. With Christ at the heart of our work, we could then be faithful to the core business of learning and teaching, while anchored by the rich teachings of the Catholic Faith. We remain grateful to both the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments for their generous financial support of the Catholic Sector. By their provision of funds, we are able to set and work towards our target of delivering the best in learning opportunities for our students. In July, Bishop Shane Mackinlay and Mr Paul Desmond announced the Bishop Shane’s acceptance of the recommendations of the Catholic Schools Governance Working Party. REPORTS
12 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2020 CatholicCare Director’s Report As many have said before me, this has been a year like no other. Along with the most difficult circumstances we as a country, a state and as local communities have experienced for many generations, there have also been some high points. The bushfires in north-eastern Victoria which ushered in 2020, caused great distress and disruption across towns and communities in that region, which fall within our Sandhurst Diocese. This gave us a particular responsibility to do what we could to support recovery, in a way that was informed by those communities. With financial assistance from Catholic Emergency Relief Australia, we focused on the recovery of children through the ‘Stormbirds’ program; we worked with local schools in a train-the-trainer model to support young people’s wellbeing following loss and grief experiences from natural disasters. The program enables children and young people to share their experiences of loss and change in safe and creative ways, to understand and attend to their feelings, and learn skills for adapting and recovering. This work has been very well received. With the onset of COVID-19 restrictions in March 2020, life changed for all of us. As staff, we migrated to the new experience of service delivery from our homes. Equipping all staff with the necessary equipment and training to deliver services and administration remotely was a big challenge over several months. This investment and training will have a continuing legacy, as online delivery will remain a part of our suite of services for people who prefer to engage this way; or for whom this form of access provides opportunities which did not previously exist. Another major commitment has been our engagement in the development of Sandhurst Catholic Early Childhood Education and Care, a partnership with Catholic Education Sandhurst and the Diocese, to establish a model of early childhood education and care which draws on the strengths of each partner. We are looking forward to our continuing role in this new venture and all the benefits which will increasingly be available to local families and communities as a result. Across this period, we have continued to actively participate in our national and state peak bodies: Family Relationships Services Australia (FRSA); Catholic Social Services Australia (CSSA); and Catholic Social Services Victoria (CSSV). Each of these bodies has an important role to play in supporting our sector as we deliver a broad range of programs to people who are struggling or disadvantaged, keeping in front of governments the key issues which impact our services and the people we assist. A very significant piece of research and advocacy was undertaken by FRSA this past year, to address a ‘funding cliff’ for community services which would see the sector’s capacity cut by 20% if it was not addressed. Fortunately, this work resulted in a financial adjustment in the federal budget which has averted this crisis. Through CSSA, in collaboration with the Australian National University, we participated in an exciting research project ‘Mapping the Potential’, a project to understand the drivers of persistent community disadvantage across electorates in our regions. The project has delivered rich data, with the ultimate goal of informing and supporting community-led responses to community needs, so that we can work to build the potential within our local communities. CCS looks forward to our continuing role in the application of this research. CSSV and CSSA combined to hold a major national conference in February, ‘Serving Communities with Courage and Compassion’ which drew together many inspiring speakers and participants from academic, policy and coalface environments. The presentations included models of courageous and compassionate service and mission at the margins; implementing child safety; eco-justice; addressing homelessness; best practice in governance; and fostering emerging leaders. As it turned out, the timing was very fortuitous, with freedom of gathering before the impact of COVID-19 set in. In addition to these significant developments, our ‘business as usual’ commitments have continued. Our Sanctuary Model has proven to be a valuable tool for supporting staff during this time of physical separation from the workplace. We have continued to develop and engage with Reconciliation Action, Child Safety, Gender Equity and Quality improvement. It was pleasing to have a positive report at our mid-cycle audit. We have enjoyed our ongoing work with many partner organisations across our regions, within the limits of pandemic restrictions. Of note is our service delivery partnership with MacKillop Family Services, with whom we deliver ‘Cradle REPORTS “We are moving from strength to strength!”
Year in Review 2020 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 13 Ms Rhonda Lawson-Street Executive Director of CatholicCare Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst to Kinder’ and, more recently, the ‘Family Preservation and Reunification program’. Both of these programs are strongly evidence-based and supported by robust research and evaluation, which is so important when we are dealing with people living in the most disadvantaged and complex circumstances. Beyond the local level, CatholicCare Victoria Tasmania has continued to provide a strong platform for our Commonwealth-funded family and relationships programs, with high levels of cooperation between the participating agencies and valuable aggregation of service data. Since welcoming the new Bishop of Sandhurst in October 2019, I have appreciated Bishop Shane’s supportive leadership, vision and strong grasp of governance. Throughout this period, one of his responsibilities has been to work with the CCS Board on the incorporation of the organisation, in accordance with the state government’s funding requirements. As you will have noted from the Bishop’s Message and the Chair’s Report, our incorporation is now being accomplished by a major organisational transformation as we merge with sister organisations to become a new company, CatholicCare Victoria. This has been both a challenging and exciting process as we worked towards the date of 1 January 2021 for commencement of the new company. The model we have embraced, of a locally-oriented and decentralised structure, provides assurance that we will proceed with ‘unity in diversity’ across the state, in a way which preserves our local character and commitments. This Report is now an historic piece, the last for CatholicCare Sandhurst. It has been a privilege to lead the dedicated staff of this organisation over the past two years; and now into our new future. My sincere thanks and appreciation go to CatholicCare Sandhurst staff, our Board, and to Bishop Shane and staff of the Diocese of Sandhurst. We are moving from strength to strength! Ms Rhonda Lawson-Street and Bishop Shane Mackinlay announced the merger of CatholicCare Sandhurst, CatholicCare Melbourne/Sale and CentaCare Ballarat on 29 October. REPORTS 2595 Clients 11,044 Sessions 60 Staff Main offices in Bendigo, Shepparton Echuca. Outreach offices in Wedderburn, Wodonga Wangaratta Mildura Seymour.
14 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2020 Go Forth: A Review of the Strategic, Consultative and Administrative structures of the Diocese of Sandhurst In May 2020, Bishop Mackinlay engaged Mr Francis Moore, former Executive Director Administration of the Archdiocese of Melbourne and former Director and Deputy Chair of the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria, to conduct a review of the Diocese. Mr Moore was commissioned to: • assess the effectiveness of the structure and processes of each of the current consultative bodies of the Diocese of Sandhurst; • identify principles, structures, practices and processes to achieve best practice in diocesan governance that would enable the Bishop and the Diocese to operate in a strategic and collaborative way, drawing on the best possible advice of lay people and clergy for the delivery of the Church’s mission; and • recommend any changes that would ensure the administrative structures of the Diocese are effective and appropriate to support the proposed consultative and strategic structures and processes. The review was underpinned by the call of Pope Francis to make Church structures “more mission-oriented, to make ordinary pastoral activity on every level more inclusive and open, to inspire in pastoral workers a constant desire to go forth and in this way to elicit a positive response from all those whom Jesus summons to friendship with himself” (Evangelii Gaudium, n. 27). The review was set against a background of heightened focus on Church governance and leadership arising from recommendations to the Catholic Church of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, the Catholic Church’s response to these recommendations, and preparations for the Australian Plenary Council. Despite COVID-19 restrictions, 33 clergy, 13 pastoral associates, six agency leaders, four seminarians and three Diocesan Finance Council members from all deaneries of the Diocese took part in a targeted consultation process, which included focus groups, individual interviews and questionnaires. The consultation was undertaken by Mr Moore with the assistance of Ms Cathy Jenkins, Assistant to the Director: Leadership Development, Catholic Education Sandhurst. In December 2020, the review’s report was published. Entitled ‘Go Forth’, it evoked Evangeli Gaudium and Jesus’ concluding commission to his disciples in Matthew’s gospel: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Mt28:19). Mr Moore commented that: In undertaking this review and for those considering this report and its recommendations the call of Pope Francis is ‘to be bold and creative in this task of rethinking the goals, structures, style and methods of evangelisation … to not walk alone, but to rely on each other as brothers and sisters … in a wise and realistic pastoral discernment’ (Evangelii Gaudium, n. 33).” Mr Moore identified eleven key opportunities and made 56 recommendations to assist the Diocese in building up a more vital, dynamic, mission-focused and participatory church culture, with a focus on stewardship, subsidiarity and transparency. Bishop Shane Mackinlay welcomed the report and thanked all those who had contributed to it: “I particularly appreciate the clarity and practicality of its recommendations. It will provide invaluable assistance in planning how we focus and direct our activities and efforts in the years ahead … I am very grateful to all those who contributed to this consultation, and particularly grateful to Francis and Cathy for the conversations and reflection that they facilitated. Many people have commented to me about their appreciation of the opportunity to participate in this project.” In February 2021, Bishop Shane issued a formal response to the report, accepting all its recommendations and committing himself to their implementation. Summary of Key Recommendations of the report. That a Diocesan Pastoral Council, to be named the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council representative of the diversity of people of the Diocese, be established. That the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council lead a process of consultation and discernment to see whether the current vision statement reflects the aspiration of the Diocese for itself. That a new role of Director of Mission and Pastoral Life, reporting to the Bishop, be created. That the Council of Priests be constituted by all the priests of the Diocese holding a current appointment. That not less than two and not more than four lay persons, appointed by the Bishop, attend meetings of the College of Consultors as advisors and participants with a right to participate in discussions. That a digest summarising the matters discussed at meetings of the Sandhurst Mission and Pastoral Council, the College of Consultors and the Council of Priests be made available widely across the Diocese, on the model established already for the College of Consultors. That the Bishop initiate an independent review in three years of the effectiveness of the recommendations. To read a complete list of recommendations, please read the full Report which can be found on the diocesan website. LEADERSHIP & STRUCTURE
Year in Review 2020 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 15 LEADERSHIP & STRUCTURE
16 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2020 Child Protection and the Implementation of the Child safe Standards Ms Anne McIntosh Safeguarding Coordinator Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst LEADERSHIP & STRUCTURE The Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst embraced the necessity of compliance with the 7 Child Safe Standards of the Victorian Commission for Children and Young People, following government recommendations to comply with the standards, effective from 1 January 2017. In June 2019, Catholic Professional Standards Limited (CPSL), an advisory group established by the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference and Catholic Religious Australia, finalised the 10 Child Safe National Catholic Safeguarding Standards (NCSS) incorporating the principles of the Victorian Commission for Children and Young People’s 7 Child Safe Standards and expanding them to include recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. The National Catholic Safeguarding Standards (NCSS) are in the process of being extended (2nd edition) to incorporate safeguarding requirements for adults. CPSL is now transitioning into the new national body for safeguarding. CPSL operated alongside other agencies which provided support and services on a number of other elements of professional standards and safeguarding systems at a national level. It became apparent that there was a need for one national agency incorporating CPSL, the Australian Catholic Centre for Professional Standards (ACCPS) and oversight of the Australian Catholic Ministry Register (ACMR). The new agency is called Australian Catholic Safeguarding Limited (ACSL) and represents an evolution of safeguarding in the Church. During the transition period all services offered by the previous bodies will continue as planned. I was engaged as the Child Safety Coordinator of the Diocese in February 2017 to ensure that the Diocese and parishes have policies, procedures, risk assessments and training in place to comply with the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards (NCSS). Most parishes have an active Child Safe Team dedicated to child safety and to assist the parish priest in complying with the safeguarding standards. The Child Safety Co-Ordinator has been visiting parishes over the past few years providing assistance and resources to parishes to help comply with the standards. The Diocese provides online safeguarding training courses for all parishes to assist with the training requirements of the NCSS. During the COVID-19 pandemic the visitations to parishes have been stopped and communication has been via email and telephone. The opportunity was taken in this period to ask parishes to nominate volunteers to take part in the Essentials of Safeguarding online training as face-to-face training was not allowed, due to COVID-19 restrictions. The diocesan safeguarding policies and parish information have been updated on the Diocesan website and notified to parishes. Clergy have been overwhelmingly positive in their leadership in child protection activities, such as at the in-service for clergy, which is attended by all parish priests. The Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst is dedicating significant resources to reform in order to apply best practice to prevent child abuse. Audit of the Diocese by CPSL In late 2020 a substantial audit of the Diocese was undertaken by a group called Catholic Professional Standards Limited (CPSL). This group undertook a comprehensive audit of the safeguarding policies and practices of the Diocese, measured against the 7 Child Safe Standards of the Victorian Government and the 10 Child Safe National Catholic Safeguarding Standards. This report will be a public document, available on the CPSL website. “Clergy have been overwhelmingly positive in their leadership in child protection activities ... The Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst is dedicating significant resources to reform in order to apply best practice to prevent child abuse.”
Year in Review 2020 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 17 ‘PUTTING CHILDREN FIRST’ ‘Putting Children First’ as the theme for Child Protection Sunday in 2020. “This annual celebration of our children is a reminder to all of us to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children in every aspect of church and community life,” said Fr Brian Boyle, Chair of the diocesan Professional Standards Committee. “The protection of children and vulnerable adults is very much a priority and commitment of every local Catholic parish and agency in the Diocese ... We are all responsible for our precious children and the vulnerable adults in our midst,” he said. The diocesan Safeguarding Committee meets regularly to advise the Bishop on Safeguarding matters and to ensure the Diocese provides the best environment possible for children and vulnerable adults. In 2020 the Committee completed a substantial review of diocesan and parish safeguarding policies and practices. In every Church of the Diocese a person can easily find a series of posters and policy statements relating to Safeguarding issues. Parish Safeguarding Committees work with their local priest and the diocesan Child Safety Officer to ensure compliance with safeguarding policies. “The recent Royal Commission laid bare the appalling level of abuse, of cover-up and neglected responsibilities in the Australian Catholic Church. As submissions to the Plenary Council have also made clear, many people feel hurt, angry and betrayed. Voices are calling for greater accountability and transparency in Church life. Specifically, these voices call for responsibility on the part of Church leaders for those persons whose lives have been broken by abuse; for recognition of the hurt and betrayal felt by those wounded by abuse; and recognition of the devastating trauma abuse has caused, not only for victims but for their wider families. The Sandhurst Diocese has a zero tolerance for child abuse,” said Fr Boyle. “As we celebrate our children, it is clear what they need: safety, love, freedom from harm, joy, freedom to play, and a safe environment. Children have the right to speak and to be heard. Children have the right to be empowered. What we want is to nurture, protect, inspire, and teach every child and for every child to reach their full potential,” said Fr Boyle. LEADERSHIP & STRUCTURE “We want to nurture, protect, inspire and teach every child.” Very Rev. Brian Boyle In August 2020, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Catholic Religious Australia published a comprehensive study of the practices and possibilities for diocesan and parish governance and management. Commissioned in response to recommendations of the final report of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (December 2017), the study was undertaken by the implementation Advisory Group, made up of local and international experts. ‘Light from the southern cross’ report The Report included 86 recommendations of its own, which have widely been accepted as ‘doable’ and can be implemented at a parish level. Bishop Shane Mackinlay said Many of these recommendations will be significant nationally and will be a valuable contribution to the ongoing discernment during our preparation for the Plenary Council.
18 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2020 LEADERSHIP & STRUCTURE Plenary 2020 Continuing the Journey The COVID-19 restrictions of 2020 created a set of challenges for the Sandhurst Plenary Council Committee. The postponement of the first National Assembly originally scheduled for October 2021, combined with restrictions on Mass and gatherings, threatened the enthusiasm and traction on preparation for the Plenary Council. Nevertheless, Chair of the Sandhurst Plenary Council Committee (SPCC), Fr Brian Boyle EV said there was also an up-side to the restrictions and delay which led to an extended period of Phase 2, the Listening and Discernment phase of plenary preparations, describing it as “a graced opportunity.” The SPCC prepared and implemented a strategy focusing on deepening practices of discernment to “keep the Plenary Spirit alive.” This included live-streamed Zoom sessions, each focusing on one of the six thematic papers prepared by the National Plenary Committee, from the concerns which had emerged from the consultation of Catholics across the country in Phase 1. Phase 1: Listening and Dialogue was launched on Pentecost Sunday (May 2018) and closed on Ash Wednesday (March 2019). The final (national) report for Phase 1 was released by the National Centre for Pastoral Research (NCPR) in July 2019. Nationally, some 15,000 participants made 17,457 submissions. The report listed six themes derived from the key issues raised by participants in their submissions. These six themes formed the basis for further listening and discernment in Phase 2. In November 2019, the NCPR released the Phase 1 Final Report for the Diocese of Sandhurst. This report analysed the 305 Sandhurst responses and included anecdotal quotes from submissions. There were 102 group submissions representing 4082 individuals, many of them high school students. There were 203 individual submissions, 57% of them from women, and the bulk of them from people over the age of 55. Using data from the NCPR’s Sandhurst Report, Fr Brian Boyle and Sandhurst Plenary member, Ms Ruth Lawlor wrote, “Please Change: What Sandhurst Catholics said about Plenary Council Phase 1: Listening and Dialogue.” They wrote, “The title was taken from one of the submissions in the Sandhurst Report. The title, we believe, picks up well the emotion many respondents indicated in their submission, namely a love for the Church on the one hand and a sincere desire, indeed the necessity, for the Church to change on the other hand. Many of the submissions in the Report reflect wisdom, passion, commitment and hope for change while, at the same time, acknowledging this may well be the last opportunity for that change in the Australian Catholic Church.” Catholics in Australia are keeping their faith in an increasingly secularised nation, in which scandals and stagnation have broken hearts and crumbled faith in the institution of the Church itself. The Plenary Council provides us with an opportunity to listen, to be heard, to pray and reflect; and to focus on the core values of our Catholic faith as we work together towards a better Church and better future. The Plenary Council is the highest level of gathering in the Church in Australia. Resolutions made at the Assemblies proceed to Rome for either adjustment, approval or rejection. This is why the Bishops of Australia and others have been calling for the Plenary sessions to be guided and filled with prayer with Christ at the centre. They need to be nourishing spiritual experiences for us to discern and create a pathway forward. On 24 March, the Sandhurst Plenary delegates were announced: Bishop Shane Mackinlay Fr Joe Taylor PP, Vicar-General Fr Brian Boyle, EV, Episcopal Vicar for Education Ms Cathy Jenkins, Catholic Education Sandhurst Ms Ruth Lawlor, Sandhurst Youth Ministry The three clerics will attend by virtue of office, while Ms Jenkins and Ms Lawlor were appointed by a nomination and selection process. On 21 May, the National Plenary Committee released a new logo, which included the words “Continuing the Journey” and announced new dates for the national Assemblies; Adelaide in October 2021 and Sydney in April 2022. On Pentecost Sunday (31 May 2020), Thematic Papers, based on the reports of the Listening and Dialogue phase, were released. These papers formed the basis of the Listening and Discernment phase (Phase 2) of the plenary process. How is God Calling us to be a Christ-centred Church in Australia that is : Missionary and Evangelising? Inclusive Participatory and Synodal? Prayerful and Eucharistic? Humble, Healing and Merciful? A Joyful, Hope-filled and Servant Community? Open to Conversion, Renewal and Reform? In November and December, three Reflection Sessions were held online: “Discerning the Way to the Plenary Council” facilitated by Cathy Jenkins. “Inclusive, Participatory and Synodal” facilitated by Ruth Lawlor. “Humble, Healing and Merciful” facilitated by Lyn Breen.
Year in Review 2020 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 19 “Listen to What the Spirit is Saying” LEADERSHIP & STRUCTURE While the process of preparation for the Plenary Council begins by inviting us to offer what we see, it asks us to do that in a spirit of service and generosity, where we then step back from it, step away and reflect on it alongside what others have seen, listening again and again for where God’s spirit might be calling us. Discussing the Plenary process, Bishop Shane spoke of Pope Francis’ leadership style. “Pope Francis is an extraordinary example in terms of process ... he is in no rush to close off a conversation or resolve an issue. His preference seems to be to give hints as guidance to the conversation ...” Pope Francis shows remarkable trust – both in the people of God who will be discussing these sorts of questions ... and more importantly in the Holy Spirit, whose voice we seek to hear and respond to as we continue to ‘Listen to what the Spirit is saying’. In February Bishop Shane gave the Monsignor Peter Jeffrey Oration to Catholic Education leaders. In early March, he was the guest speaker at a ‘Spirtuality In the Pub’ event, where he was asked, “Where are we headed as a diocese? As a church?” At both events Bishop Shane spoke about the future of the Church in Australia, the passing of faith from one generation to the next, building trust through good governance and the Fifth Plenary Council. “It seems to me that we are in something of a critical moment in Australia,” he said. “The parents of children in our schools come from a generation in whom their experience of faith is deeply ingrained through the regular practice of their childhood. Even though they might not engage with it regularly in the present, they have something like a muscle memory, so that they feel at home in Catholic Liturgy and describe themselves as Catholic without hesitation. Moreover, they want that sort of experience and connection for their children. In a context where so many people feel anger, hostility or indifference to the church, it’s both remarkable and inspiring how movingly parents talk about the experience of faith they want for their children when they present them for baptism,” he said. Of the Fifth Plenary Council he said People want this to work; people want to participate, and they still care deeply. In some ways, of course, that sort of investment makes the stakes even higher. It’s very clear to me that there is widespread weariness and frustration with the Church, and especially with its leadership. Many have already walked away because they have given up waiting for us to ‘get it’. For others, the Plenary Council is the last chance. There is no question that the stakes are high. 2 March, 150 people attended the ‘Spirituality In the Pub’ event to listen to guest speaker Bishop Shane Mackinlay. “It was obvious from the numbers attending, and their applause, how appreciative people were to have their Bishop sharing his thoughts and listening to theirs,” said Ms Kerry Stone, one of the event organisers. 18 February, Bishop Shane Mackinlay spoke to Catholic Education leaders.
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