«The intention behind the extraordinary missionary Month announced by Pope Francis is to cultivate a spirit of missionary conversion in each of us, as well as in the life and pastoral activity of the Church. The conference ‘Mission: one heart many voices’ will represent a fundamental opportunity to prepare oneself to live this extraordinary moment».
This is what Peter Gates, National Deputy Director of Catholic Mission, National Directorate of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Australia said in a note sent to Fides News Agency, reported February 19, 2019, introducing the conference to be held in Sydney from May 13-15, 2019.
The initiative, among the events proposed in view of the extraordinary missionary Month that the Catholic Church will live in October 2019, will be attended by over 450 people from all the dioceses of the nation, who will be involved in a program characterized by artistic and creative elements, with interactive workshops and a focus on the issues of inclusion, meeting and dialogue.
Among the speakers present, there will be Mgr. Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture, who will highlight the central role of technology in spreading the Gospel and messages for the mission. According to Mgr. Tinghe, social media today are of central importance because they represent an instrument of conversation in a constantly connected world: «The Church must realize that social media is the main way to be present in the modern world, to involve new generations and enter their conscience».
In addition to the Irish bishop, among others, the conference will be attended by Carol Zinn SSJ, executive director of the Conference on the leadership of religious women; by Ravina Waldren, indigenous Catholic leader of the Archdiocese of Brisbane, and Robert Fitzgerald, a member of the Australian Government’s Productivity Commission.
