Session 1 (Mandatory)

Go Forth:
Toward a Community of Missionary Disciples

“We need a church capable of warming people’s hearts, of walking with them in the night, of dialoguing with their hopes and disappointments, of mending their brokenness.” Pope Francis, to the Bishops of Brazil, 2013

Pope Francis exemplifies missionary discipleship in his own person. Links will be made to the Mandate, QCE and to ‘Go Forth’ by William Gregory, with particular focus on the Introduction and Chapter 11: Accompaniment.

Scriptures (The Good Samaritan and Journey to Emmaus) where Jesus models a missionary church that walks tenderly with the wounded will be explored with the help of visual images. Discussion will follow and responses collated on the implications for schools around current success, future possibilities and potential obstacles.

Session 2

The call of Pope Francis for the Liturgical Formation of the People of God
Challenges for School Communities

In his Apostolic Letter ‘Desiderio Desideravi’, Pope Francis highlights the theological understanding that the celebration of liturgy is the place of encounter with the person of Jesus Christ.

Within Catholic schools some parents, families, teachers, and students celebrate and encounter liturgical celebrations and the Mass for the first time. For many others, the school community, and not the local parish, is the only place where liturgy and the Mass is experienced. Therefore, schools have a challenging but important place and role to play in liturgical formation and renewal.

This session will explore the challenges and possible practical applications of liturgical formation as put forward by Pope Francis within the light of our current school environments.

Session 3

‘What is this people’s mission?’
Future of employment in Catholic schools in WA

Amendments to the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (WA) will not affect Catholic schools’ ability to specify that it is an inherent requirement of certain roles to be Catholic. Likewise, employees will have to ensure they carry out their fiduciary responsibility to their employer by sharing a common vision and model amongst the school community the virtues of Christian life. However, discrimination against staff for other reasons including for having personal beliefs contrary to Catholic beliefs will be discriminatory and may be unlawful.

So how do we ensure that we employ staff who can help Catholic schools achieve their specific mission to bring the fullness of life to students as they grow through the stages of development and come to their adult life?

Session 4

Schools and Families Walking the Journey Together
Celebrating the Value of Accompaniment

“Schools and Families Walking the Journey Together – Celebrating the Value of Accompaniment” will highlight the value of authentic relationships between families and schools. Through dialogue and accompaniment, each brings their own knowledge and understanding about the child or young person to the centre of our mission.

Working together, they create a safe and supportive environment which contributes to the child’s or young person’s engagement, wellbeing and holistic development, thus enabling them to reach their God given potential.

This commitment to mutually respectful partnerships ensures that positive outcomes can be achieved for all and where Catholic school communities can flourish.