Columban Fr Noel Connolly reflects on the 'Mission: One Heart Many Voices' conference that was held in Sydney, April and May this year.
'Mission: One Heart Many Voices' was a three day conference for all those passionate about mission. It was an opportunity to share our visions of mission from those in leadership roles in parishes, communities, organisations and agencies who are all working and struggling for the Kingdom and Reign of God in Australia and globally.
By the end of the three day conference, my overwhelming feeling was one of hope and a new beginning. It is like the new beginning many talk of with the election of Pope Francis. Mission too might begin again.
I felt we were Church, but a humbler, more human and inclusive Church. Bishops and priests were in attendance but the conference was not at all clerical. Instead there was an energy and equality that only mission can bring. We are collaborating in something much larger than ourselves, God’s life and mission in the world.
In recent decades the Church has spent considerable effort on developing its identity but identity alone is often seen in opposition to others and can divide. There is a much more vibrant sense of identity that comes from mission and service and I believe we had more than a glimpse of that during our three days together.
As the title of the conference suggests, 'Mission: One Heart Many Voices', we wanted to hear many voices because we all have the one mission and need the support and encouragement of each other. The conference was ideal in that regard, there were all kinds of different voices and people felt free to speak in a way that has not been common in recent years.
I was fascinated that such a diverse group of people could share so easily. I admired the mature and tested hope of some of the religious women who have remained faithful to mission and the poor through many years. Even at a time when their congregations were growing smaller and older; work for justice had become a neglected and unpopular ministry; Vatican II seemed watered down and; as women they were being marginalised. I was fortunate to be asked to convene the workshop, 'Young People and Mission' and was impressed by the commitment, hope and sense of justice shown by Young Christian Students. I thought it all boded well for an Australian Church inspired by mission and finding unity and encouragement in diversity.
The other goal of the conference was to give us a vision that would affirm, encourage and inspire us in our vocation of building the Reign of God. All the keynotes and workshops were good including Steve Bevans’ first talk which I felt was critical. His presentation, his vibrant images and his enthusiasm gave us a vision of a Triune God who was constantly loving, healing and reconciling the world and inviting all of us to be partners in recreating the world. The Trinity has a liberating plan for the cosmos and we can be part of it. It is a vision to affirm and inspire; and one broad enough to include us all. Steve Bevans gave our three days great impetus.
The conference was more successful than we on the planning committee had envisaged. More than 370 people participated and shared in dialogue. Alongside the key notes, we had 39 different workshops covering a truly Catholic list of ministries including: aboriginal ministry, migrants and refugees, justice and ecology, the scriptures, leadership and prayer.
The challenge now is to maintain the vision and the forum. You are invited to visit the conference website: www.mohmv.com.au where you can send in your stories, insights, plans, successes and even failures. Let us look to each other to deepen our faith and hope and our efforts to partner God in recreating the cosmos.
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