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Year in Review 2016
Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst
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aritas Australia Southern Region Diocesan Directors’ May Meeting was held in Bendigo.
The Southern Region Meeting includes the Archdioceses of Melbourne, Adelaide and
Hobart, as well as Dioceses of Ballarat, Sale, Sandhurst and Port Pirie.
The group meets four times a year and, over recent years, it’s become a tradition for the two-day
May meeting to be held in Bendigo where the hospitality of St Kilian’s is greatly enjoyed by all.
Caritas meets in Sandhurst
Pictured from left:
Megan Bourke,
Global Educator from
Melbourne, Fr Rom
Hayes, Sue Searles from
Ballarat, Angela Hart
from Adelaide, Kerry
Stone from Sandhurst,
and Margaret Fyfe csb
from Melbourne,
MISSION & OUTREACH
M
any parishes in our Diocese are served by dedicated Pastoral Associates and Parish
Workers. Committing themselves to ongoing formation and training for their wide-
ranging ministries, many attended the 2016 formation day led by Fr Bill Attard of Melbourne,
to enable Pastoral Associates and others in parish ministries to add to their understanding and
skills for Parish Visitation and Grief and Loss Ministry.
Pastoral Associates meet regularly each year. Their meetings include sharing of information,
resources, insights and practical ideas for parish ministry and special formation sessions. In
2016, Fr Brian Boyle led an exploration of Pope Francis’
Misericordiae Vultus
in which the
Pope shared his hopes for the Church in the Year of Mercy and beyond. Kevin Lawlor of the
Sandhurst Catholic Education Office gave a comprehensive presentation on Child Protection
laws in Victoria. Each Pastoral Associate was provided with a package of excellent resources
to assist their parish, similar to those given earlier to all Parish Priests during their extensive
inservicing in these important areas. In October, the annual Pastoral Associates’ Retreat, led by
Mr Paul Beirne, Director of the Heart of Life Spirituality Centre (Melbourne), gave Pastoral
Associates an invaluable opportunity to pray and reflect on their personal spirituality and
ministries.
PASTORAL ASSOCIATES and
PARISH WORKERS