Encounter, Witness, Evangelisation

What happens when a diocese gathers to ask: who is Jesus calling us to be?

For two days in Shepparton, priests, parish leaders, parishioners and young people came together for the ‘Growing as Communities of Mission’ Sandhurst Formation Institute – two days of prayer, reflection, conversation, worship and practical exploration of what it means to be a missionary Church.

Around 150 people participated on Friday, including fifty young people, with around 120, including twenty young adults participating on Saturday.

Each day began with an Acknowledgement of Country, followed by a warm welcome to Shepparton Parish – from Fr Ruel Desamparado RCJ AP on Friday and Fr Addin Doe RCJ AP on Saturday – before prayer at the start of the day’s program.

Friday brought a thought-provoking opening reflection from Bishop René Ramirez RCJ followed by a blessing. Interparish discussion then started around two questions – “What do I understand by ‘grow as a community of mission’?” and “Why does Jesus ask us to do this with him today? “

The first keynote, “What’s the Mission and what does that mean today?” presented by Fr Richard Rosse PP and Ann O’Brien, Evangelisation Coordinator at St Catherine of Sienna Parish in Caroline Springs, was compelling and moving, spurring on further table discussion around what they had heard and what they had realised, found challenging, or found exciting.

After lunch came a choice of seminars, further discussion, prayer and the celebration of Mass, with Bishop René’s homily offering another strong challenge – to live out the Gospel in parish life as true witness.
Saturday built on the conversation with a second keynote from Fr Richard and Ann, further breakout seminars, prayer and worship, before concluding with intergenerational and interparish dialogue.

Throughout the two days, uplifting music from Gen Bryant and the Wavemakers helped create a space for prayer, praise and worship. There was a special Sandhurst connection too, with Wavemakers Tim from Bendigo and Zoe from Shepparton – both born and raised in the Diocese.

The seminars explored mission from a range of perspectives, including evangelisation, the Eucharist, Care for Creation, youth ministry and parish-school relationships. Most Friday seminars were repeated on Saturday, while Fr Richard and Ann used the second day to go deeper into practical ways of becoming a missionary parish.

Young people also had their own Youth Stream, including a special opportunity to meet the Bishop.

Across the two days, the conversation kept returning to encounter, witness and evangelisation. Participants spoke of the need to move beyond simply going through the motions, to deepen their own relationship with Jesus, and to have the courage to speak about Christ in the ordinary circumstances of life.

“It doesn’t have to be scary,” one participant reflected. “The Holy Spirit does the evangelising, we don’t.”

Another spoke of people already around us who may be searching: “The Church is alive. People want to be part of something and want a connection to others. Something is missing in their lives, and they are seeking. It’s our job as Christians to help them along, to bring them to Christ.”

The Institute also prompted a renewed appreciation of the gifts each person brings to mission.

“We’ve all got gifts and talents; let’s encourage people in our parishes to use their talents to make our parishes better places. More invitational, more welcoming, more engaging.”

And the questions continued.

“People have been asking some very good questions,” one participant said. “It’s really got me thinking.”

Perhaps that is the best measure of the two days: people leaving with new questions, renewed courage and a deeper sense of being called to witness to what they have encountered.
Encounter. Witness. Evangelise.

The Institute was a significant undertaking, made possible by many people working quietly and generously behind the scenes. Special thanks to MC, Audrey Brown, those who read Readings, Prayers and gave the Offertory at Mass, Chancery staff and everyone who helped make the two days possible.

Many hands – one mission.